India, Oct. 27 -- Remember the charm of walking into a Crossword store, picking up a book and spending hours reading it without anyone expecting you to buy it? With cosy reading corners, a cafe on the side and occasional author interactions, it gave book lovers a place to unwind, explore and lose themselves in stories. Or Hamleys, where little eyes light up and young hearts skip a beat at the sight of colourful toys and a magical world that feels straight out of a storybook.

Brands such as Pepperfry have also made shopping more personal by letting customers experience how furniture and decor would look and feel in fully furnished living rooms, bedrooms and dining spaces. Chumbak, meanwhile, brings its playful personality to life through ...