When you first walk into Coach’s Fifth Avenue flagship, a towering life-sized dinosaur made entirely from 400 vintage handbags and accessories greets you. Nicknamed “Rexy,” the sculpture instantly draws curious tourists and shoppers into the 20,000-square-foot store alongside a giant rendition of classic New York City-inspired charms such as a big red apple and the taxi cab at the entrance. Created by British artist Billie Achilleos in London, the dinosaur was originally meant to appear only for the flagship’s grand opening nearly a decade ago. But its popularity ensured it stayed. “She draws a lot of attention from Fifth Avenue tourists,” Ed Pincar Jr., president of the Fifth Avenue Association, told Retail Brew during a recent walk down the iconic street. “They are fascinated by how cool Rexy looks, and some want to buy bags that were used to create her but we don’t sell them anymore.” But while the dinosaur, unfortunately, is not up for grabs, it has done its work as a whimsical centerpiece to bring in shoppers. The store is just one among many other luxury flagships that occupy New York’s most famous shopping corridors that are increasingly transforming their retail outlets into immersive experiences, rather than merely places to browse merchandise. Keep reading here.—JS |