(Pic) Shopping Box Mixes Life-Size Automat With Boutique Retail

On the heels of our Future of Retail report, we passed by this interesting store on our way home last night. Called Shopping Box, the space takes a hybrid approach to retail, mashing up the bespoke notion of a boutique with the kind of cross-merchandising prevalent in a big box showroom, and presents it in the style of a life-size automat vending machine. The idea is quite simple; anyone with something to sell from handmade crafts to vintage clothing can rent one or more cubes within the store for prices starting at $1.66 per day, essentially creating a mini-storefront to display their products. Sellers are encouraged to get creative with their little slice of real estate to entice potential customers to look inside. Meanwhile, shoppers get the opportunity to explore an interesting mix of merchandise in one location with the opportunity to touch, sample and try-on products before they buy.

Though not an entirely new concept – similar shops already exist in Japan, Hong Kong and Canada – Shopping Box is the first of its kind in NYC. The store is celebrating its grand opening tonight at 6pm and is open 7 days a week.

Shopping Box
360 Broome Street (b/w Elizabeth and Mott)
New York, NY 10013