Some people consider New York City to be the center of the world and whether or not you agree, you'll have to admit than Manhattan social innovations often offer some of the most up-to-the-minute entrepreneurship trends that you'll see out there. While Silicon Valley is certainly a source and space of technological change, sometimes product-driven (that is, retail and shopping oriented) offerings take off in NYC, where money is king. All the same, however, it's not easy to make a business work here, which makes these Manhattan social innovations all the more interesting in both the short and long run.
From shops that have social change as a theme to trial-sized beauty deliveries, this SocialBusiness.org top list will have you churning up your next big social entrepreneurship idea.
17 Manhattan Social Innovations
From Change-Themed Shops to Trial-Sized Beauty Deliveries:
Social Business Editor — May 21, 2014 — Social Good

17
Social Good Themed Shops
Story in New York City is Currently Focusing on Socially Conscious Retail

16
Easy E-Waste Pick-Ups
'4th Bin' is a New York-Based Recycling Collection Service

15
Community Hot Desks
Hub Vilnius Lets Social Innovators Come Together in Lithuania
14
Trial-Sized Beauty Deliveries
Goodebox is a Members-Only Website Offering Eco Cosmetics
13
Local Grocery Deliveries
Farm2Me lets You Browse Online and Get Goodies to Your Doorstep
12
One-Hour Condom Deliveries
Talia Frenkel's One-for-One Innovations are Constantly Changing
11
Retro-Style Eco Furs
Tracker Fashions That Channel the Pioneer Days in an Ethical Way
10
Local Eating Guides
Edible Manhattan Offers Critical Analysis on Food Sustainability
9
Debt-Countering Start-up Apprenticeships
Enstitute Matches Young Entrepreneurs with Founders
8
Multimedia Social Business Campaigns
The Catrinka Project Works Alongside the 'Girl Rising' Film
7
Socially Aware MFAs
Design for Social Innovation at SVA is the First of Its Kind
6
Invite-Only Change Conferences
The Social Innovation Summit Attempts to Create Large-Scale Impact
5
Local Fashion Production Films
‘Make it in Manhattan’ Values New York Manufacturing
4
Youth Tech Bootcamps
Girls Who Code Teaches Programming Skills to Young Women in NYC
3
Seasonal Local Pickles
Rick's Picks is Based on the Lower East Side in Manhattan
2
Coin-Operated Public Art
The Laundromat Project is a Non-Profit Arts Organization in Harlem
1
Mentor-Induced Education Programs
Practice Makes Perfect Inc. Pays up Students for Success
Related Ideas
K-Beauty NYC Stores
Fwee Opens its First U.S. Store in SoHo
Eco-Friendly Self-Care Community Centers
Space Available Creates the Self Care Community Center
Canvas Tote NYC Pop-Ups
Lands' End Launched a Personalization Concept Pop-Up Shop in New York
Technology-Driven Retail Spaces
ARK Visual Unveils Future Stores as an Immersive Retail Identity
Luxe Designer Beauty Activations
YSL Launched an Entertainment-Themed Light Club 2.0 Concept
Visual Show-Inspired Displays
Saks Fifth Avenue Transforms its NYC Flagship for Just Like That
Artist-Centric Networking Events
Adidas x SNIPES Unveil The NYC Superstar & Empower Artists
Grocer-Inspired Beauty Retail Pop-Ups
The Benefit Benemart Holiday Concept Shop is at Selfridges
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
New Yorker-Approved Campaigns
New York’s StreetEasy Urges You to Never Become a Former New Yorker
Interactive AI-Powered Retail Kiosks
Skechers and We Are Social Singapore Launched the Luna Kiosk
Retail Store Revamps
H&M Updates Shopping Experience with Luxe, Tech-Savvy Store in London
Nature-Inspired Coffee Boutiques
Nespresso Opens a Retail Location in Yorkdale Shopping Centre
Experiential Intimates Spaces
Knix Opens Immersive Retail Location at Premium Shopping Centre
