IN STORE
A HAPPY PLACE/MUNICH
Marketplace With Happiness Guarantee
T
he original idea was to support small designers by providing a showroom. The result, however, is an extraordinary and fascinating concept store or, in owner Phaedra Richter’s own words, “an oasis”. As an illustrator, textile designer and artist herself, Richter has always dreamed of a place “where you can find design pieces, the labels are affordable, and the designers are adequately rewarded”. As the name suggests, the store aims to make everyone who is looking for special things happy, including the designers and the owner. At A Happy Place, all designers contribute to the store‘s costs with a fixed flat rate and, in return, receive all sales proceeds. Today, the store stocks beautiful pieces from more than 90 small labels, emerging artists, social projects, and local creatives – from fashion, accessories, and jewellery, to decorations and design objects. “I select people and labels very carefully, even though I have plenty of applicants,” says Richter. “I prefer to keep my product range exclusive in order to avoid internal competition. The items and products I chase are from people and labels with small-scale productions.” Incidentally, this approach sustained Richter during the second lockdown. While her store had to remain closed, all members continued to pay their share of the fixed costs. This allowed Richter to focus on her online presence and she promptly launched a digital marketplace that now goes far beyond the stationary range. All affiliated designers can use the platform for a small monthly fee and thus supply their customers with their designs directly.
Photos: A Happy Place
Phaedra Richter describes her store in Munich as “an oasis”.
A Happy Place Parkstr. 4, Munich/Germany, www.ahappy.place Opening: June 2021, Owner: Phaedra Richter, Sales area: 90 sqm Brands: Achiy, Adieu Cliche, Anatolian Design, Anotherbrand, Form Of Interest, Frieda mit Herz, hey hey studios, Hyres, Knits, Lovem Kids, Maniq, Marie Lorence, Muse von Sagiha, Radu Baias, Stefanie Bauer Stefanie Pietsch, Studio Ciao, Süsskind, The Life Barn, The Sept Label, whywhywhy, ZITA Products, Zurück Upcycling
style in progress
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