Amazon is to open a department store format in its latest push in bricks and mortar retail. The sites will reportedly be much smaller than traditional department stores and focus on Amazon’s desire to expand its presence in clothing, household items, and electronics. https://bit.ly/3yqD4OI

Another great example of purpose-led brand stretch with IKEA set to launch an accessible and affordable subscription - ‘Stromma’ - for renewable energy. https://bit.ly/2WH1g1S

Netflix has also recently announced it plans to open its first permanent retail store in Tokyo in 2022, selling merchandise from its most popular shows. https://bit.ly/2WD53O8

Following a successful pop-up last year, Selfridges has opened ‘PlayHouse’, a permanent destination for all things gaming. Curated by Smartech, PlayHouse is for new and experienced gamers and aims to bring the gaming community together IRL with immersive experiences in-store.https://bit.ly/2V7s4Z2

Lastly via Frame, digital fashion brand Cole Buxton has opened its first retail store in London’s Soho. The store takes you on a ‘garment journey’ where the brand’s entire creation process is celebrated and aims to ‘blur the line between consumer and fashion designer’. https://bit.ly/3kF7Azt