Bedsheet brand Parachute wants to link bedding and community in the minds of shoppers. It might seem like a tough sell, but by launching a miniature hotel above its offices, it's connecting with people in the most intimate quarters to better understand them.

As e-commerce and brick-and-mortar begin to settle into a comfortable co-existence, a new retail format is beginning to emerge, blending the best of both worlds in experiential spaces that are neither store nor home. But why are digital-first labels deciding to go offline at all?

For most people, chores are a necessity and rarely a pleasure; a third of Brits would rather pay to have someone else do them. But could a shift in our perception of these tasks, underpinned by thoughtfully designed products, make them more pleasant? Can beautiful brooms make sweeping fun?

Since the '60s, Japanese love hotels have grown into a multi-billion dollar industry by catering to couples in search of a few hours of illicit refuge. But with multi-generational households declining, there's less demand for temporary privacy, so love hotels are dropping the sex appeal to cater to tourists instead.