Mystery Window in Manhattan

Mystery Window


Saw this on another blog but love this quirky story of a man who did his windows just to see who would respond!
Visual Merchandising on a personal level.

(click the above link to see more)

Antique Props tell story at RRL & Co.

We couldn't help but be inspired by the Bleecker Street RRL & Co window. The whole RRL & Co concept is based on pieces that are vintage or vintage inspired, a rugged departure from the preppy chic of traditional Ralph Lauren. Several vintage props such as motorcycles, clocks, hat boxes and ladders set the tone of the windows and drew one into the store.

We love how they use props to tell their story. Usually crowded together in their small windows they make one want to venture in to see more.

Plus they often reuse them - so we'll keep an eye out for their next iteration. Stop by Bleecker street and have a look for yourself.

Madewell is looking well!

Madewell's windows and interiors have caught our eye recently. From their use of vintage seed packets folded into paper flowers in their Soho store window to the carefully curated interiors, their brand is on it's way to becoming iconic.

Madewell which was a uniform company started in 1937 and revitalized by Mickey Drexler of J. Crew, does a good job of adding authenticity through the careful use of antique props to tell their story.

The vintage props such as luggage, radios, metal locker baskets and wooden bobbins are used to merchandise their product and create a narrative throughout the store environment.

We think they are getting it right and if J. Crew's success is any indication, we suspect we'll see lots more from them!

CDW Merchants Turns 5!

It was our 5th year anniversary today at CDW Merchants and there is a lot to celebrate!

We were recently recognized in the Inc. 5000 list for 2010, were accepted into the Women's Business National Enterprise council as a certified women owned business and we are continuing to grow and expand.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you our fans, customers, supporters, clients and friends. We love what we do and we have fun doing it and we are so grateful to work with and for all of you helping to make retail environments more visual!

We'll be in San Francisco on October 7th at A.R.E.'s Shop Talk as City Sponsors and on October 21st in Dallas. For more information call 847-733-1469.

(the photo above is a little party at HQ where the team enjoyed some cake and laughs - those of us in the outside offices; Seattle, San Francisco, NYC and Dallas - will be eating cake separately!)

Blackhawks Mohawk and other excitement

As most of you know, our HQ is based in Evanston, IL so the Chicago Blackhawks win last night in game 6 of the Stanley Cup was BIG news.

Company President, Courtney Wright's children were so inspired by the excitement that they decided to decorate the office lobby with their own hand crafted Stanley cup replica. Looks like visual merchandising will continue to run in the family. The youngest Robert, even went so far as to cut his hair into a mohawk to support the local team.

Go Hawks (and go VM!!)

we LOVE visual merchandising

and visual merchandisers - and all the many people it takes to give brands their look at a retail level. Like many things, its easy to take something for granted "from the outside". When a shopper walks into a pleasing retail environment, he or she may not understand all the many steps it took to make that magic happen.

Well we do and we salute the creative directors, the production teams, the brand ambassadors, the VM field teams, the store teams and the many, various departments, peoples and teams it takes to make retail shopping fun and retail stores beautiful.

and for those who are out of work or looking for work in the field - try this website

http://www.visualmerchjobs.com/

LONG LIVE Visual Merchandising and exciting retail experiences.

Making something out of nothing...

These days visual merchandisers are being asked to do 'more with less'. While this is not a trend we like to see (knowing the importance of valuing visual merchandising), we know it is a sign of the times.

So it's a real delight when we see retailers who do it so well and Anthropologie is one of the best at it. Their in store merchandisers are given a general theme and material direction and then they create their own magic within their respective stores. This holiday, each store came up with its own magic using little more than plastic, paper snow cones and white tissue paper.

The results speak for themselves!

THE ultimate merchandising job...

...begins around the world seeking great merchandise of course and Keith Johnson does just that in Man Shops Globe - a new 8 episode documentary for Sundance.

We watch as Keith visits France, Turkey, South Africa and Holland among other places in search of unique and one of a kind items to give Anthropologie their special merchandising mix. We see how he has to make split second decisions whether a discovery will work into their unusual retail concept. Constantly seeking out the next thing, he meanders the untraveled paths looking for that item that we have yet to see and hoping to bring back things to excite their customers.

Worth a watch for ideas, inspiration and a little armchair travelling.

http://www.sundancechannel.com/man-shops-globe/

Look UP! (but is it good for sales?)

Seeing a lot of props and decoratives hanging from the ceiling; hands holding merchandising, oversize prize ribbons, flags, upside down flowers - there are just a few. While it does add a creative element to the store environment, if customers look up will they take their eyes off the merchandise and is that a good idea?

We want to hear from you! What are some good tricks to help visual merchandisers enhance sales?

5 things we LOVE about Visual Merchandising

1. It can tell a story
Good visuals can help a retailer sell the image of their brand. It’s best when visuals tie back to product but as long as the message is clear and the window is effective, we can learn a lot about a brand or store from their windows.

2. It can promote a good cause
Often retailers get involved in collaborating with charities or doing marketing tie ins. Using their store windows to communicate this is a great way to capture pedestrians attention and let them know what is important to their company.

3. It can show me who cares

When retailers take the time to think about the presentation of their store environment, it sets a tone. Good windows, clean selling floors and details like props in display vitrines add interest for the consumer and show that the brand cares what you think.

4. It helps me keep time

Seasonal enhancements and decoratives that reflect the time of year, help consumers know when and what to celebrate. Especially in the busy fall and winter season from Halloween to Easter stores help set the pace when there is one holiday after another.

5. It entertains me

As they say in PR, "bad news is still news" and even when a store window is unattractive, it can get people talking. Often I will pull over to look at a bad window and wonder where they were going with the idea -its like when you watch a bad movie with good actors and ask yourself "didn't any of them know while it was being made"?