MILAN — “The coronavirus pandemic has redesigned the time and methods and nothing is like before,” said Sergio Rossi chief executive officer Riccardo Sciutto. “All that made sense before does not anymore.”

Sergio Rossi is launching a new location and innovative pop-up retail concept today in Milan, on the city’s famous Via Montenapoleone. 

The walls are entirely made up of Sergio Rossi shoe boxes, which double up as displays and shelving units. Even more attention-grabbing is a 16.5-foot chute that connects the store with the warehouse above — and delivers shoes to the customer.

“This has been a tough period for everyone,” CEO Riccardo Sciutto told FN. “I wanted to do something different and positive that would bring a smile to people’s faces.” Italy retail reopened this week after the hard-hit country emerged from 10 weeks of lockdown.

To ensure customer and staff safety, entry to the pop-up will be by appointment only and slots can be booked via telephone, email, WhatsApp or WhatsApp video. The pop-up is also the first Sergio Rossi store to be fully digitally integrated.

The brand posted the contact details on its Instagram this week — and Sciutto said that slots were already booked up for the first five days.

The appointment system isn’t the only safety measure in place. Sciutto also revealed that he has installed a cutting-edge infrared sensor in the ceiling which takes the body temperature of customers as they enter the store — and projects the results on the floor via a laser.