The inboxes of New York’s most engaged shoppers felt it on Monday evening when Printemps hosted a summit organized by Emilia Petrarca, the former New York Magazine writer behind the newsletter Shop Rat. She brought together several of Substack’s leading fashion and retail voices for panel conversations about the current state of New York retail, shopping newsletters and seasonal gift guides.
Petrarca said the event reflected Shop Rat’s mission of visiting stores and talking to people, calling the gathering a long-held ambition come to fruition.
The opening panel focused on what a contemporary New York store should feel like. Participants included Gregory Gourdet, culinary director of Printemps New York; Katherine Lewin, founder of Big Night and author of the Little Gems newsletter; Kathleen Sorbara, who runs Williamsburg’s Sorbara’s vintage shop; and Somsack Sikhounmuong, creative director of Alex Mill and writer of Somstack.
Lewin described modern retail as an immersive experience that engages senses and atmosphere rather than solely facilitating transactions. She noted Big Night began in Greenpoint, expanded to the West Village and is planning a location on the Upper East Side...