Viral Social Shopping Apps
The Claim App Helps Gen Z and Brands Authentically Discover One Another
Personalization-Focused Retail Concepts
Golden Goose Opens in NYC's Meatpacking District
Unique Concept Clothing Stores
The BASE Store in New York Offers an Unexpected Style Oasis
5g-Enabled Retail Showcases
Singtel is Surpassing Consumer Expectations with 5G Retail
Exaggerated Holiday Displays
Nordstrom NYC's 'Wonder All the Way' Campaign is Larger-Than-Life
Pink-Themed Summer Pop-Ups
The LANEIGE Bounce Around the City Pop-Up Launches in Five U.S. Cities
Revitalized Shopping Destinations
Foot Locker's Home Court is a Basketball-Inspired Retail Space
Curated Online Fashion Storefronts
SHEIN Introduced its 'Trend Stores' for Personalized Shopping
Meticulous Apparel Stores
The Elder Statesman Unveils a Stunning New York Flagship
NYC-Inspired Sneaker Designs
The Coach Soho Sneaker Collection is Chic and Urban-Informed
Futuristic Imaginative Design Concepts
Toyota Introduces the Unique E-Collection of Products
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Influencer-Focused Retail Stores
Princess Polly is Adding New Stores with Selfie Mirrors, Events
Tranquil Retail Environments
NEOM Wellbeing Has Launched Its First U.S. Storefront in New York
Grab-And-Go Grocery Locations
Trader Joe’s Pronto Brings a New Grocery Experience to Union Square
Tech-Driven Sexual Wellness
Experience the Future of Intimacy
Ice Cream Sandwich Pop-Ups
Chips Ahoy! Pop-Up to Serve Free Ice Cream in NYC
Beauty Brand Community Initiatives
Thrive Causemetics and Beauty 2 The Streetz Partnered in LA
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Collaborative Streetwear Retailers
Better Gift Shop in Toronto is a Bustling Hub for Hip Fashion
Beauty Innovation Contests
Estée Lauder Launches The Catalysts Program
Art Gallery-Inspired Luxury Shops
Proenza Schouler is Gearing Up to Open Its Flagship Store
Digital Travel Retail Experiences
Clarins Debuted an Initiative at the Airport in Hainan, China
Luxury Beauty Houses
Chanel Unveils First House of Beauty Destination in Paris
Community-First Beauty Hubs
The Immersive Club MAC Retail Concept Features Experiential Zones
Dating-App Holiday Campaigns
Bumble Holiday Campaign Sparks Real-Life Connections This Season
Live Shopping Flagships
Outlandish's Santa Monica Location Supports Live Social Media Shopping
Retail-Based Pop-Star Takeovers
H&M and Charli xcx Host a Surprise Event at Times Square
Creativity-Centered Workshops
Gap's Workshop Initiative Empowers Local Makers in San Francisco
Elevated In-Store Experiences
Bath & Body Works Adapts its Store Designs to Appeal to Gen Z
Immersive Textile Boutiques
100% Silk Shop in Toronto's Downtown Core is Sustainable
Senior Living Innovation Hubs
The AGE-WELL Innovation Studio Highlights Age-in-Place Solutions
Cozy Fashion Flagship Stores
The Ba&Sh Flagship Store Opened in New York City's SoHo Neighborhood
Luxury Fabric Pop-Ups
The Extreme Cashmere Pop-Up Brings Luxe Sustainability to NYC
Industrial New York Showrooms
Vitra Opened a Showroom in New York's Chinatown
Retail Rage Rooms
Miista's Rage Room Invites NYC Customers to Destroy and Express Emotions
Summer Skincare Pop-Ups
The Sol De Janeiro Sol-Cial Club is a Free NYC Event
Holiday Activewear Pop-Ups
Gymshark Pop-Up Brings Fitness Energy to SoHo
Conscious-Focused Retail Stores
ATLAS Opens its Doors in Westfield Century City
Global Fashion Promotions
E-Commerce Giant SHEIN Launches Extended Holiday Shopping Event
Silk-Forward Retail Experiences
The LILYSILK Concept Store in NYC Offers an Immersive Experience
Retail Expansion Strategies
UNIQLO Unveils New Toronto Location With Community Focus
Small Business Retail Spaces
