Real world applications of RFID in the retail environment. Stockrooms around the world rejoice.
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 icons.
Each piece was mounted to a firm substrate and then contour cut.
Giant size puzzle. We fit all the pieces together on-site. Each element was 4’-10’.
Original version of stage (we had several versions). We built a working model to scale to ensure that our components would work.
Close up version of model.
Close up of the icons. We wanted to make them look as if they were floating.
The completed look.
From Bits to Bricks: Online blog turns into a store
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 brick & mortar retail store.
There are plenty of unknown variables in this scenario. Pixels are typically cheaper than atoms and the ability to refresh shelving is harder than refreshing web pages. Motivated to explore past the confines of the digital world the Nice Kicks crew hope to create a store that is equal to the online experience. The upside: your readership can turn into instant customers. The downside: Your readers may live nowhere near your town.
Having your product or brand represented online is nothing new for retail. But the idea of providing a physical ‘portal’ for fans of your blog to connect and interact with each other is an emerging trend in retail. Opposite from the typical shoe store, Nice Kicks is an online magazine providing consumers with information and specs as to who carries the latest and greatest at the mall. Now they plan to be at both ends of the court (cough,cough). Not every website has what it takes to become a real store but some websites do. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more small online businesses transition from bits to bricks in the coming years.
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 stores. Most last a week, while others pop up for the weekend and are gone by Monday.
If Swing shops are the future of retailing, it seems the idea of “seasons” are becoming less and less. It’s about capturing fashion as it happens and simply not waiting for a calendar season to influence you.
Keeping inventory from becoming stagnant is a major challenge for most retailers; maybe swing shops will be the answer. It not only reduces your stock but keeps your brand fresh and appealing, leading to repeat visits.
Click on the link or Here to read more…
Source: psfk.com
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 while restoring the “sense of well being”.
Whether or not it calms and relaxes you, Turquoise pairs well with any other color in the spectrum while it creates excitement to neutrals and browns.
Pantone® colors are used in ever aspect of design. From fashion, home decor to paint colors and special events. Take a look at some pieces that we began spotting at the end of 2009 and the first few days of the year:
Both pieces from Jonathan Adler.
Dayna B. cut glass votive set, Sears.
Shine Citrine Pendant, Candalabra
Graphic Tote (Hawai‘i designer), Maliko Design via Lei Chic
Eva Mendes in Michael Kors
Wafer Cake, via Martha Stewart Weddings
Supplements NY, 800-631-3844
With Love flower note, Hammerpress
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 weeklong promotion focusing on fashion, beauty, wellness, family, travel and cuisine.
Creative Solutions was tasked to create a dynamic stage presence that tied into their advertising campaign. We wanted to transform the stage into a space that looked completely different.
Since so many fashion retailers were participating we decided to go with a clean “runway” look. Tying in the advertising we utilized the campaign color pink as a trim. Everything from the flower beds to the overheads were remodeled into a chic package highlighting the week’s events.
Shop a Le’a 2009-working model
In the Spring of 2009, we partnered again with AMC for the 2nd Annual Shop a Le’a promotion. Again, transforming the space was key and this time we wanted to create a 3 dimensional space.
Our inspiration was the Eames House of Cards (no pun intended…GGP had just filed bankruptcy when we were designing it).
The above images are working models we created for the stage. This helped us determine the correct proportions to be built as well as spacial planning.
Shop a Le’a 2009
Due to the scale of the stage and the surrounding environment, enlarging the “cards” gave the stage dimension and an interesting architectural point of view. It also allowed the stage to be flexible. If needed, cards could be moved around and reconfigured.
