[In the Picture] Wingzz China: from IKEA living centers to the innovation express

From a shopping center designed as a place to linger, to a logistics company in Hangzhou that integrates new technology directly into the workplace. On days 3 and 4 of the Wingzz China retail tour, innovation became even more tangible.

Retail as a destination

Day three took place at Livat Shanghai, the mixed-use complex operated by IKEA’s retail operator, Ingka Centres. There, retail isn’t isolated in a box-like store: shops, restaurants, offices, co-working spaces, and events are all interwoven within a single environment. During the tour of local brands, what stood out most was how strongly the destination is organized around the concept of “staying.” The store is just one part of the whole: visitors must also be able to eat, work, meet up, and participate in activities there.