IKEA Valencia Strives to Support Small Businesses with Free Space
Soft-Pink Wellness Bars
Yorkville Village’s BetterBar Offers Healthy Dining in Toronto
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Futuristic Interactive Retail Designs
Telefónica Reopens the Espacio Movistar in a Skysraper
Mix-and-Match Aroma Installations
The H&M Nolita Pop-Up Lets Guests Create NYC-Inspired Scents
Hyper-Targeted Shoppable Posters
Glossier and Shop Launched Posters with Geo-Gated Location Tech
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Climate-Based Skincare Pop-Ups
AXIS-Y and Senti Senti will Celebrate the Brand's Latest Launch
Empowering Fashion Campaigns
Coach's Spring 2025 Campaign Celebrates Personal Time Management
Mid-20th-Century Holiday Campaigns
Saks Fifth Avenue Unveiled its 'Gifts of Delight' Campaign
Collaborative Cosmetic Concept Shops
Hourglass and Barneys New York Partnered for a Concept Store
Reimagined Modern NYC Lofts
BOND Redesigns the Tribeca Loft in New York City
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
Whimsical Store Expansions
MINISO Jakarta Presents a Retail Space Inspired by an Amusement Park
Jewelry Boutique Redesigns
Tiffany & Co. Reimagines Luxury with a Redesigned Yorkdale Flagship
Townhouse Transformed Retail Spaces
Schemata Architects Designs the Le Labo Kyoto Flagship
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Women-Focused Lifestyle Retail Concepts
MILK MONEY is Expanding Its Boutique Concept to Boston
Art-Inspired Hair Salon Concepts
NOVA ARTS SALON is a Progressive Evolution in Salon Experience
Nostalgic Branded Pop-Up Events
AriZona Iced Tea Launches a New York City Pop-Up Event
Cultural Shopping Experiences
Cadillac Fairview Transforms Malls for Lunar New Year Festivities
Retail Innovation-Focused Events
Spar International Hosts the Spar Transform Event to Boost Retail
Personal Shopping Apps
Beamble is Redefining Luxury with On-Demand Personal Shopping
Human Connection-Centric Campaigns
Etsy's New Ad Campaign Wants to Keep Commerce Human
NYC-Inspired Structural Chess Sets
PRINTWORKS Introduces the Playful CHESS NYC Set
Social Shopping Integrations
The MONAT Tiktok Shop Strengthens the Direct Sales Business Model
Spirit Exploration Apps
The NY Distillery Trails App Reveals Craft Spirit Producers in the State
Women-Themed Fashion Campaigns
Donna Karan New York Launches the Reflections on Women Campaign
Multilingual Personal Shoppers
The Olive Young Personal Shopper Service is Geared Toward Tourists
Business Founder Newsletters
The Solo Founder Newsletter Compiles the Top News and Inspiration
Bridal-Focused Retail Concepts
David’s Bridal Seeks to Redefine Bridal Shopping
Social Shopping Networks
Stage TEN Empowers Creators to Build Their Own Live Shopping Channel
Local Craftsmanship-Filled Member's Club
The New Soho House São Paulo is Filled with Local Art
Exploratory Art Exhibits
The Saga of the Department Stores Exhibit Explores Shopping’s Evolution
Experimental Urban City Developments
Toyota Presents the First Phase of the Woven City at CES
Sustainable NYC Flagship Stores
Rothy's Features NYC's First Streetside Water Refill Station
Cold Plunge Experiences
Othership is a Hot Sauna and Cold Plunge Experience in New York City
Market-Inspired Pop-Ups
La Plaza Johanna Ortiz Brings Colombian Warmth to Paris in New Pop-Up
Advanced Personalized Sizing Technology
NYC Leather Jackets Relies on Cutting-Edge Technology
Small Business Support Initiatives
Mastercard Awards Ten Female Entrepreneurs with Grants
Drop-In Wellness Solutions
Beyond Yoga Launches a New Wellness Pop-Up in New York City
Innovative-Centric Office Flagships
The IBM NYC Flagship Location is Designed by Gensler
Sustainable Funding Summits
Emerald Summit Connects Climate Innovators with Impact Investors
