The infinite lessons of retail

In the era of innovation and creativity, success in the world of retail is woven with a good dose of inspiration and external influences. Getting stuck in an office, in a scenario of calls and distractions, can limit our creative freedom and capacity for innovation.

The true source of inspiration in retail is born when we cross the four walls of an office, exploring new experiences, perspectives, and challenges. It is then that we absorb the essence of infinite places. In my opinion, 80% of companies that foster creativity not only improve competitiveness but also increase customer loyalty.

For example, if you are in the food business, it is essential to visit food stores in every corner, absorbing knowledge and experiences wherever you go. Whether for work or pleasure, during my travels I always try to feel and connect with the points of sale in each city to learn from them.

By becoming a customer and stepping out of my comfort zone, I have the opportunity to put myself in their shoes. This way, I can evaluate product display, decoration, lighting, and interaction with staff, so important in a business like ours. This deep understanding of the customer experience is key to making your business attractive and comfortable, differentiating yourself from the rest.

Knowing the competition is another of our most valuable sources of learning. It provides us with information about their strategies and operations, allowing us to analyze ourselves and identify opportunities to differentiate ourselves.

Or, it also allows us to know some products that work. What to say about successes in other markets. In London's iconic Borough Market, a seemingly simple stall selling cups of chocolate-dipped strawberries from the Turnips restaurant is a real magnet for customers: the queue never stops all day long. It is so long and fluid that you don't even have time to get bored while waiting; the flow of customers is perfectly systematized.

When things are done well, retail can be infinite. With an illustrative case, we travel to Italy this time. Angelo Feroci is a business whose commercial history has endured for decades. Its store, located on Via della Maddalena in Rome, has been recognized for the quality of its meat since the 1920s.

And if we observe a photograph of Angelo Feroci from 2008 and another from 2023, we will see that the only thing that has passed between them is time. Despite 15 years of difference, the food store fascinated me on both occasions. It was not by chance, it was the magic that emanated from its product, its atmosphere, and uniqueness.

Barcelona is a city full of businesses with soul, special places that have not only withstood the test of time but have improved with it, like a good wine, creating that infinite retail that I mentioned.

Recovering the essence of these infinite places is fundamental, as is learning from them. For example, Santa Eulalia, founded in 1843 and located on Paseo de Gràcia, is a benchmark in the world of fashion for men and women, with a bespoke tailoring and shirt-making atelier that creates custom-made pieces.

Barcelona is a city full of businesses with soul, special places that have not only withstood the test of time but have improved with it

We also cannot forget two other infinite places of retail: Vidal Pons, with four generations of market tradition; the Colmado Múrria, an emblematic modernist establishment founded in 1898 on Roger de Llúria street; or Frutas Soley, a food product stall in the Boqueria market that has been operating since 1864 and continues to be a family business.

If you wish to embark on a tour of these retail gems, I invite you to explore them through the book Barcelona Gourmand. To write it, I made a selection of emblematic establishments in the city, like those mentioned above, that offer the three keys to success: a unique space, the best product, and, very especially, a very professional and attentive service. One of those places that are an inexhaustible source of learning for all those who seek excellence in the world of retail.