In-store entertainment

18 : 10 : 2016 Sonos : Explorium Retail : Rough Trade

New York – Sonos has installed a listening room in Rough Trade as part of a new retail partnership.

  • People can stay overnight in the vintage-inspired room, which comes with a sound system, a record player and a bed, by booking via Airbnb
  • Sonos is also targeting new audiences through brand partnerships with design retailer West Elm and Apple
Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US
Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US
Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US Sonos Listening Room in West Elm, US
Sonos Listening Room in Rough Trade, New York Sonos Listening Room in Rough Trade, New York

The aim is to move beyond a product-driven strategy, where technical details are at the forefront of marketing material, towards an experience-driven one that highlights Sonos’ seamless wireless technology and high-quality sound delivery.

Each of the partnerships emphasises different aspects of Sonos that the brand wishes to promote. In design retailer West Elm stores, for example, it not only installed sound systems but introduced trained staff to speak to customers about the role that sound and acoustics play in people’s personal spaces.

‘We want to get in front of people when they’re in the mindset of thinking about how they can transform their homes,’ Joy Howard, chief marketing officer at Sonos, told Fast Company.

The Big Picture

Brands need to consider the physical store as a place of learning and inspiration, even if this means slowing the journey to purchase. For more, read our Explorium Retail microtrend.

Discover More Daily Signals
The Trend: Mood-matching Fashion

Daily Signals

The Trend: Mood-matching Fashion

Fashion discovery is evolving, guided by emotional cues and powered by generative AI. Rather than surfacing static product results, next-gen tools ...
Fashion : Retail : Search And Discovery
The Big Idea: Viva Tech 2025: Five Sustainable Fashion Start-ups

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: Viva Tech 2025: Five Sustainable Fashion Start-ups

At VivaTech 2025, fashion-focused innovators showcased how AI can be used to tackle the industry’s sustainability challenge.
Fashion : Technology : VivaTech
The Campaign: Depop reframes second-hand fashion as secret to personal style

Daily Signals

The Campaign: Depop reframes second-hand fashion as secret to personal style

Fashion resale platform Depop (now a subsidiary of Etsy) has launched its largest US campaign to date. Created by Uncommon Creative Studio, Where T...
Fashion : Secondhand Market : Retail
The Viewpoint: Wearable Skincare

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Wearable Skincare

Sylva’s founder Tallulah Harlech was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was just nine years old. LS:N Global spoke to the fashion stylist and consul...
Fashion : Skincare : Wellness
The Space: Iris van Herpen unveils Sympoiesis at Paris Haute Couture Week

Daily Signals

The Space: Iris van Herpen unveils Sympoiesis at Paris Haute Couture Week

At Paris Haute Couture Week, Iris van Herpen unveiled Sympoiesis, a collection steeped in material innovation.
Fashion : Couture : Biofabrication
The Trend: Human by Design

Daily Signals

The Trend: Human by Design

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design : Creativity : Branding
The Big Idea: Branding in the Age of Elasticity

Daily Signals

The Big Idea: Branding in the Age of Elasticity

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design
The Campaign: New Forest’s rebranding turns tourists into custodians

Daily Signals

The Campaign: New Forest’s rebranding turns tourists into custodians

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity. 
Design
The Viewpoint: Rehumanising 3D Design

Daily Signals

The Viewpoint: Rehumanising 3D Design

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity. 
Design
The Space: Glossier unveils immersive experience for Fleur fragrance launch in Paris

Daily Signals

The Space: Glossier unveils immersive experience for Fleur fragrance launch in Paris

LS:N Global’s coverage of design in 2025 explored humanising design and branding in the age of elasticity.
Design
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN