Retail That Enriches the Soul

In a love letter to curiosity and discovery, Kabinett — a Global Honoree in the 2026 IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) — merges retail and hospitality with art, history and design.

There’s something uniquely Australian about a retail store operating from a heritage-listed hotel and pub with a cocktail bar, that’s a story-filled adventure for the five senses through a world of history, art, design and hospitality.

“My intention was always to create a store that felt like a travel experience — a sense of dépaysement — that enriched the soul, rather than a place to simply shift units,” says Melissa Macfarlane, Kabinett owner and director. “The gamble was to create something rich in stories that captured the imagination, and to focus on niche products. Together, scent, objects and taste create slower engagement, emotional connection and discovery, offering a future-focused model for experiential retail in an increasingly digital marketplace.”

This ethos follows through to product sourcing, as objects are chosen for their ability to communicate history, whether through design lineage, craftsmanship or association with travel and place.

“We have a strict curatorial agenda,” says Melissa. “Whatever the product in question is, it must relate to design, the history of art or the history of interiors. It shouldn’t be easily available online, and ideally, it’s something I’ve discovered while traveling.”

The welcome note on Kabinett’s website sums up Melissa’s goal: “A store for the dedicated admirers of history, patina and the unintentional beauty created through decades of hard-worn use. A blend of old and new, found and designed, a mixing of eras.”

The Disruption of Traditional Retail Logic

Founded in 2009 in an old milk bar, Kabinett was originally a vintage furniture store. But then COVID turned the world upside down. Melissa’s business then fortuitously transitioned into the cocktail bar with a wide veranda and character-filled bluestone-walled spaces.

“Kabinett has always been an alternative to traditional retail, operating as a hybrid department store, sensory environment and curated source room,” Melissa explains.

Visitors step inside and are surrounded by meticulously curated rooms filled with vintage and contemporary furniture, design-led homewares, globally sourced accessories and interesting objects. Each room functions as an independent design environment with a single vintage hero piece anchoring the ever-changing vignettes. This innovative approach creates narrative-led merchandising, rather than the common category-based layouts of more traditional stores.

Personalized Customer Service and Unique Visual Merchandising

Not only was Kabinett named one of five gia Global Honorees, but the Australian store also won the coveted gia award for Excellence in Visual Merchandising.

Kabinett’s visual merchandising approach prioritizes unexpected objects and furniture pairings, and follows instinct, rather than rules. “This creates moments of surprise while disrupting conventional retail logic… which in turn encourages customers to wander freely and explore at their own pace,” says Melissa.

Other interesting elements include the use of vintage display cases (that are also sold at the store) as primary merchandising infrastructure. This technique reinforces the sense of authenticity, but is also a sustainable approach, as it reduces the reliance on mass-produced fixtures.

“Jewelry and accessories are intentionally displayed in unconventional ways — such as earrings hanging from a cocktail glass — which inspires customers to think beyond their everyday use,” says Melissa. Another example: Books are dispersed throughout the store to replicate lived-in, domestic environments and to create a sense of hominess and wonder.

The gia expert jury praised Kabinett’s focus on creatively-layered experiences and product stories that result in a real sense of ‘retailtainment.’ The jury also noted that while respecting the heritage of the hotel, Kabinett has introduced creative new design elements and a compelling atmosphere, creating a store where people want to spend time exploring.

Melissa’s background in hospitality has made exceptional service an integral part of the retail experience. Staff members go above and beyond to help customers find what they like and are even known to help shoppers enjoy the town of Kyneton and its many other creative offerings.

“Kabinett has become an unofficial Visitor Information Centre,” laughs Melissa. “Staff love sharing their favorite things to see and do, and we strive to make our store worthy of a drive from Melbourne, and something locals can be proud of. We’d be a different kind of business if we were in a big city, and it helps that Kyneton is a pretty cool town anyway. Other creatives have built fabulous businesses here as well.”