Here at Monocle we’ve long believed that far from being on its way out, physical retail is essential and here to stay. Across these pages we present our manifesto on what good bricks-and-mortar has to offer for cities,…

A new fashion retail school in Hong Kong and a Spanish trucking company adding colour to the roads.

Is it game over for stores, malls and high streets? Not according to these developers and place-makers who believe they have the formula that makes bricks-and-mortar retail work.

Retailer Manufactum’s HQ suits the company, with its anti-throwaway ethos, perfectly.

Relocating its headquarters, London-based fashion label Cos adapted a historic building to suit its business needs.

The future of libraries, a canny way to navigate busy streets and the Taipei thoroughfare that's turned an entire district around.

By turning the weekly shop into a pleasurable, plentiful and people-focused experience, German mini-chain Zurheide is foretelling the future of the supermarket.

The Vipp pedal bin went from one-off gift to global bestseller; the inventor’s daughter explains.

Food styling and cork smartphones.

Facing tough times, the world of physical retail is fighting its corner in style. We review the bold formats, inspiring shopfits and savvy blends of heritage and technology keeping the sector’s innovators ahead of the curve…

The world’s biggest brand believes bricks-and-mortar retail is the future – and, used well, can fix our isolation. We sit down with the executive who’s creating new ‘town squares’ where we can all come together and, of…

Canada launches a space-age carbon counter and Sweden unveils the world’s first shopping centre selling exclusively upcycled and repurposed items.

In this age of online shopping, why is bricks-and-mortar retail still popular and relevant? We assess the challenges specific to three cities – Sydney and gentrification, Madrid and Spain’s power brands, and Osaka with its…

Sophie Grove reporting on revivals: Many successful companies have been scuppered by circumstance over the years but in some cases there’s an argument for resurrection. Why not bring back these fine examples?

8 December 2017

In the first of his regular columns from ‘The Monocle Winter Weekly’ newspaper, our editor in chief Tyler Brûlé explains why the festive season is a time to remember the advantages of traditional retail over online marke…