Retail leaders, journalists and commentators told us their favourite stores. Here is where in the world you can find them.

Earlier this week, we published Retail’s 101 favourite stores. A guide to where leading retailers, as well as journalists and analysts covering the industry, have had their favourite retail experience. 

Digging into the data, it’s clear that the picture is a global one, as stores from all four hemispheres are featured. 

 

Furthest north was Kindred in Juneau, Alaska, submitted by Clay Wertheimer, vice president UK and Europe, Ruggable. Lachlan Roach, UK managing director, Harvey Norman picked the southernmost retailer - Camden Cycles in Camden, Australia. 

Most of the stores that were submitted were in the UK, 69 in all, but removing them from the picture might give some sense of where some of the world’s most influential retail concepts come from. 

Nearly 10% of the 101 were US-based.

There was a mix of locations, everything from Kindred, the post office-cum-gift store in Alaska, to a carpet retailer in Manhattan. In fact, New York was the city with the most stores after London with five in total. 

 

 

Outside of London, Manchester had the most stores in the UK (four). That included the local branch of Selfridges, as well as the Patagonia and Sephora stores. 

Selfridges was representative of a common theme in the list of 101 stores. Nearly half of the selection was a clothing/apparel brand, luxury retailer or department store. 

 

In addition to the major London names – Harrods, Fortnums, Liberty, Dover Street Market – La Samaritaine and Galeries Lafayette were the luxury representatives from Paris. Julian Beer of Liberty named the former, saying that its “service is second to none”. 

It was not just high pricepoint fashion that flourished. Two separate Zara stores, in Dublin and Madrid, made the list too. 

Food and grocery was the second most popular category. A Cypriot grocer in Arnos Grove, London, and a Greek one in Bayswater were some of the picks. We also had innovative supermarkets in Barcelona and Shanghai. 

Not every continent is featured. No submissions came in from South America. If you know of any fantastic stores in Rio, Buenos Aires or Lima, let us know.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that you cannot visit every single store on the list.

Sadly, Dickins & Jones in Richmond, picked by Owen Watters of Roberts Radio, is consigned to retail’s past. Converted into a House of Fraser, it shuttered a few years ago. 

Topics