Archive for the 'Retail' Category

AESOP - Skin Care That Thinks Outside The Box

April 12th, 2008 by sauce
 
ImageSince being established by Dennis Pahitis twenty years ago, Aésop skin care has become an uncontested success story in the notoriously fickle beauty industry – focused on providing its worldwide clientele with the highest quality botanical skin care, rather than subscribing to mainstream-cosmetic anti-aging hype. Aésop now have 78 international stockists, plus 20 signature stores including stores in Paris, London, Sydney and their most recent Melbourne addition, Flinders Lane.

In keeping with Aésop tradition – that every store is different; conceived and designed individually so as that each store is a reflection and celebration of its location – the Flinders Lane store does not disappoint, providing its customers with a design and infrastructure that is just as alternative as Aésop’s skin care products. Located in one of Melbourne’s most interesting precincts, the Flinders Lane store interior is made entirely of industrial-grade cardboard; from the display shelving, to the massive eastern façade, and even the counter tops– proving that cardboard can be both striking and structurally sturdy if it’s engineered well.

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Designed by local interior architects Rodney Eggleston and Anne-Laure Cavigneaux of March Studios, the ambient new store has drawn attention from all sorts of passers by. Store manager, Kate, says she wasn’t expecting how amazed customers would be by the store’s design. “It’s clear it’s a very tactile environment. Most people come in and tend to want to touch it all.”

The Flinders Lane store is located at Shop 1C, 268 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. For a full list of Aésop products and stockists visit www.aesop.net.au.


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Via coolhunting

A bit of mink

November 10th, 2007 by sauce

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Chocolate shops have been popping up all over the world and this Chocolate Café in Vancouver offers a little more experience than even great chocolate itself. A full espresso and fondue bar along with a line of over 30 different handmade chocolate bars graces the space filling the Café with fabulous aromas and textures.

Each beautifully-packaged bar is made in Vancouver and uses local, organic ingredients whenever possible. Because there are no added preservatives to extend shelf-life, you’ll have to eat them soon after purchase. But with quirky names and irresistible flavors like “Open in Case of Emergency” (fresh mint and Kentucky bourbon) and “Ginger or Maryanne” (candied ginger), no amount of willpower will allow them to sit around for long anyway!

Marc Liebermann (owner)

Mink Chocolate Café
863 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, British Columbia BC V6C map
tel. +1 604 633 6451