Scandinavian Aesthetics-Forward Shop Designs
Quadrant Design Shapes the Atmosphere in Eton's Shop
Venetian-Inspired Flagship Locations
Kith Opens its Second Location in Osaka, Japan
Beauty-Incentive Programs
Sephora's Beauty at the Bentway Will Offer Free Beauty Samples
Art-Focused Hair Salons
John Steinberg and Associates Recently Launched a New Gallery Space
NYC-Inspired Dynamic Running Shoes
Brooks Introduces a New Ghost 16 Technical Running Shoe
Worldwide Service Marketplaces
Airbnb Services are for Booking Everything from Catering to Makeup
Japanese Creative Innovation Hubs
Karimoku Furniture Introduces the Karimoku Research Hub
Mumbai Futuristic Fashion Boutiques
Sanjay Puri Architects Designs the Nezo Mumbai Showroom
Holiday Sports Fashion Pop-Ups
Siegelman Stable Opens Exclusive Holiday Pop-Up in Soho
Startup Discovery Hubs
Launching.today Showcases New Projects from Entrepreneurs and Builders
NYC Wine Windows
Buchette del Vino NYX Brings a Florentine-Style Wine Window to Times Square
Urban Climate Solutions
Climate Tech Cities Connects Climate Professionals with Resources & Events
Production Workshop Laboratories
Neri Oxman Presents a New Studio in Midtown Manhattan
Brand Discovery Platforms
SmartCustomer by Sitejabber Helps Customers Find New Favorite Brands
NYC-Hotel Holiday Programs
Thompson Central Park Announced a Lineup of Festive Offerings
Natural Product-Focused Holiday Bazaars
Naturally New York Plans a Special Event on December 11
Cross-Border Startup Pitching Competitions
Seoul Seeks to Ignite Global Startup Collaboration
Calming Aesthetic Menswear Stores
Stòffa Gets a New Retail Design in New York Flagship
Ball Game-Promoting Urban Initiatives
London Sport and Saatchi & Saatchi Run 'More Ball Games'
Eco-Friendly Timepiece Stores
Heinemann Oceania Unveils Two Sustainable Concept Stores
Video-Promoted Urban Transformation Initiatives
Renewing Shanghai is a Video Documentary Series
Canadian Entrepreneur-Focused Marketplaces
Futurpreneur Marketplace Emerges as a Timely Initiative
Skate-Inspired Retail Stores
The Nahmias Retail Store is A Tribute to Skate Culture in Venice
Seasonal Thanksgiving Dining Experiences
Sunday Dreamin’ in NYC's East Village is Holiday-Ready
Real-World Business Ideas
People Problems Discovers Real Business Opportunities From Daily Needs
Food Innovation Business Conferences
SIAL Shanghai 2025 is Running from May 19 to 21, 2025
Fashion-Forward Hotel Transformations
SO/Paris Gets a New Design with Annual Lobby Activations
Broken Bike Lock Furniture
Design Students Showcase the People and Places Exhibition
Non-Invasive Dermatological Treatment Clinics
SBC Medical Group Grows with SBC NEO Skin Clinic
Designer Residency Art Studios
Colony Presents Four New Studios from Residency Program
Niche Community Builders
Socially is the Community Builder Platform for Niche Creators Everywhere
Expansive Month-Long Fashion Celebrations
Fashion Art Toronto Marks Its 20th Anniversary
Fashion-Centric Co-Working Spaces
L.A. Fashion Weekend Partners with Hollywood Production Center
Inventive Charity Initiatives
Spark Financial's Annual Charity Initiative is for Autism Awareness
Explorative Entrepreneur Ideas
Hustle Momumtum Invites You to Discover and Launch Side Hustles
Retail Boosting Citywide Initiatives
Aberdeen is Bringing Back its 'Shop Aberdeen' Initiative
Intellectually Stimulating Social Media
Maven Goes Back to Basics with Traditional Algorithms
City-Wide Food Drive Events
VGTNYC Supports City Harvest Through a Food Drive Event
European-Inspired Urban Lofts
Ghislaine Viña Blends Modernity and Charm with New Design
Collaborative Product Communities
The Product City Builds Professional Credibility With Colleagues