Retailers in New York have had a tough year, but there are signs that those that weathered the storm have emerged with better-looking stores

The phrase a “New York minute” is meant to indicate the notion of cramming more into 60 seconds than might be possible elsewhere.

Certainly, a brisk stroll along Broadway on a cold day currently would do much to confirm this notion, as new stores and the refurbishment of older ones continue to mark the city out as a place where change is one of the few constants.

On balance, there appear to be fewer voids than there were six months ago - although there is still plenty of available property - and retailers with strong balance sheets do appear to have moved in and opened new space during the period.

Taking a tour of UK retailers in search of retail novelty and imagination, hosted by BT Expedite, it was easy to find new things to look at. It is undeniable that New York remains one of the must-sees for any retailer looking for visual merchandising ideas and inspiration in the matter of creating new stores.

Topshop

This four-storey fashion emporium was all the rage when it opened last April and revisiting it over the course of a couple of days, it was noticeable that this is still very much on any fashionista’s shopping circuit.

The store was busy and just as good-looking as when it opened about eight months ago. What was also noteworthy was the speed at which in-store changes were being wrought. On a Sunday, 12 days ago, the store’s ground floor was filled with new season merchandise, giving the impression of a shop where pristine stock was the order of the day.

However, if you had ridden the escalator to the first floor you would have been confronted with an entire floor filled with markdowns - the idea being to keep the prime selling area of the ground floor in the state to which New Yorkers will have become accustomed.

The windows, of course, were filled with signs shouting “Sale”, but having dragged shoppers into the shop, full-price stock was the first thing they would have encountered. Two days later, all traces of the first floor Sale inventory were gone and the floor was completely re-merchandised. In fact, the Sale stock had been banished to a small area on the second floor - which shoppers were still managing to find.

However, all traces of the Sale had been removed from the windows and the store was, to all intents and purposes full steam ahead into the new season. Even by New York standards, the transformation was rapid, perhaps spurred on by the fact that owner, Sir Philip Green, was in town and had paid a visit the day before.

CB2 (Crate & Barrel)

This is the only store of its kind in the northeast of the US and, in case you were wondering, the name is an acronym for Crate & Barrel 2 - unsurprisingly, an offshoot of the eponymous Chicago-headquartered homewares retailer.

Standing across the street from this store, one of five in the US, it was hard not to want to cross over and take a look. The window displays were simple and contemporary, with an orange sofa backed by an aerial photograph of New York typifying the treatments that were being used. The effect was eye-catching and a direct reflection of what was being done in the store - where uncluttered, mini roomsets were enhanced by creative visual merchandising.

A member of staff said that CB2 has been around for six years and that its target market is a younger customer than the core Crate & Barrel shopper with generally lower price points being the order of the day.

American Eagle

Not much to say about this 25,000 sq ft store, which opened in November, other than that if you happen to find yourself in New York, make the journey to Times Square and stand outside the shop.

A 25-storey high array of LED lights (15,000 sq ft of them) displays images and brand icons in a dazzling assortment of colours. And if the mood takes you, head downstairs, buy something and then enjoy your “15 Seconds of Fame” as the photograph that has been taken of you appears for all to see on the building-high screen outside.

Since its arrival in this most central of New York locations, American Eagle has overshadowed its neighbours - no small undertaking in a place famed for its use of over-the-top neon billboards and flashing lights. And if you really want to know more about this store, there’s a full “Shopwatching” review in this week’s Drapers.

Uniqlo

This store has been around for more than two years now, but is absolutely worth seeing for the way in which it continues to evolve.

The retailer’s collaboration with designer Jil Sander was apparent as soon as you walked through the door - owing to the white curtains used to conceal the J+ range, which was due to launch the following day.

Uniqlo has proved effective at creating a media buzz out of its stores and the unveiling of the latest Jil Sander range is a good example of why it continues to exert a pull on the fashion crowd.

Combine this with floor-to-ceiling mirrors with what appear to be inset mini-TV monitors that continually flash black-and-white images taken from the Jil Sander range, and it is easy to see why this is considered to be a retailer setting the pace.