June 2010
7 posts
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Shop a Le‘a 2010
Taking a break from dinosaurs, we wanted to post the 3rd Annual Shop a Le‘a fashion event, held this past March. CS was hired again to create a fresh look for the stage (click Here to see previous stages).
Tying in with marketing, we elaborated on the floral icon used this year in advertising and GWP’s (gift with purchase). We took the imagery and enlarged them 1000% to create large scale...
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Dinosaur Installation-Day Three
On the home stretch, all of the decor has been loaded in and the environments are being built. Here are some images of Day Three:
Completed set in the downtown phase.
Have a wonderful weekend. More posting on Monday.
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Dinosaur Installation-Day Two
About to head out the door for Day 3, but wanted to post some images from yesterday.
Headlines: Dinosaur gives birth to man!
We “upcycled” Pearlridge Center’s christmas trees by turning the bases and frames into willow and hapu‘u trees.
Sneak peek!
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Dinosaur Installation-Day One
It’s been one year since we began this blog. Thanks so much for your feedback and support, it’s been fun posting our projects and retail info we find useful.
Our first entry last year was the installation of “Giant Insects” at Pearlridge Center. Well this year it’s Dinosaurs!
CS is responsible for creating the environments in which the dinosaurs live. Over the...
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Tech: Space planning via your browser
Autodesk, a company that builds Hollywood grade special effects software, has released a browser based web application called HomeStyler. The app allows users to create and manipulate a three dimensional space in real time. Their legacy of 3D experience is put to good use in creating a simple and productive experience within the browser. No software downloads are needed, only a fairly...
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The Future of Retail
Savvy trend forecaster PSFK has released their latest report, this time it focuses on the world of commercial retail. While the majority of the information deals with internet technology trends, some of the major highlights are more community centric: new forms of pop-up shops, group purchasing power and retail stores as curated lifestyle centers. This is not a stat filled street level perspective...
May 2010
1 post
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From Bits to Bricks: Online blog turns into a...
NiceKicks.com is a website for shoe fanatics. Period. They uncover every possible style, color way, prototype and limited release they can get their hands on. From deciphering what NBA players are wearing on the court to blurry camera phone shots of Jay-Z on the town, shoes are their game. In the video above, founder Matt Halfhill explains the transition of the Nice Kicks website into a...
April 2010
2 posts
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Designing Customer Experience
The video above demonstrates a new generation of capsule hotels, overnight lodging similar to motels in the West, being developed in Japan. Sleeping in miniature pods is still a foreign concept to western society but the act of sleeping is equally shared across the Pacific. What the 9 Hours Hotel achieves in this video is the simplification of a very personal activity, going to bed. From...
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What is your store communicating?
If your store had a voice, what would it say? How would it describe itself to passing shoppers? What tone of voice would it use to attract your attention? Is it soft or loud? Insane or intelligent?
As your store lacks the vocal ability to convince customers through it’s threshold, storefront and interior decor are the next best thing. Do you know if your store is communicating the right...
March 2010
2 posts
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Will online shopping change what we shop offline?
The graphic below wonderfully illustrates the variety of product categories that we consume, and a noticeable shift from physical to virtual shopping for a few. Are some businesses increasing profitability online compared to their physical counterparts? A quick observation tells us that shipping is still ‘too slow’ for some categories; but probably not for long. It’s a good time...
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GlobalShop 2010
Creative Solutions is packing up for a road trip. We will be attending this year’s GlobalShop held in Las Vegas. The first time we attended was in 2006 in Chicago and were blown away by the amount of resources there. We’ve been yearning to go back to see what’s new ever since.
GlobalShop hosts the latest vendors in retail and store design. Everything you need from lighting...
February 2010
2 posts
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Tech: Interior Design Software
Decorating a home dwelling can be a straight forward affair: determine the function of each room, add furniture, then apply style. When planning to decorate a retail space or special event, your interiors can have a much wider variety of needs. To keep you and your team (if you got one) organized and productive when doing a floor move or decor installation, creating a map of your project space...
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5 Simple Tips for an Impressive Storefront
Operating and managing a retail store each day can lead to overexposure of your merchandise and general visual exhaustion. Unfortunately, by not maintaining an objective perspective on your stores visual presence can lead to promotional liabilities, especially your storefront.
Did you know the average time a customer will contemplate entering a store is 7 seconds? What does your storefront need...
January 2010
7 posts
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Tech: iPhone payment system
In the video above Kevin Rose demonstrates the latest invention from Twitter creator Jack Dorsey called Squareup. A service that allows instant credit card transactions through a tiny card swiping device attached to an internet enabled iPhone. The company provides a slick UI for easy on-the-fly processing; while signing and receipts stay virtual. This device solves the awkward management...
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Tech: Intelligent Windows
Intel’s demonstration of computer assisted ‘window shopping’
The Future is never easy to spot on a daily basis. New technologies often creep in through older versions of itself. But, sometimes they can hit us square on the head, like the automated vacuum (Roomba), hybrid car (Prius) and smart phone (iPhone) to name a few examples. Intel, the computer processor...
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Could Swing Shops be the New Pop Up? →
Pop up stores may not have made it to the islands (yet) but traveling to the mainland the last couple of years, we came across several of them. Not only did we see small, boutique style pop up’s but giants like Uniqlo, The Gap and Target took over empty spaces at shopping centers to bodegas.
The idea of “get it while you can” really creates a sense of urgency in these temporary...
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Pantone Color of the Year 2010
Pantone Color Institute®, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, unveils PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise as the color of the year 2010.
