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WE'VE MOVED!!!!

Diva J — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 -0400

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Feel Like a VIP

Diva J — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:00:00 -0400

Everyone is talking about mobile. Mobile coupons, mobile marketing, mobile wallets. And that list wouldn't be complete without mentioning mobile checkout, the technology that let's sales associates ring up your purchase with a handheld device from anywhere in the store.

Nordstrom is one retailer that started rolling out mobile point-of-sale (POS) devices throughout their full-line stores, as well as in some of their Nordstrom Rack stores. These mobile POS devices consist of a modified iPod Touch with a merchandise scanner and credit card slider. Sales staff can also access the company's entire inventory to check available sizes and colors elsewhere.

On a recent shopping trip, I got to experience the technology first-hand at the newly opened Nordstrom Rack store in Alpharetta, Ga. I can now say that I'm officially obsessed! Why are more retailers not doing this?

I hit up the Rack the first Saturday of the week it opened—so naturally the place was a zoo. Women were combing through the merchandise like ravenous beasts in search of a kill, desperately clutching their finds and hauling bags of clothing to the fitting rooms in a state of controlled chaos. (Don't even get me started on the mouth-foaming action going on in the shoe department.) The selection was top-notch, and if you were willing to dig (three-hour time warp), there were some real gems to be had.

Sure enough, I found plenty of items worthy of joining the insanity that is my overstuffed closet at home. The only buzz kill about the experience COULD have been waiting in a crazy long line to pay for my goodies. But, just as I approached the line for the registers, a sales associate standing nearby asked if I was paying with a credit card (duh! who carries cash anymore?), and then ushered me off to the side to one of her fellow associates.

Off to the side, the associate rang up my items with her handy-dandy phone scanner and placed them in a shopping bag, then swiped my credit card, printed a receipt and e-mailed me a copy. I was done. No waiting in line! I felt like a VIP! (Nevermind that plenty of other people were doing mobile checkout, but I still felt special!).

I've got to hand it to Nordstrom. They didn't embrace this technology just for technology's sake. They implemented it to enhance the shopping experience and kick that superior customer service they're known for to a whole new level. Props!

Now, when's a retailer going to offer heated golf-cart service back to my car parked in Siberia at the mall during the holidays? Maybe add a cup of hot cocoa with a candy cane in it? Just sayin', I'd shop there, wouldn't you?

—Jessie Dowd

Photo: From GeekWire (Courtesy of Nordstrom)

Happy Mother's Day! It's Going to Be Our Biggest Yet

Heather Strang — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 -0400

You’re welcome.

For what you might ask? Well, obviously, for reminding you that Mother’s Day is this Sunday.

No, seriously, you’re welcome.

We know Mother’s Day is one of those holidays that can sneak up on you and we would hate for the moms in your life to suffer because of it. Besides, all survey indicators seem to point to the following:

1) May 13, 2012 will be our biggest Mother’s Day yet.

2) You’re going to spend up to $100 on gifts.

3) And the best gift you can give a mother is some time alone, being pampered.

Now, wasn’t that helpful?

For retailers, this week is going to be their busiest Mother’s Day yet. ShopperTrak predicts that overall national retail sales for Mother’s Day will increase 6 percent this week, with foot traffic rising 3.7 percent.

And just what are you going to get mom?

According to Plum District (a site specifically focused on moms), what mom really wants is:

To sleep in, for god’s sake. Plum found that given the choice, eight out of 10 moms want to sleep in rather than have a “sunrise” breakfast with kids. So, please, do not surprise her in bed with breakfast. Let the poor woman sleep.

A massage. A whopping 52 percent of moms would love some spa time on Mother’s Day.

Time to herself. One-third of mothers really just want a day to themselves.

Time with her mom. Plum discovered that 54 percent of moms would like to spend the day with their own mom.

PriceGrabber also delivered some details on what to get mom this Mother’s Day (listed in order of popularity):

Flowers
Gift Cards
Clothing and accessories
Jewelry
Experiential gift – brunch/dinner/mini-vacation or entertainment of some sort
Smart phone, computer or e-reader

So, get out there and buy your mom something fantastic. And please, please let her sleep in.

What are you getting the moms in your life for Mother’s Day? Think Plum District and PriceGrabber are right? Leave your comments here.

-Heather Strang

*Photo credit: By Sam Pullara (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Milan Furniture Fair 2012 Highlights

Diva J — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00:00 -0400

Diva loves to travel, but she couldn't make it to the 2012 Milan Furniture Fair this year (boo!). Luckily, Diva's friend and Guest Blogger Damon Johnstun was there to fill in. He toured the show, capturing tons of inspiration and new products that we know you're going to get excited about!

Typically Diva loves to yammer on, but this time she'll let the photos do the talking. Check out Damon's amazing finds from the 2012 Milan Furniture Fair at www.ddionline.com/projectgallery in a two-part photo slideshow (part one goes live today, and part two will be up later this week, so check back). Click here for the design eye candy!

—Diva

P.S. Check out the giant pair of sunglasses on the wall in this photo from the Versace exhibit.

Jantzen Beach Center—Ready for a Comeback?

Heather Strang — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:10:12 -0400

As a native Oregonian, I’ve long been aware of the faux draw of the Jantzen Beach Center. I’ll put it to you this way—it’s the kind of shopping center that might have been big a long time ago (like in the early '80s), but today is fairly ho-hum.

