Images from Shops, Stores & Shopping Centres
Exterior Design & Front Windows,
Interior Design & Visual Merchandising
GLOBUS Flagship Department Store in Zurich
The flagship department store of Globus was remodeled, changing the design concept in much of the store interiors, following the acquisition of the Swiss retail chain by Central Group in 2020 (originally together with Signa, but in September 2024 Central Group took full control of Magazine zum Globus). Globus is now part of the network of luxury department stores of Central Group in main European cities.
Not long after re-opening the store by Bahnhofstrasse, the ground floor of the department store looked in late 2022 like a wide avenue, bright and shining, but with only a few objects displayed along the avenue (very unlike the previous scene at the store). It gave an impression of a shopping centre with open-front ‘shops’ by famous brands along the avenue (and a coffee-bar among them). It lacked the more familiar layout and merchandising of a department store.
In mid-2025 the scene was modified, however. Exhibits of interest were placed along the avenue, with visually appealing displays of merchandise. There were curved display fixtures combined with props to attract attention. The passage was somewhat less convenient, as shoppers need to find their way on the sidelines or between the displays, and yet the scenery was more intriguing, capturing attention and interest of shoppers walking from one end to the other on the ground floor (i.e., between Bahnhofstrasse and Lowenstrasse). This new scenery should gain a “stopping power” over consumers.
Globus seems to have made improvements in the lighting, arrangement and visual merchandising in its menswear and womenswear departments. Compared with 2022, the spread of bright light makes the products visible in better clarity, and the visual merchandising displays look more inviting and aesthetic.
- Note: Additional departments renovated include the food delicacy, cosmetics & fragrances, and home improvement.
Displays in Front Windows
Theatrical, colourful and entertaining displays of stores’ front windows can act as a prime invitation to shoppers. When standing out in its creativity and originality, the display should serve as an enhanced ‘visit card’ for the store or shop. In order to attract passer-by shoppers, the arrangement of the front window display has to be eye-catching, interesting yet also pleasing to the eye. Thereby, the retailers have to take care to retain a sense of order in the quantity, variety and arrangement of objects (products, props) as opposed to creating a clutter by overloading with details.
At Pylones in Zurich, the display of the front window shows-off a variety of items, but they are reasonably spaced and in distinct joyful colours, creating a curious and interesting scenery (it might have benefited, however, from a back-closed window). Pylones is a retailer of French-origin that specialises in creative art design of products & artefacts (e.g., for home and outdoors).
An attractive play with colours can also be found in the front window of the store of TWG Tea (London, Singapore-origin), and in the kitchenware store of Jack Wolfskin (Luzern, German-origin), on front and inside the store. The tea pots at TWG Tea in different colours are particularly eye-catching, appealing to the eye (photo taken in February 2020). The front window of Jack Wolfskin’s offers actually a full view into the whole store, displaying merchandise in colours from the ‘front stage’ to the interior shelves. (Note: Jack Wolfskin is based in clothing, footwear and related equipment for outdoors. This Swiss kitchenware store seems to be exceptional, photo taken in December 2019).
The front window display of Firoredini in the old town of Ascona is different. The display of handbags appears more traditional, but it gives the impression of high class and luxury. This shop’s window display is shown for its fine aesthetics, calm and eye-pleasing view.
And sometimes, a bit of humour adds the appropriate funny flair & flavour
(Silber’s store for kitchenware in Zurich)
Consumer / Shopper / Customer Behaviour 