Naturally Fesitve

Seen here - two examples of natural elements; trees & twine balls
combined with festive touches; strings of lights, wrapped boxes and light globes.

Clean and simple ideas but effective and the oversize strands of lights add a nice dimension.

Glittery holiday

In an effort to brighten the darkness during the season with the shortest days, we are seeing a lot of metallics in windows and it does brighten the mood. Silver, gold, bronze - metallics are playing center stage this season - get out and see them and enjoy the show.

Winter Wonderland

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...and apparently so are a few retailers.

We love the snow! and with a few bright touches, like the red cardinal or colorful product, these windows really pop.

Check out the snow made of shredded paper, dixie cups, crumpled plastic and tissue at Anthropologie. It looks like a snow fort you would have made as a kid - which is why it works. When windows create fantasy and memories, you know you have done your job. The white Snow owl on the "fake" tree stump is also terrific and within the 'wall of snow', made out of crumpled white paper, there are other snowy creatures which is fun.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday show so far - get out there and support your local retailers this weekend. Who wouldn't love to finish their shopping early? (then you'd have more time to admire the windows!)

Happy Thanksgiving.

Mixed Message?

Admittedly this blog is about the use of visual elements at retail and it's ability to engage consumers.
However, in our travels we notice a focus on marketing and especially in the past year or so, much of it on sales, which we have discussed here a bit. (If the only thing you are selling is a sale...are you enticing your customer?)

But this one caught my eye for it's use of the word ALL but WITH a caveat. in bold up top it advertises -ALL outwear 50% off - but below it says 'select styles'. So which is it?
All outwear is on sale OR select styles of outerwear are on sale?

Have you seen other unclear messages at retail? Why do you think this happens?

Colorful Christmas

Perhaps in an effort to be optimistic these holiday windows are bright!

However, the brand is bold too so the effect is powerful. With topiary trees and towers of signature boxes wrapped up in ribbon, these windows feature a bounty of product to support the seasonal flair. The branded boxes used as risers as well as visual enhancement help give the viewer tons of gift ideas, exactly as good windows should.

Wow them first and then tell them what to do!

Good props buoy sales!

Anchors away - it's holiday!

This is an excellent use of vertical space - These chunky garland ropes artfully tied with wooden buoys help create an impactful backdrop for these large and tall windows.

Bringing a seasonal and nautical feel to this store environment should bring customers to their shores.

When aging is "a good thing"...

Sometimes a client needs a look that's old or antique but can't use the real thing.

Eddie Bauer uses vintage looking props to enhance their store environment but needs too many to make collecting feasible.

Distressing new props is a great way for them to get the spec they want, in the quantity they need and at a price they can afford. Plus it helps keep all their stores consistent while still maintaining their brand image.

As the saying goes, 'everything old is new again' (and in this case vice versa!)

Wishful thinking?

or signs of things to come? This window caught my eye and made me think of the saying "if you build it, they will come". Perhaps it's true and symbols of money will bring customers crawling! Let's hope so.

Stay tuned for Holiday windows - being put up all over and in many cases already complete!