In the post-pandemic era, health and wellness have risen to be top design priorities in built environments, including shoppers who desire commercial spaces that promote emotional, physical and social benefits, Frame reports. This is reflected in the rising number of ambitious retail projects that are finding subtle yet immersive ways to tap into the $1.5 trillion wellness economy, the design news source says.
‘”In essence, shopping has the potential to influence multiple dimensions of wellbeing by providing leisure-oriented activities and creating social cohesion for the community,’ says Mardi Najafi, VP of retail strategy and design at Figure3, a multidisciplinary studio that works across retail, workplace, residential and hospitality. “We are now seeing complex retail concepts emerging around the globe, like Porta Nuova district in Milan, or the Singapore Changi Airport, that include wellness as part of their key strategy.”
Such elements have the potential to resuscitate otherwise ailing retail formats, striking a balance between stimulating and restorative features.
“The opportunity in retail developments is to deliver an environment that exudes a healthier way of living and repositions one’s mind to new possibilities – an environment that transcends its space,” says Melissa Gonzalez, a Principal at global architecture and design firm MG2 and The Lionesque Group.
All this means the communal nature of retail developments will be vital to their survival. “There is an opportunity to reinvent the mall experience and bring people together in a way that encourages connection, functioning as the heart and central gathering place for the community,” says Figure 3’s Najafi.
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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