So, when I saw that Jantzen Beach is about to undergo a massive redevelopment, I was very, very curious. What could create excitement that would return Jantzen Beach to its previous glory? Or even better, how could Jantzen Beach become a modern-day retail oasis?

EDENS—a retailer developer—is planning a full-force, two-phase re-creation of Jantzen Beach, which is set to open in fall 2012 and summer 2013, and will feature:

Restoration of the historic carousel.
Renaming area streets to honor Charles Wallace Parker, who built the antique wooden carousel.
The latest Target prototype.
Pedestrian-friendly design with sidewalks and people-friendly landscaping.
Two additional big-box retailers.
50,000 sq. ft. of retail space for up to 25 additional retailers.

EDENS anticipates that more than 500 jobs will be created from this redevelopment.

I’m extremely curious as to how this redevelopment will turn out since, as I previously mentioned, Jantzen Beach has been regarded as a retail center long past its expiration. If EDENS can do what it (according to its own press) describes as bringing a warm, homey feeling to large shopping centers, the return of the real Jantzen Beach may just be right around the corner.

Stay tuned for possible coverage in late fall 2012, showcasing the first phase of this redesign. And don’t worry—I’ll be sure to hop on that carousel once it’s back in action. Did you think I wouldn’t? C’mon, you know me better than that.

Are you familiar with the Jantzen Beach Center? What are your thoughts about the redevelopment? Tell us about it here.

-Heather Strang

Holographic Animations Coming To a Retailer Near You

Heather Strang — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

I’ve got to be honest. I was pretty freaked out at GlobalShop 2012 when the holographic virtual assistant kept interrupting me as I walked past. Sure, she had information to share, but if I looked too long at her I got chills. I mean, she looked like a real person, yet she was merely an image vibrating in a conference lobby.

You’ve got to admit...it’s kind of creepy.
Or is it?

Holographic point of sale (POS) images may just be the wave of the future.

The Macallan (a single malt whiskey) engaged in a holographic campaign to promote its The Macallan 1824 Collection. The holographic animations were featured in retail locations in the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and The Macallan distillery in Scotland.

Imagine walking through an airport minding your own business, focused on nothing more than purchasing your duty-free liquor...and then you come upon this.

So, the question is: are holographic animations brilliant in-store campaigns or frightening (albeit magical) ways to get a customer’s attention?

For me, I love a holographic image of a product, like what The Macallan did. It's an innovative way to draw customers in and pay more attention to your product than they normally would. Until, of course, everyone uses holographic images and then we'll have to come up with something else. But, I digress.

The holographic person was a bit too scary for me—I couldn’t fully look her in the eyes (wait, they weren't even real eyes!). Call me old fashioned, but I love a live human being.

Are you seeing holographic animations show up more for POS? Is having a holographic virtual assistant a great way to give customers information and show off your mad tech skills?

Leave your holographic love (or dis-love) in the comments below.

-Heather Strang

Tangerine Tango Mania!

Sarah Goddard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

So, we all know by now (or if you don't, you must be living under a rock!) that the 2012 color of the year is Tangerine Tango. I don't necessarily know that I could pull if off personally (I have not found a single shade of orange that looks flattering on me), but it really does complement some complexions.

Cosmetics retailer Sephora is so passionate about Tangerine Tango that it has taken it to the streets.

The retailer recently partnered with Pantone—the global color authority—to create an extraordinary collection intended to change how consumers wear, feel and think about color. Launched in spring 2012, SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE offers color forecasting, trends and seasonal product collections.

To celebrate the launch, SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE presented their first Color of the Year beauty collection, featuring all things Tangerine Tango. This limited-edition collection includes a variety of products, such as eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, nail polish and accessories, and is available in Sephora Americas stores.

Then, Sephora took it one step further. The retailer built a mobile pop-up shop in the shape of the Pantone color guide for customers to experience the assortment of makeup and accessories in, none other than, Tangerine Tango. This unexpected—but welcome, I'm sure—retail environment made two stops: the first in Manhattan's Meatpacking District from March 21-30; and the second at The Grove shopping destination in Los Angeles from April 18-22.

Click here to watch a video of the mobile pop-up shop during its New York visit.

So, the real question is—will you rock Tangerine Tango?

--Sarah Goddard

American Idol Fever Hits Walmart

Heather Strang — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

You know what the problem with American Idol is? And yes, I mean besides Steven Tyler’s out-of-control hair, Randy Jackson’s over-use of the words “dude,” “bro and “dawg,” and JLo’s incredibly tight dresses and hair (Sorry—that’s all I could come up with for JLo, she’s nearly perfect!).

Here’s the deal: it’s not really a competition anymore.

First of all, I’m blown away by the number of people that think they can sing in this country. Secondly, it’s always abundantly clear who the favorites are and who will win.

Even so, America watches—riveted. We like to be entertained. And who can blame us?

Walmart is sort of hoping the same thing will happen with their American Idol-esque competition. “Get On the Shelf” is the mega-retailer's foray into the world of competition and publicity—offering small businesses the chance to have one of their products sold on Walmart shelves in 3,800 stores nationwide. @WalmartLabs, Walmart’s social-media and e-commerce team created the contest, and we’ve got to give them mad kudos for the ingenuity.

Currently, the contest is in its second round (which ends April 24!) and from there three product winners will be chosen—all of which will be sold online (a win no matter how you look at it!) with one grand prize winner getting placed on Walmart shelves.

