Sunglass Hut, part of the world’s largest eyewear company Luxottica Group, is positioned at the main entrance of Macy’s Herald Square on the corner of 7th Avenue and 34th Street. With a variety of shoppers entering and exiting the space daily, the challenge at hand was to appeal to the wide range of customers. We had to design to maximize space with the store’s long, narrow footprint of just 510 square feet and transform Sunglass Hut as a sparkling gem, drawing customers from the adjacent shops and encouraging a premium and interactive shopping experience.
To make the best use of the limited area, products are presented vertically, eliminating negative space and allowing additional sunglasses to be displayed. Storage is tucked under product displays for easy access. Floor fixtures have been removed, opening the store for better traffic flow and for more point-of-sale space. Even with the narrow footprint, the space feels open and provides an easy shopping experience for customers. Lighting, both natural and ambient, plays a key role in the store’s design. Capitalizing on the space’s large, street-level glass panels, sunglasses are positioned on vertical glass fins with shelves in front of the windows, allowing natural light to stream through the store and connecting the interior and the street.
