H&M High-Tech Flagship Store in New York Times Square

H&M’s new 42,000-square-foot flagship store in New York's Times Square has just opened, with Lady Gaga as special guest. She cut the ribbon and spent time at the store interacting with customers. (H&M is selling her new album at 175 stores worldwide.) Daniel Kulle, president of H&M North America, said the flagship will be the company’s most productive store on the continent.

The new flagship has 300 employees, 44 fitting rooms and 24 cash registers. One innovation — try and buy — allows shoppers to pay for purchases in the dressing-room area. “This is going to be a high-volume store,” Kulle said. “Everything has been set up for high volume,” even the hours of operation, which will be 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.