Currently, the finalists are:

Bios Clinical Acne system: Utilizing topical probiotics—pretty cool!
Humankind water: Donating proceeds to provide clean drinking water worldwide. Love it!
Bill of Rights silver bracelet: Really, Walmart??
Plate topper: This is my favorite—it’s innovative and useful.
Mr. Spritz Mysterious Shirts: Hidden images revealed when the shirt gets wet…Oy.
SnapIt Eyeglass Repair Kit: Marketed to help kids who are bullied. Seems like a bit of a long shot.
Sola-Bag Forever Carry Refrigerator: Ending lukewarm lunches forever. Great product!
Veteren’s Farm Datil Pepper Salt: Supports disabled combat Vets. Who can say no to that? Not me.
Soleeze Spring Loaded Insoles: Sort of interesting, but, c’mon, they’re insoles.
SUSIE Magazine: See my remarks to Bill of Rights silver bracelet.

I’m pretty impressed with the quality of these products, although some are absolutely eye-roll worthy (and you know who you are). I’m also sad to see that some of the original entrants didn’t make it to the final round. Personally, I thought Uggs for dogs and Zombie repellant could be quite useful. Don’t you?

Creativity in retail is a must, and letting small business innovations shine is a fantastic way to expand (with minimal effort!). Walmart is in a position of so much abundance, I love that they’re giving back to small businesses in this way.

So…who did you vote for and what products are you excited to use? Leave your comments below.

-Heather Strang

Let's Celebrate Earth Day!

Heather Strang — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:39:21 -0400

Happy (almost) Earth Day!

Founded in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former Wisconsin governor and senator, Earth Day has become of our most well known holidays (and rising!).

Why?

Well, since we live on the Earth and how we treat it has a direct impact on our lives, we’re starting to pay more attention. Smart on us! And while one survey found that individuals care less about sustainability since 2012 (I vehemently oppose this belief; I didn’t compost, garden or recycle every little thing in 2009! Did you?), the need to raise Earth awareness is paramount to all of our lives.

Fortunately, our friendly retailers understand this and are finding clever ways on this year’s Earth Day, April 22, to remind each of us to be kind to the Earth. Below is a listing of some of the good retail stuff happening out in the world in honor of Earth Day.

Target is giving away one reusable shopping bag per customer on April 22, available at the guest services desk of each store.

Starbucks is giving away a free hot or iced coffee on April 22, when customers bring in a reusable cup (I am so there for this one!).

Origins is giving away one full-size sample of cleanser in exchange for a bottle of a current skincare product. All bottles and packaging will be recycled.

Jo-Ann Fabric will give out free tote bags on April 22 to the first 50 customers.

Barnes & Noble is offering a 20 percent discount on Earth-friendly toys and games from its online store.

Lowe’s is offering one free tree on Monday, April 23. Customers must go online to register for it beforehand.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is giving away a free burrito on Earth Day to customers who purchased a lunch bag before April 14. The bags are made from recycled Chipotle billboards (Even if you didn't purchase a burrito before the 4/14 deadline, I say try to get one now for the free burrito anyway!).

Pottery Barn Kids is offering free packets of sunflower seeds April 21-22. Customers can pick up Helianthus annuus seedlings to plant in their gardens as well.

The National Park Service is offering free admission to all 397 national parks April 21-29.

Goodwill Southern California (GSC), along with Universal Studios Hollywood (SM) and NBC4, is hosting a donation drive April 21-22, to set a new World Record for most usable goods donations received in a 24-hour period.

Army & Air Force retail stores will offer 100 percent recycled, USA-made apparel by SustainU in 35 of its base stores on Earth Day.

All in all, it’s going to be a very good day, not only for Mother Earth, but for all of us as well.

Do you know of other special retail offers in honor of Earth Day? If so, leave them below.

-Heather Strang

Sources: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/13/business/la-fi-earth-day-freebies-20120413
http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-portland/earth-day-freebies-2012-free-items-from-listed-retailers

Clip art courtesy of: Matriot (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Game On!

Diva J — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:28:54 -0400

As a Words With Friends fan (alright, addict), I consider myself a part of the gaming craze that has millions of smart phone owners glued to their touchscreens. Games like Words With Friends, Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds, have seen major success. Some have even expanded into full-blown empires (rumor has it, we will be seeing Angry Birds on a bigger screen soon—I kid you not).

It’s safe to say there are some people doing more gaming than talking on their smart phones, and retailers are not only aware of this fact, they’re playing along.

A recent study by Retail TouchPoints, titled “Gamification In Retail,” found that gamification, the use of game-design elements in non-gaming contexts, is gaining quick momentum in the retail realm.

While Words With Friends creator Zynga brought gamification to the forefront when it filed for an IPO in December 2011, it’s location-based, check-in applications, such as shopkick, have retailers putting on their game faces.

With shopkick, users download the free app and collect “kicks,” which can later be used for rewards (i.e., free stuff!), just for walking into a retailer’s location. Count me in.

Best Buy—shopkick’s first launch partner—Target and Macy’s are just a few of the retailers that are in on the action. Check out Best Buy’s version.

According to the Retail TouchPoints study, by rewarding customers for frequent visits and purchases, these apps give retailers the resources to increase in-store foot traffic, as well as purchase rates.

