When I came across this article on Cool Hunter, it immediately caught “my eye”. This is the first time I have seen such an artistic and creative setting for an eyewear store!
Located in London, England, Kirk Originals Eyewear recently opened this unique flagship store. Unlike the typical eyewear stores, Kirk created a simple environment with black and white palette. Mounted on the wall are so called “heads” for glass frames. The 187 “heads” each have different eyes. Their rough finishing and lack of furnishing was designed the way they are so that customers would focus more on the eyewear. Located in the front display of the store are graphics of large winking eyes to attract attention by passersby.
.jpg "Kirk's Original")
By looking at the pictures, there does not seem to be a setting for eye examinations and fitting. To keep their main display place clear, they hold these other two services in the basement.
In my opinion, if I were to walk by this place not knowing what it sold, I could have easily mistaken it as an artistic gallery of some sort. Its distinctiveness creates a competitive advantage over their competitors and brings customers a sense of fascination when they walk through this place.
Yes, it may be creepy having so many pairs of eyes staring out at you, but perhaps that is the way the designer intends to captivate their potential customers.
