Via @RetailProphet : Forget about QR codes and touchscreens. This is the future of in-store display.
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 to signage and mannequins to fixtures. It is a visual merchandisers heaven.
Take a look at some photos of previous shows. We will be micro-blogging while there and will upload tons of photos upon our return. Follow us on Twitter, @iheartcs, for more images and tips from seminars we will be attending.
Alesco Booth
Infinity Booth
Musak Booth
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 to do to protect you from losing potential customers? Below are simple (and economical!) tips to create a functional and impressive storefront entrance.
1. Avoid tall fixtures
Using large fixtures or complex displays at your entrance will create visual barriers that reduces sight-lines and create a feeling of unwelcoming ‘separation’. Keep floor fixtures at waist or chest height for better browsing and overall higher visibility.
2. Provide a Decompression Zone
Place your lead fixture (preferably a table) 3’ - 4’ feet inside the store threshold rather than at the immediate entrance. This space will allow customers to prepare themselves for shopping and navigating your store.
An attractive and inviting storefront at Soha Living / Kahala Mall
3. Make a Statement!
Use exciting products to attract customers into your store. Tell a story through lifestyle, color or a mixture of both. Be creative and make an impact.
Victoria Secret’s Pink Store shows off a great example of classification merchandising; highlighting a few styles while using complimentary items to surround them.
ReForm School in Los Angeles shows a great lifestyle presentation. (photo credit targophoto.com via Flickr)
4. Change your Product Weekly
Plan to change your display product weekly. This will help keep the store looking fresh and appealing to frequent customers. Even better, be the customer! Shop your store for signs of stale or ineffective displays, then fix them.
5. Maintenance
IMPORTANT! Be mindful of untidy areas throughout the day, always check for dust or trash that has accumulated. Pickup after customers and remove unncessary clutter from view of the public. If you use an entry rug, straighten and clean it routinely.
Pictures Plus / Ward Warehouse
You have one chance to make a good first impression, make it count. By applying these steps to your storefront and actively working on improving your displays can help turn a passerby into a loyal customer. If you don’t take the time to care, neither will your customers.
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 environmentally conscious, we recommended the use of LED lights. They consume 90% less electricity and the bulb life is estimated to be 50,000-100,000 hours.
This is a great way to update a property, store front or window. During the holidays or special events, the clear bulbs can be replaced with colored ones (i.e.-4th of July add red and white, for Christmas incorporate red or green.)
May you have a Festive Holiday!
booklover:(via libraryland)
Cool way to make a back drop or arrange “book blocks” to make a table.
Source: libraryland
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 Cork Wreath
Cookie Cutter Wreath
Recycled Wreath-use old holiday cards and a leaf stencil.
For most of the wreath projects, click HERE for instructions. Happy Holidays from Creative Solutions!
‘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 Christmas Market in search of new ornamentation. It is amazing the amount of decor that is offered. Over three floors of vendors! We are kids in a candy store.
I love walking from showroom to showroom and seeing all of the wonderful pieces.
We aren’t always able to use items that we fall in love with, but at least we can share some of our findings.
We will be posting images of our installation this season so check back. And if you pass someone covered in glitter, remember Santa is coming!
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 whether or not they will walk into your store. Windows are the best form of advertising and will cost you far less than traditional formats.
We’re going to show you a small re-do that was done for a local boutique owner in Waikiki. With just a few cans of paint, some vinyl and bamboo this made a significant change and impact.
Maki’s-Before1
There is no store signage in the window, only vendor signs. This is your calling card! Make sure you have your store logo visible. Also, the product layout limits how many pieces you can display.
Maki’s-After1
With the addition of color and store logo, it creates visual awareness of your location. By adding a floating merchandiser (made from bamboo and twine) it creates depth and more capacity for product. The frosted vinyl at the bottom allowed us to manipulate the uplights without blinding anyone.
Maki’s-Before2
Opposite view from the hallway. Floor to ceiling windows allow for a great view into the store, however the product below the window looks less appealing.
The white walls create a stark contrast within the store.
Maki’s-After2
Adding color to the back wall creates a visual anchor within the store. It adds warmth and definition to the interior space. The vinyl frosting adhered to the window also restricted the line of sight and focuses the eye upward into the store. It also hides any clutter on the floor.
Here is an up close view of the bamboo merchandisers we made.
It doesn’t have to cost a lot, but a little forethought will result in an impressive transformation. For more pictures, click HERE.
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 this typeface and the animal caricatures.
Store signs are a visual communication tool that are just as important as your windows. They don’t have to have bells and whistles but show a clear, concise image of who you are.