The study also pointed to some interesting statistics about this growing marketing tactic:
• Forty-seven percent of client implementations focus on user engagement, while 22 percent revolve around brand loyalty and 15 percent focus on brand awareness, according to M2 Research.
• Gartner predicts that by 2014, more than 70 percent of Global 2000 organizations will have at least one “gamified” application.

Gamification offers a unique format to engage with customers in-store, at home and on-the-go. Retailers are keeping their brands top-of-mind and driving action simply by tapping into our human need for achievement and success.

What need? I’m not competitive.

(Triple word score!...YES! TAKE THAT!)

…looks like these retailers are on to something.

Are you a gamer? Leave your thoughts here!

-Lauren Mitchell

Interior Design & Fashion Merge…Into a Dress

Heather Strang — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

Attention designers. We’re doing a small, informal poll here on the Diva. We want to know: do you ever look around at scraps of marble, wood, bamboo or other materials and think, “This would make an amazing outfit!”?

If you answered yes, then you’re clearly on the cutting edge of fashion and design. St. Louis-based design firm Design Extra is right there with you as well. This creative team created a '20s-inspired flapper-style dress out of Crossville mosaics and mesh tile as part of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Mid America Chapter’s St. Louis City Center event, Unravel. The Unravel event brings designers together to create fashion designs with materials only previously used for interior design purposes. From there, the designs are exhibited in downtown St. Louis.

So, the folks at Design Extra (who obviously enjoy a hearty challenge) partnered with Julie Zobel of ISC Surface to create this stunning mosaic and tile dress.

Unbelievable, right?
Yeah, that and totally creative.

While the model posing in this one-of-a-kind dress was not available for comment, the only thing I can think besides “Wow!” is, “How heavy/uncomfortable is that getup?”

In all seriousness though, the merging of interior design (or any design for that matter!) and fashion is worth pondering. What other interior design materials could be transformed into our next international fashion trend?

And, on top of that, marketing these fashions would be a breeze. Designers could simply send their creations to Lady Gaga – she’s not afraid to wear anything. I mean, after you’ve worn a dress made out of red meat, there really isn’t a problem wearing a dress of tiles or anything else. Right?

Please be sure to leave your creative interior design materials ideas below. And if you know the model featured, have her message me with the comfort level of this gorgeous dress.

-Heather Strang

Social Moms: A Force to Be Reckoned With

Heather Strang — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:55:22 -0400

Mother’s Day is only a month away, and already I’m thinking about how I’ll honor the moms in my life. I not only have my own mother to think of, but also my two sisters and my girlfriends who are moms. It’s no wonder that Mother’s Day is gradually becoming one of the biggest gifting holidays of the year.

And here’s the tricky thing with moms: you can’t get anything past them.

A study by Nielsen confirms this by revealing just how savvy moms are today. In fact, women with at least one child are now being called “social moms.” These hip moms are putting the rest of us to shame. Fifty percent actively use social media platforms via their mobile devices – compared to just 39 percent of females and 37 percent of the general population.

Top that off with the fact that they’re über cost-conscious and you’ve got a real retail force to be reckoned with. My sister Alison regularly celebrates her coupon cutting (or is it clipping or copying now in our digital world?) successes, and she’s not alone. Social moms are 56 percent more likely to download coupons than the general population.

Retailers don’t dare ruffle a social mom's feathers either – she knows social media and she’s not afraid to use it. Moms who use social media are 81 percent more likely to become a fan of a brand or follow it online, are 86 percent more likely to post a status update and 84 percent more likely to post a comment or content to their online sphere.

It doesn’t end there. Social moms are going to give us advice – whether we want it or not. They are 85 percent more likely than the rest of us to share “frequent advice” on beauty and cosmetics, and 28 percent more likely to offer up “frequent advice” regarding online shopping.

In short, these ladies are powerful.

So, if you’re a retailer, how will you honor these social moms for the upcoming holiday and beyond? Do you know some social moms as well? Tell us about it here!

-Heather Strang

Don't Miss citySCENE San Francisco

Diva J — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

San Francisco is, and always will be, one of my favorite cities in the world. So, I'm especially excited to announce that DDI Magazine is launching our first citySCENE event in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 16. (I may or may not have enthusiastically suggested this locale as one of our first stops! Woo hoo!)

Taking place from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at 620 Jones, the networking event is designed to bring likeminded peers from the retail design industry together for some casual chatting, mixing and mingling—and, of course, cocktails!

We're inviting everyone from interns and junior designers on up, to bring together all levels of industry experience. Sponsored by Sheridan & Co., in partnership with Retail Design Institute's Northern California chapter, citySCENE San Francisco is your perfect excuse to round up your colleagues and escape work a little early for a mid-week treat—drinks and munchies are on us!

Just remember that registration is required to attend, so mind your manners and RSVP. You can register/RSVP at www.ddionline.com/citysceneSF. And if you want to check out the invite, click here.

Lastly, I hate to be the bad guy, but vendors/manufacturers are only permitted to attend as event sponsors. Sorry, but this is a strict one! (Don't pull any sneaky stuff and try to register anyways—because we'll be watching!)

We hope you can make it out to citySCENE San Francisco! If you're not in the area, have no fear: citySCENE will be making its way across the country with additional stops, to be announced later this year. Stay tuned!

--Jessie Dowd

(P.S. Anyone else interested in playing host to a citySCENE event? Send me your thoughts!)

