Travel With Us To Chicago

Our recent trip to Chicago was more than just travel it was an unforgettable experience filled with inspiration, recognition, and connection within the global retail community.

We were incredibly fortunate to attend with RX Group, the organization behind the NZ GIA (Global Innovation Awards) Small Business Window Award, which we were honoured to win in August last year. This opportunity took us all the way to Chicago, where the international judging brought together some of the most innovative and passionate retailers from around the world.

Our winning window. 

Chicago itself was an amazing backdrop. Vibrant, full of energy, and home to some of the world’s best flagship stores. Exploring the city gave us a chance to experience retail at its finest, while also taking in the incredible cityscape and architecture, which truly lived up to its reputation.

Pictured outside Cloud Gate also nicknamed 'The Bean' an iconic public sculpture of Chicago. 

A view of the Chicago river.

As part of the experience, we were treated to an exclusive retail tour, guided by Sophie from RX alongside Freedom, who won best shop in their category. This was a real highlight, giving us first hand insight into some of Chicago’s most dynamic and innovative stores. Seeing how other retailers approach merchandising, customer experience, and store design was incredibly inspiring and gave us plenty of ideas to take home and implement in our own space.

Pictured with Sophie from RX group and the team from Freedom.

Spotted Burleigh x Ralph Lauren an iconic collaboration at the Ralph Lauren flagship store. 

A visit to Williams Sonoma a premier American specialty kitchenware and homeware retailer. 

Another standout moment was attending The Inspired Home Show. This large scale trade fair showcased a wide range of top of the line brands and industry innovations, including many we proudly stock such as Lodge and USA Pan. It was both energising and insightful to see these brands on a global stage and discover new trends shaping the future of home and housewares retail.

Pictured with Peugeot grinders which we proudly stock. 

While we were in Chicago, we were lucky enough to experience the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. One of the highlights was seeing the famous Chicago River turned bright green, a tradition that brings the city to life. The atmosphere was incredible, with crowds gathering to celebrate and take in this unique moment. It was amazing to witness such a vibrant and iconic event right in the heart of the city.

We also made sure to try some of the city’s iconic treats, including St. Patrick’s Day inspired donuts from Stan’s Donuts & Coffee a fun and delicious way to soak up the festive spirit.

We were delighted to see the Jellycat pop up at Nordstrom. It was fantastic to experience the brand brought to life in such a creative and engaging way, and even more special knowing we are proud stockists of Jellycat in our own store.

The GIA program is a unique initiative, celebrating excellence in retail while creating opportunities to learn, connect, and gain a global perspective. Being part of the process at this level was both humbling and inspiring, offering valuable insight into how retail continues to evolve around the world.

Beyond the judging itself, the experience gave us the chance to build meaningful connections, exchange ideas, and return home with fresh inspiration for our shop. We’re incredibly grateful to RX Group for making this opportunity possible and for championing independent retailers on a global stage.

We’ve come home feeling proud, inspired, and excited for what’s ahead.