It is described as “an inviting, luminous hue”. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green.” This color of the year will evoke thoughts of tranquility...
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Color Trends for 2010
If you are thinking of starting off the new year with a fresh look for your store, home or office, Pantone has released their 2010 forecast for this year’s hottest color trends for Home and Interiors.
Pantone Color Institute is the leading color authority for over 45 years. Their forecast of colors are used in fashion to home decor and from paint to wedding decorations.
Here are three...
December 2009
3 posts
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Creative Solutions Word Cloud
Cool site we found that will generate word clouds. You can either type in your blog, blog feed or any other web page. Another option is to manually enter a bunch of text and it will formulate a cloud. Really fun. Use your clouds to make Thank You cards, signage or blow it up as a back drop for a window display.
Click on the image to go to the site or check them out at http://www.wordle.net/
...
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Festival Lighting
If you’ve headed down to Ward Warehouse recently you may have noticed a little more festivity. The center contacted Creative Solutions to design a lighting layout for their concourse. This was a great first project with them.
After extensive measuring (the walking tape measure is our new best friend!), we drafted a hang point plan and materials list needed for the project.
Being...
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It's in the Mail
My holiday copy of Pictures Plus newest catalog just arrived in the mail. We posted a couple of months ago that we were working on a print project (click HERE to see the post) and here it is! It’s nice to see all or your hard work, literally in the palm of your hand.
Our crew’s favorite page:
Clean and concise layout, but there’s another reason…
Great personal...
November 2009
8 posts
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CS in MidWeek →
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Holiday Planning
Visual tools are so helpful when planning out an installation. It focuses our time and energy on the necessary elements needed, but it helps our clients envision the end result. Here is an example of how graphic illustrations come to life.
This is the option that was chosen for Ala Moana Center’s stage holiday decor.
Here is the final look!
A few tweaks here and there and it’s...
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Windward Mall Holiday
On the final leg of our holiday installation (one more mall to go!) This is the second year Windward Mall will be using this holiday package.
When designing this package the request from our client was to keep it traditional but add a local flavor to it and p.s….wow us!
The color palette remained classic but we added palaka print bows and trims. The wow factor came in the form of a...
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Kahala Mall Holiday Decor
More images to come. Kahala Mall’s new package that was inspired by their Poinsettia Tree.
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Pearlridge Christmas Decor
It’s been a busy three weeks installing various properties, but it’s really satisfying seeing everyone get excited for Christmas. It makes all the sweat and glitter worth it.
Here are some images of Holiday at Pearlridge Center. Designing this project, we knew that the focus would be children riding the train. What do kids look forward to on Christmas morning…toys of course!...
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DIY Holiday Wreath
Christmas is surely upon us when the holiday catalogs begin to arrive. Spotted this colorful wreath in the new CB2 catalog and thought it was a great way to have a custom holiday piece for your home or office. It’s also eco-friendly.
Click Here to see how the Ornament Wreath is done. Get crafting! See more photos below for inspiration.
Ornament Wreath
Neckwear Wreath
Wine...
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'Tis the Season
Oh, it’s that time of year again, Christmas. For Creative Solutions, Christmas begins in July. Our crew begins the process of bringing out our clients decor, testing the lights, re-stranding garlands and trees, dusting off ornaments and making sure everything is in working condition.
If we are designing a package, we begin the process in January. Recently we headed to Atlanta for the...
October 2009
4 posts
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Wise Choices = Dramatic Results
During tough times, small retail owners need to manage their dollars carefully. Paying monthly utilities, paying the rent and managing inventory are just a few things they are tasked with. What about visual display? Of course, that falls to the way-side, but it shouldn’t.
In order to attract customers, you need to put your best foot forward. It takes 7 seconds for someone to determine...
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Store Signage (mid-century)
Had to take photos of these cool, old school signs of all places at Maui Mall. Most signs you see nowadays are back lit plexi with vinyl lettering.
There’s something about the craftsmanship and hand-made quality. They show the individuality and uniqueness of each store
Tasaka Guri Guri conveys fun and whimsy. The letters are carved out of this solid piece of wood!
I’m loving...
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Ala Moana Center Stage
We’re going through some of our past work and uploading to Flickr. Since we just completed a stage build out for Ala Moana Center (AMC) a couple of months ago, we wanted to share previous concepts that we created for them.
Ala Moana Center Stage-Before
Ala Moana Center Stage-After (2008)
AMC launched the first annual Shop a Le’a in 2008. This Spring shopping event was a...
September 2009
3 posts
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I Heart Displays
Since the majority of our clients are shopping centers, we often give seminars to their tenants. Topics such as traffic flow, merchandising and window displays are typically the main themes we present.
Walking through malls, we regularly have tenants run out and have us critique their windows. Most of the time they need advice on where to purchase props or how to create a dramatic window.
We are...
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Happy 50th Birthday, Ala Moana!
We were honored to be a part of Ala Moana Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration. We were asked to create a high impact, festive decor for Center Stage. We’ve worked on the stage before and this time wanted to have a bold look to match their advertising. Knowing that this event would be documented for posterity, the stage had to be transformed to create stunning photo opportunities.
...
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Pictures Plus Holiday 2009 Catalog
Typically summer is quiet for Creative Solutions. It’s quite nice. Time to catch up on office work, organizing our supplies and a time to relax before Holiday installations.
The Insect installation was a nice surprise this summer and quite a fun one too! Thanks Pearlridge Center!
Once that project was complete, we rolled right into a photo shoot for another client, Pictures Plus. We...
June 2009
9 posts
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