Underwater Restaurant Diving

Heather Strang — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0400

At a recent speed dating event (we’ll discuss this later, I’m sure), I kept meeting men who cited diving as one of those things they would “love” to do with a partner. Unfortunately, a 30+ pound pack on my back, claustrophobia, and sharks just doesn’t sound like a good time to me. Crazy, I know.

But, then I recently found a way I could go underwater and have my kind of a good time—yummy food, delicious wine and a gorgeous dress.

The Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives has created an underwater dining experience at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Titled “Sea,” this restaurant provides incredible views of the 1,000-ft. deep coral reef channel that’s only 3 ft. away from the end of the restaurant—along with a gourmet meal. Depending on the tide, the restaurant is anywhere from 5 ft. to 8 ft. beneath the surface of the ocean.

Now, that’s my kind of “diving!”

The R-cast acrylic windows were designed and manufactured by RPT Asia in Thailand. The windows, some of them 8-ft. wide and 6-ft. tall, were not easily assembled—in fact, building the restaurant was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

The restaurant was first put together on another island and then welded to a barge where it was slowly floated to the Anantara Kihavah Villas. Sand was then pushed into the structure to help sink it.

That’s a lot of work for a restaurant that only seats 18 diners total, but what an incredible experience. Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives just made my bucket list.

Are you interested in “diving” into the Sea at Anantara Kihavah Villas? Have you ever seen this type of design and construction? Leave your comments below.

-Heather Strang

Sisters and Retail Come Together at Zouk Los Angeles

Heather Strang — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:03:25 -0400

Sisterly love cannot be underestimated. It’s what makes sisters torture one another in middle school and then as adults live next door to one another and raise their kids together. It’s why as pouty as I was every time my mom got pregnant (I’m the oldest of five girls!), there isn’t a day that goes by now that I don’t connect with one of my sisters.

It’s also why sisters Jenny Best and Katharina Tagliaferro created Zouk Los Angeles, a retail boutique offering up home décor items – that incidentally come hand-picked by both of them. The two travel the world together from India to Cambodia to Morocco to find the most unique goods for their store.

But because I know sisterly love so well, I’d guess it’s also because they wanted to find a way to merge their passions along with their love for one another.

The Zouk sisters (as I’m now calling them) are on to something. They exhibit all the qualities of an indie retailer set for big success – their assortment is ever-changing based on their travels, they infuse their passion for travel and home décor into their in-store and online presence, and a portion of all proceeds go to a charity of – get this – the customer’s choice.

Zouk supports the following five charities and allows each customer to decide where they would like the portion of their proceeds to go:

1. Doctors Without Borders (International)
2. AmFAR (National)
3. World Food Program (WFP) (International)
4. The Humane Society (National)
5. Ocean Park Community Center (Local)

Um yeah, I’d bet money on total success for these two sisters. Sisters and retail – we may be onto something here.

What do you think of Zouk’s approach to retail? Have you been to their LA store? Tell us about it here!

-Heather Strang

Meet the New Mature

Heather Strang — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:02:34 -0400

Eighty is the new 60 – have you heard? As we live longer and experience a higher quality of life, retailers are taking an extra long look at what “old” really is and how to cater to a more “mature” demographic.

First off though – a little trivia. In five years there will be more people over the age of 60 than under the age of? What’s your guess?

If you guessed five you were right.

And get this – in 30 years there will be more people over 60 than under 16. Clearly we need to look to these customers to discover what their needs are. Thankfully A.T. Kearney did it for us.

In their global study “What Do Mature Customers Want?" we’re exposed to some fascinating statistics about this growing demographic:

Maturing customers will spend $15 trillion annually by the end of this decade.
Customers over 80 are far more loyal to established brands.
Eighty seems to be the new age for being considered “old” (it’s no longer when one retires).
Customers 80+ are less interested in green products. (This makes me sad – we need to educate them!)
Retailers need to be careful to balance their marketing towards the realities of aging but without treating customers as though they are elderly.
Mature customers are more focused on quality and service, and are not as price sensitive as other demographics.
They also spend more time in stores, and currently, “mature” customers represent 30 percent of overall spending power.
Mature customers also prefer smaller, more community-based stores and more personal attention from customer service representatives.

So there you have it – the 4-1-1 on maturing customers. This is clearly a demographic we can’t ignore. And I’ve just got to say, I’m thrilled 80 is now our benchmark for old. That gives me some time!

Do you work with this mature demographic? What retailers do this well? Leave your comments below.

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Oxfordian Kissuth (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Safeway Surprises

Heather Strang — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:15:56 -0400

You just never know who's going to surprise you.

Last night, I was hanging out with several friends and I walked into my living room to be greeted by “Happy Birthday” along with a flourless chocolate cake and candles. And my birthday isn’t even until the end of the week. I was totally surprised.

I felt that same sense of shock and awe when I read recently about Safeway’s efforts to be even more sustainable. The grocery retailer has amended its Softly and Ultra Thirsty bath and facial tissue and paper towels to meet the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance’s environmental and social responsibility standards.

I wish I would have known about this before I drove out of my way earlier in the week to get my eco-friendly bath tissue from Kroger’s Fred Meyers. But, at least now I know. These Safeway brands are now FSC-certified and are sourced from suppliers who follow strict standards in forestry management, production-chain controls and sustainability.

All of this certification means that the paper sources for the Softly and Ultra Thirsty tissues and towels are screened to ensure that they are not used in any type of destructive forestry practices.

Well done Safeway!

