The Secrets to Small-Format Retail’s Success

The high-quality home furnishings chain Arhaus sells its wares out of showrooms that average around 16,000 square feet. Lately, the chain has also unveiled a Design Studio format that shrinks the footprint to around 5,000 square feet, including a 5,300-square-foot location that opened last month in Greenwich, Conn., and two last year in Asheville, N.C., and Naperville, Ill. According to R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at location analytics company Placer.ai, Arhaus’ smaller locations have enjoyed nearly twice the visitation volume of the company’s larger stores — not per the square footage, but overall. Read more at Commercial Observer.