The Shopkeepers: Storefront Businesses and the Future of Retail

Good stores still exist. In fact, their number is growing. Well-designed specialty shops that are inspired by the small manufacturers and mom-and-pop operations of the past are now sprouting up. These are outlets defying e-commerce and anonymous online shopping with outstanding products, original interior design, innovative concepts, and, first and foremost, friendly and competent customer service.

The Shopkeepers explores this new store culture through examples such as barber shops, fish smokeries, tailors, and milliners, as well as retail spaces specializing in stationery, hardware, buttons, home decor, or coffeemakers. They can be found off the beaten track as well as in the hearts of major cities from to Berlin Beirut. The book it makes clear that they are all driven by the passion that their founders operators and have for their business ideas and products, whether vintage eyeglasses, textiles from India or China, specialty books, soaps, olive oils, or tropical fish.