The retailer already offers its Bright Green line of paper towels, bathroom tissue, napkins and facial tissue made from 100 percent recycled paper and chlorine-free materials. Now, they’re taking things a step further.

According to their press release, this change is in alignment with “The Heart of Safeway” mission to respect customers and the planet.

I’m totally impressed with this move and plan to shop at Safeway for these products.

Do you know a grocery retailer who is taking these types of environmentally and socially responsible steps? Will you frequent Safeway more knowing this is part of their mission? Leave your thoughts here.

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Karduelis at the Turkish Wikipedia project.

U.S. Millennials Buck The Apocalypse

Heather Strang — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:00:00 -0400

You know the end of the world is coming, right? That or the Mayans died off before they could complete an infinity calendar… (How is this not plausible? They couldn’t keep going forever!)

Whatever your apocalyptic theory, you might want to get an optimism boost from your nearest 15- to 25-year-old.

Turns out, despite all the end of the world drama, today’s youth think the future looks very, very bright. InSites Consulting recently released a survey that found 67 percent of U.S. youngsters “expect 2012 to become a better year” than 2011. In fact, the report discovered that U.S. Millennials (ages 15-25)* are the most optimistic in the world. And that’s after they interviewed 4,000 participants in 16 countries.

Check out some of the other compelling (and rather wise) results these kiddos had to offer:

Almost half (45 percent) of youngsters think they have a better life than their parents.

One out of four has the desire to become famous, and a quarter would “love” to be involved in a reality TV Show...What have we done here people??

U.S. Milliennials look up to famous musicians far more than other celebrities. Compare this to the 3 percent who are interested in becoming a famous politician. This may be good news, I can’t decide. Thoughts, anyone?

If they did have to be politicians, Millennials would focus on the economic crisis (wait, aren’t we done with that for now?), air pollution and water pollution.

Oddly though, they are most interested in working for big pharmacy, with 27 percent desiring to work in the pharmaceutical sector (perhaps for the money?), followed by 24 percent who want to work in tourism and entertainment and information communication technology. Fast food, alcohol, tobacco, oil and petroleum are the least desirable industries.

They’ve got the entrepreneurial edge, too: 56 percent of Millennials want to be self-employed, while one out of 10 say they would like to stay with their current employer for life (ah, the naivety of youth). Only 52 percent of U.K. Millennials are interested in self-employment, along with 39 percent of Danish and 40 percent of German Millennials.

They want more—spending power that is. While Dutch, German and Danish Millennials are satisfied with their spending power, 28 percent of U.S. Millennials are quite dissatisfied. They would really like to spend even more money on media, technology, hobbies, going out and their car; giving less to culture and sports.

Are you feeling as enlightened as I am? At least we don’t have to worry about the end of the world anymore—that’s a relief. What do you think about our Millenmials' bright and sunny outlook? I sure love it! I just wish they didn’t want to be “famous.”

Leave your thoughts below!

-Heather Strang

*All statistics, unless otherwise noted represent U.S. Millennials, ages 15-25.

Retail Takes a Bite Out of Reality TV

Heather Strang — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:08:50 -0400

Okay, so it’s confession time. I’m pretty sure the week in Vegas for GlobalShop 2012 did this to me, but in any event, confess I must. Here goes.

I have a thing for celebrities. And…reality TV.

I know, I know – it’s wrong. Why would I enjoy anything that involves celebrities (who aren’t even real people for god’s sake!) and “reality” television, which is now so scripted it’s ludicrous to even call it “reality.”

Well, before you come at me with your judgment - I have plenty of my own - hear me out.

It involves retail this time.

Interested? I thought so.

Our fabulous friends at H&M, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue are up to something brilliant. And it involves Elle Macpherson (otherwise known as “The Body”), Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson (so love her!) and fashion designer John Varvatos. It also involves a reality TV competition featuring 14 wannabe fashion designers with a dream of making it big.

One of them will. But not before retail benefits from this new competition, so aptly titled, "Fashion Star."

H&M, Macy’s and Saks will each have a buyer LIVE on the show making bids against the other retail buyers to purchase the designs featured, so they can be sold in their stores – the very next day.

(Pausing so you can all gasp in admiration and excitement. I told you it was brilliant.)

So, we’ve got a fashion competition featuring uber-hot and talented celebrities (although I have no idea who that John guy is) and three hot retailers actively participating in the show and then driving viewers into their stores to purchase the designs they’ve seen the night before on television.

Are you kidding me? If I loved this idea anymore I would have to dip it in dark chocolate sauce and eat it.

At the end of the 10-episodes, one very lucky designer will be awarded an exclusive capsule line to be placed in all three stores.

Fashion Star airs on NBC Tuesday evenings from 10 p.m.-11 p.m. Since I don’t have TV (how very Portland, Ore., of me, eh?), I will be going to the gym or my sister’s to watch. Will you? Leave your comments below about the show, the concept and your take after viewing.

My prediction? Reality TV heaven with a slice of delicious retail on the side.

-Heather Strang

DDI Goes to Paris

Heather Strang — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:55:00 -0500

There’s a lot happening in the world of retail these days. Coming off of our best GlobalShop yet (what we’re now calling GS 2012), we’re already looking ahead to the future. And it’s taking us - well one of us anyway - to Paris.

Executive Editor of DDI Magazine, Alison Embrey Medina, will join the 3^rd annual Global Department Store Summit May 10-11, 2012, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The title of the summit is “Staying Relevant for Growth,” and it will feature 19 department store CEOs. View the full list of CEO speakers here.

