Welcome to 2019’s final edition of The Uptick! We’re bringing you a selection of stories that showcase the best of retail over the last month to send you into Christmas trading with a spring in your step

This month we’ll be looking at the bright talent that looks set to take the reins as tomorrow’s retail CEOs; Fortnum & Mason boss Ewan Venters talks about how the 312-year-old department store stays ahead of the curve; a US beauty export that takes inspiration from traditional London member’s clubs with its pop-up; and a closer look at seven trends that will dictate how shoppers shop over Christmas and into 2020.

Treats in store

There’s been a footfall fillip in recent weeks spurred by post-payday Black Friday bargains and shoppers snapping up Christmas presents. While this boon will no doubt be welcomed by retailers, there were plenty of businesses that set up their stall in bricks-and-mortar and made a compelling argument for shoppers to visit all year round.

First, to US beauty phenomenon Glossier, which unveiled its long-anticipated London pop-up last month. The barely-there makeup and skincare brand has got a different approach to bricks-and-mortar, rolling out stores with designs that are personal to each location. Its London store is no different, with wallpaper printed in hand-drawn designs inspired by London’s old-fashioned social clubs and a selfie station with a pink roof installation, in tribute to the capital’s skyline.

Glossier London popup7

Glossier’s stores are designed to be unique to each location

Ethical beauty retailer Lush also unveiled two new flagships, in Paris and Florence, each focusing on a different area of product innovation. The retailer’s Paris store is a new concept called Fresh & Flowers, which includes an in-store florist and flower-infused products made to order onsite. The Florence store will focus on Lush’s burgeoning fragrance arm with a Perfume Library stocking more than 70 scents. Take a look at the two stores, as well as the retailer’s expanded Munich flagship here.

Breathing new life into a fallen high street institution, Market Halls launched its third UK food hall in the former BHS flagship on Oxford Street. Take a look at the UK’s largest food hall here.

Merry and bright

As retail gears up for Christmas, why not get some pearls of wisdom from the boss of one of the UK’s most iconic festive retailers? Fortnum & Mason boss Ewan Venters talked to Retail Week about the retailer’s famous festive windows, weathering the storm in Hong Kong with its new flagship and how the business is modernising with a more experience-led offer.

We also delved into a bit of festive forecasting. Read our list of the trends that are impacting how shoppers will spend this holiday season, and what it means for the consumer market in 2020.

Fortnum and Mason Xmas window 2019

Fortnum & Mason create some of retail’s most iconic Christmas windows

We got advertising executives to give their two pence on this year’s crop of Christmas adverts. From Excitable Edgar to festive drag queens, have a look at what they rated as Christmas crackers and turkeys.

And we had a look at six retailers nailing the festive shopping experience, from Fenwick to Hotel Chocolat.

Leading the way

Mental health in the workplace is becoming an increasingly hot topic across businesses. But how can retailers ensure they are providing employees with the support they need and are moving with the times in terms of what is expected? We had a look at how businesses ranging from John Lewis to WHSmith and the Co-op are supporting their staff.

We also took our annual look at who the retail risers are that are on a track for the big job in the year’s to come. Take a look at our picks for tomorrow’s CEOs here.

We also sat down with Browns’ boss Holli Rogers to talk about how she has married the 50-year-old fashion store’s heritage with owner Farfetch’s desire to build a ‘store of the future’.

Nicola Thompson

Nicola Thompson was tipped to be a future retail CEO

One last thing…

As the 2010s draw to a close, why not have a look back on the stories and stores that dominated the headlines? Take a look at our round-ups of the biggest retail events of the decade and the best stores of the last 10 years.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the latest instalment of The Uptick newsletter. If there are stories, innovations, people or inspiration you want to us to report next month, please get in touch.

Grace Bowden, head of content