LSN : News : 19 : 08 : 25

Zara unveils new high tech concept store in Manchester

Zara, UK

UK – Zara has revealed its new high tech concept store in Manchester Trafford Centre in August 2025. Engineered to be at the intersection of fashion, architecture and technology, the space provides an elevated shopping experience.

The 32,291 sq ft store houses womenswear, menswear, kidswear and fragrance zones with separate spaces for special collections such as Zara Origins and sportwear line Zara Athleticz. The sportwear line takes centre stage at the store’s windows, while shoes and bags are displayed in a boutique-style layout to attract the attention of customers.

Technology is at the core of the redesign with an inaugural automated garment sorting system. Shoppers can also benefit from real-time stock checks, product location tools, online order collection and assisted checkout zones which are all accessible via the Zara website or app for ease.

Sustainability is also championed in the store featuring with a cardboard recycling station for online packaging, a clothing donation container for charity, and a repair booking service, extending Zara’s existing pre-owned resale platform.

For more insights on how to be at the forefront of cutting-edge retail design, read our report on Culture-coded Retail.

Strategic opportunity

Consider how in-store sustainability features like recycling and repair services can redefine retail by weaving core values directly into the brick-and-mortar retail experience

ClassPass expands into cinema

US – Fitness and wellbeing monthly subscription service ClassPass is expanding its scope with a new partnership that lets US members redeem credits for AMC Theatres tickets. Available initially in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona, the service allows bookings for 2D films, with options to bundle in drinks, popcorn and multiple seats.

The collaboration marks ClassPass’s first significant move outside health and fitness, positioning the platform as a broader lifestyle marketplace. It follows the app’s recent addition of health food café SunLife Organics across 10 US cities and reflects a strategy to integrate food, beauty and now entertainment into its offer (source: Athletech News).

‘We know that our users value variety, and by expanding beyond traditional fitness and wellness, we’re able to play a role in more moments of their lives,’ Jeff Bladt, ClassPass senior vice-president of pricing and marketplace, told Athletech News.

As streaming services become more advanced, cinemas must find new pathways to audience engagement, a topic we explore in Streaming’s Next Frontier. By partnering with ClassPass, AMC Theatres is making it easier for modern audiences to integrate movie-going into busy lifestyles.

Cinema at Shoreditch Arts Club. Photography by Beth Davis, UK

Strategic opportunity

Experiment with cross-industry collaborations and shared subscriptions by bundling products and experiences with partners outside your category to expand relevance and build loyalty through surprise and convenience

Stat: Hobbycraft and Mind study links crafts to better mental health

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh via [Pexels] (https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-making-clay-pot-2166456/)

UK – A new survey from Hobbycraft and mental health charity Mind has revealed that 72% of people believe healthcare experts should recommend arts and crafts to support wellbeing. The research, conducted to launch the retailer’s partnership with Mind, highlights the growing role of creativity in tackling the UK’s mental health crisis. The report also shows that 59% of people gain a real sense of achievement from creative hobbies.

With 8.8m Britons already turning to crafts for support, Hobbycraft CEO Alex Willson said: ‘Crafting is so much more than just a hobby. Whether it’s stitching, painting or pottery, these hands-on activities help people slow down, express themselves and feel connected.’

Mind information content manager Rosie Weatherley added: ‘The solution to the mental health crisis requires a wide range of approaches, and acknowledging the role crafting can play in people’s wellbeing should be part of that.’

The study found that 88% of parents believe crafting is vital for children’s development, but time, cost and screen use remain key barriers. To address demand, Hobbycraft will launch free Mindful Mondays sessions in selected stores from September, offering creative spaces for community connection and mental wellbeing.

In our recently released Viewpoint, Tactile Touchpoints, LS:N Global spoke to Nathalie Valmary, founder of notebook brand Louise Carmen, on how analogue rituals such as journaling are gaining traction as tools for self-care, reflection and identity-building.

Strategic opportunity

Position analogue tools as wellbeing assets while transforming retail spaces into mindful hubs that embed creativity and bridge community engagement with therapeutic experiences