Attendees – in addition to our own fabulous editor – will include an international mix of top retail management executives, suppliers and vendors, and retail stakeholders, such as service, finance and real estate industry executives.

The Summit is arranged into five sections:

1-Pioneering Retail Style
2-The CEO Perspective
3-Delighting the Customer
4-What Makes Luxury
5-The Creativity Edge

I can hardly wait for details on this truly global summit, located in the heart of all things cool, hip and, well, French. I’m preparing my questions for Alison now, and you know it will include the biggest of them all: What were they wearing? Who? Everyone, naturally.

Have you been to the Global Department Store Summit or are you planning to attend this year? Leave your comments below and tell us all about it!

-Heather Strang

Trend Tracking at GlobalShop 2012

Diva J — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:01:18 -0500

Well folks, it's day three of GlobalShop 2012. But before we say goodbye until next year (Chi-town here we come!!!), we'd like to share some pearls of retail wisdom from today's distinguished keynote speaker Todd Hale, senior vice president of Consumer & Shopper Insights for The Nielsen Co.

Hale began the session, which was titled "Insights Into Our Economic Recovery: Tracking Trends That Matter," by pointing out that markets and consumers are driven by uncertainty. Currently, twice as many people are out of work than when the recession began at the end of 2007. To make matters worse, gas prices have elevated 37 cents from 2011, and 94 cents from 2010. And when gas prices rise, less consumers are eating out, spending money on discretionary items and more people are looking for coupons, sales and a good value.

So how are retailers responding? Well, more retailers are leveraging gas rewards in their loyalty programs (e.g. Kroger, Costco). And they're banking on popularity of electric cars in the future, which is evidenced by retailers incorporating electric car charging stations at their locations.

Hale also pointed out that people/households who make more than $100,000 per year have exited the recession. In fact, hardware, home improvement and some high-end department store retailers have seen recent same-store sales growth. However, those people/households who don't make more than $100,000 have not exited the recession, and as a result, some discount stores aren't seeing same-store sales growth.

But, "value is not just about low price, it's about the balance between price and benefits," Hale said. And advertising on price and product features alone doesn't work. Retailers and brands should keep in mind that what appears to work with consumers is humor and creating emotional connections.

With regard to retail trends and innovation, Hale said that value and convenience are winning, as evidenced by increased store count. Drug and small-box retailers are dominating the list of chains that are adding the most stores since the end of 2007.

Small-format-style stores also are driving a lot of interest for some retailers like Walmart, Whole Foods and Cabela's, to name a few.

But, it's not all about the small-format store: Toys "R" Us is expanding its superstore format and outlet malls are going mega!

To shift gears for a moment, Hale spent a good deal of time talking about how much food matters in terms of retail. If you're a food retailer that's already good news for you, but if you're not, you should think about how to get shopping dollars your way by leveraging consumers' love of and connection to food. For instance, Macy's is trying to connect with shoppers around food via its Macy's Culinary Council, and there's a Walgreen's in downtown Chicago whose first floor looks nothing like a traditional drugstore. It offers sushi, a selection of 700 different types of fine wine and much more.

Another notable trend centers around media and communications. For instance, Target enables shoppers to design their own digital view, create their own shopping lists and share them via social media. And grocery retailer Hy-Vee is putting how-to videos online of their own in-store chefs working their magic. There's also a ton more tweeting happening and a lot more QR codes. Macy's is using QR codes to deliver fashion tips to customers.

Retailers also are responding to changes in consumer trends. Chipotle, for example, is experimenting with an Asian concept called ShopHouse, and Winn-Dixie has opened a Cuban-themed store in Miami. Another consumer trend is how much shoppers are willing to spend on their furry friends. That's right, Fluffy and Gizmo are two compelling reasons for shoppers to drop some serious loot on man's best friend.

Finally, what's in store for the future? E-commerce, club, dollar, supercenters and pet stores are the big winners!!!

Hale closed the session with some really interesting food for thought. He said Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon are going to have a tremendous impact on retail. But the question is, how are they going to either enhance or disrupt the retail market??

There's only one way to find out ... stay tuned!!

--Sarah Goddard

Buzzworthy Booth: Amuneal Manufacturing

Heather Strang — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:16:55 -0500

GlobalShop 2012 has been a mind-blowing experience filled with educational seminars, product demonstrations, fabulous booth displays and tremendous connections. And with thousands of people all around, there are certain conversations you can't help but overhear.

Amuneal Manufacturing is a case in point.

In a recent interview with a retailer from Express, I was told, "You must see their booth." Walking down the show floor, I kept hearing individuals ask one another, "Have you seen Amuneal's booth?"

Never one who likes to be left out, I decided that I had to see it - even if it was a trek to get to booth 4255 (the show floor is huge!).

I was not disappointed by Amuneal - they are absolutely buzzworthy. Here are the highlights:

The booth is enclosed with only two entry points - from the outside one can vaguely see what's inside through brief slits. It's intriguing. You instantly want to know, "What's going on in there?" (Smart design idea guys!)

Upon entering, I realized why Amuneal had created an enclosed booth space. They have a lot going on! Amuneal specializes in custom metal and mill work, and has recently developed a store fixture collection for small retailers who may not be able to afford working with a designer one-on-one.

