Retail residences

The hotels reflect the minimalist aesthetic of the brand and promise an affordable stay, with rooms starting at $145 a night. Muji’s website states: “There are neither exorbitantly priced and superfluent services nor dreary guest rooms resulting from the extreme reduction of quality.”

Various other retailers are taking the plunge and moving into hospitality. In 2016, Ikea opened a hotel in Älmhult, Sweden, which takes a minimalist approach similar to that of Muji. The Ikea website says that, while the hotel is in many ways “just like any other” there is an added “feeling of home” to enhance stays.

As mentioned in our Future 100 report, British retailer John Lewis invited customers to spend the night in its Oxford Street store. An apartment was set up in the store and visitors were given private use of the space from 6.30pm until 9am the next day. They were also given an hour of private shopping time and the opportunity to book a dinner party catered by John Lewis.

Luxury retailer Gucci, which has already launched a hotel in Dubai, is exploring other hospitality options. The fashion brand recently opened Gucci Garden, a three-story space in Florence, Italy, that features a museum, a boutique and a restaurant led by three-Michelin-star chef Massimo Bottura.