I had this idea a while ago of a department store that deliberately only stocked a very limited range of stuff and what was stocked was as ethical, high quality, well designed and as local as possible. I'd be prepared to pay an extra 20% for the luxury of having LESS choice and being able to get in and out as quickly as possible. Also because there would be so much less stuff the shop would be much smaller and you wouldn't get lost!
One type of flat ware, crockery etc and from manufacturers who are stable enough to get replacements in for the next 20 years.
What do you guys think, does this lack of choice appeal to you? What would be the one and only type of reading light, for example?
Murray Moss is kind of doing...
Murray Moss is kind of doing this with his eponymous shop in SoHo. Only problem I can see is if your market doesn't like your one selection for flatware, or a table lamp or chair, you could have a heck of a time making the rent. High design to work generally needs to be in a high rent district and even a small space in say SoHo or BH can easily run 50k a month. Love the idea, just not sure how the practicality of it would be. Of course this concept could and probably is being done on the web.
VERY
interesting in a intellectual/minimal vein.The idea is selling basic type form design.The quick, in & out counter to marketing as we know it, the longer the fly is in the web, the more they buy?The little footprint shop, counter to Ikea/the Minotaurs lair.Interesting concept...
Lovely Idea in Theory
Lovely idea in theory
But I think there are two threads here that prove it unworkable..
both the 'flatware' and 'how do you take your coffee' threads show that even like-minded (relatively speaking) people have very different taste....
There is no such thing as definitive taste, I like the idea, but the realist in me says it is a non starter.
There are stores full of lovely things, but by giving the customer a choice seems to be the key to retail success
Heal's in London is one I am familiar with, but has survived a very long time by offering a selection of the very best in modern design..
http://www.heals.co.uk/
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