My favorite part of the booth though was the Inspiration wall. It's something Amuneal has in its offices for its designers to support the inspiration process. They decided to bring that element of inspiration to their GlobalShop booth this year. And it is inspiring. If I could, I would sit in front of it and meditate - it has a zen and creative vibe that really sets the tone for the entire booth.

They also included miniature case studies of the work they've done to better illustrate what they can do for retailers.
Another intriguing item I discovered - they are able to heat and spray metal on the surface of any object. The plank tables featuring their goods are treated with this spray. The metallic totally adds texture and a richer tone to the wood. I would love to see more of that in retail.

So, what's the lesson? Eavesdropping is good. Well, at least in this instance it is. Listen to what the people around you are talking about. What booths are they going gaga over? What's getting them excited? Then, go check that out - before the show closes!

Thanks so much for a wonderful GlobalShop!

-Heather Strang

*Photos courtesy of Stuart Goldenberg and Amuneal.

GlobalShop 2012: Best in Show Booth Winner and More!

Diva J — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:46:45 -0500

And the Best in Show booth winner is ... drumroll please ...

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based Judith von Hopf!!! Selected as the Best in Show booth winner for GlobalShop 2012 by the editors of DDI Magazine, this whimsical booth is located in the Visual Merchandising Show pavilion (Booth 2822). Its eye-catching design features flowers and other décor artfully crafted from paper and hand-assembled. Describing the booth concept, Melissa von Hopf, president of the company, says: “We wanted to create a mystical forest, with a modern side and classical side.”

In addition to the Best in Show booth award, five other exhibitors were awarded Outstanding Booth Awards. One such exhibitor is CNL Intl. (Booth 4407 in the Store Fixturing Show pavilion.) With colorful, fun displays, a range of different mannequins and even a faux pool, it's no wonder this booth stood out!

Another super cool booth and Outstanding Booth Award winner is National Print Group. Located in the At-Retail Marketplace pavilion (Booth 740), this booth featured a Hawaiian-style theme complete with a real live waterfall (so cool), straw hut, Hawaiian dancers, surfboards and so much more!!

If you haven't already, make sure to stop by Lifestyle/Trimco's booth in the Visual Merchandising Show pavilion (Booth 3138). Also an Outstanding Booth Award winner, this display was chock full of interesting things to see. Mannequins with candy-themed displays offered up colorful, youthful and fun "eye candy." Pun intended.

Perspectives In Print (Booth 3119 in the Visual Merchandising Show pavilion) was another Outstanding Booth Award recipient. This booth stood out because of its incredible use of different textures, materials and lighting elements and more!

The final Outstanding Booth Award went to r3g Robelan for its extremely unique, eye-catching booth. Located in the Store Fixturing Show pavilion (Booth 4665), it is nearly impossible to miss this booth. Make sure you check out this must-see exhibitor!!

--Sarah Goddard

Media Graph Keeps Things Light & Sexy at GlobalShop 2012

Heather Strang — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:24:25 -0500

Walking the show floor at GlobalShop has been so much fun. It constantly reminds me what a creative bunch we are and how much the retail world is constantly shifting.

I was stopped dead in my tracks today when I came across Media Graph's larger than life displays. The woman's crystalized purple lips on one side, followed by sparkling blue lips on the other caught me off guard. I was even more surprised when Orit Toledano with Media Graph shared that the displays were made completely of fabric. In fact, that's what they specialize in - large format fabric displays.

And as if that wasn't jaw-dropping enough, a stunning black and white image featuring a gorgeous man (he was quite breathtaking really) that was solid yet transparent was even more astounding. How was this possible?

Toledano explained that two layers of double-sided transparent fabric were used and the photo was mirrored, and then a double-sided light box was added. While I couldn't tell you exactly what that means, I can tell you that it works to create a dramatic and stunning display.

"The fabric is light for shipping and yet durable, and it's also sexy," said Toledano.

And frankly, I agree with her. Thanks Media Graph!

-Heather Strang

Harvest Creative Gets Fresh at GlobalShop 2012

Heather Strang — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:34:21 -0500

When I met Andrew Holliday and Daniel Brown from Harvest Creative, I was on the hunt. I was on the hunt for something fresh, something different, something creative - essentially a booth that would grab me and not let go.

Their "I Got Fresh in Vegas" green t-shirt flanked by Coca-Cola red and white graphics did exactly that.

Because, people, if we can't be witty and creative, then why bother?

Harvest Creative seems to understand this best, and works with retailers to develop their brands through research, design, production and fulfillment.

Their own branding follows a theme of "fresh" ideas cleverly aligned with the offer for customers to "get fresh with us." While Andrew dons a "Refreshing" tee, decked out in the Harvest color and look, Daniel wears his "Now Serving Fresh Ideas" companion tee. Essentially these two guys from Memphis are fully embodying their brand - at GlobalShop and beyond.

GlobalShop participants can join in on the fresh-ness when they stop by booth 644 to receive a free "I Got Fresh in Vegas" tee. However, you do have to be scanned to receive, but trust me, it's worth it.

From what I can tell, Harvest Creative has figured out something that's important to note - if you're in a small booth you can find a way to grab even the most overstimulated blogger (I had just finished looking at shiny holiday displays!) or potential new clients.

What's more, they are both quite clearly madly passionate about their brand and the work they do. You can feel it from the moment you speak with them.

And that my friends is how success is created. Go Harvest!

-Heather Strang