The retail market in the UK is worth more than £400 billion annually and employs more than three million workers, while in the US 29 million people create more than four trillion US dollars of revenue through the industry. Despite the challenge to establish stores and big-box retailers, there's a rapid increase in the number of retail start-ups and consistent growth in the independent sector. From beard shops and barbers, through cafes and coffee shops, to "retailment" concept stores and boutique consumer-focused experiences, the specialist retail sector is booming.