A Whole Lot of Sparkle

When I heard that after more than eight months of design and planning, Meyda Lighting is currently building the largest free-hanging chandelier in the world, I couldn't help but be intrigued. The new chandelier is being custom crafted of steel, glass and acrylic, for a local performing arts theater. Meyda Lighting has been building the custom chandelier for the past four months in its manufacturing facilities in Yorkville, N.Y. (How very top secret!) And trust me, this thing is huge.

The lighting fixture, which is 34 ft. in diameter, 17 ft. tall in height, weighing in at 7,000 pounds. That's 3.5 tons! The fixture is assembled in eight sections of tubular steel trusses, as well as more than a dozen sections of other steel trusses, framework and decorative embellishments. Each truss features a steel arm, designed with a red glass-eyed serpent spiraling down it. At the tip of each arm is a beau bash (eight in all), each with a diameter of 36 in. and designed to hold seven candles that vary in sizes ranging up to 2 ft. in height. The candles feature blown-glass diffusers that simulate the tip of the candles’ flames, and sculpted steel candlesticks that simulate the wax drippings of candles.

According to Meyda Lighting, the bottom of each beau bash has been designed with a red and blue acrylic to coordinate with the nuances of the red and blue color scheme throughout the theater. The chandelier, which was designed to fit into the theater’s Mexican baroque Moorish theme, is hand-finished in Antique Gold and Bronze to match the interior decor of the theater.
The candlelights will be illuminated with more than 200 Medium-Base LEDs lamps. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot of shiny stuff...gotta love it. View the construction of the chandelier on a live Web cam shown at Meyda.com.

RetailDesignDiva hasn't snagged a photo of the completed project yet, but the one pictured here will give you an idea of the chandelier's enormity. Now just imagine it all lit up and dangling overhead--all 7,000 pounds of shimmering glory. Both beautiful and scary.

--Jessie Bove

Gap Turns On the Color

I heart Gap. And not just for their clothes. My love affair began when the monster retailer paired the adorable SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker) with smokin' hot Lenny Kravitz. And their khakis aren't too shabby either.

Gap is taking their love of music to a whole new level with the Sound of Color promotion. From now until March 15, you can visit: www.SoundOfColor.com and listen to (and download!) original music from a host of up and coming artists. Even cooler and so very Gap, the company assigned each artist a color and then requested they pen a song about that particular color. Then, Gap enlisted the help of five filmmakers to create music videos for each song, about each color. Now, I have no idea where Gap is going with this. CD/DVD and a free pair of khakis? I can't imagine, but for now, I'm digging the tunes.

Pay special attention to Marie Digby, whose yellow color and subsequent "Paint Me In Sunshine" song is absolutely divine. I was so impressed I joined her MySpace. Another notable is the color green, performed by Swizz Beatz, who's had an impressive career producing hot tracks in the hip-hop world. The video is bizarro, but the song still rocks. The Sound of Color site includes fun facts about each color, as well as bio information on the artists, the making of the videos, artist interviews and links to the artists' sites.

Additional artists featured include:
-The Blakes, Seattle-based indie rock group (Blue)
-Dntel, Electronica (Red)
-Raveonettes, Punk/Soul (Black & White)

So, Gap has my attention. And I'm wondering--what's the scoop? Here's the official statement:

"Music has always been a significant part of Gap's history, so we're always thinking of new ways to connect with people through music," said Dennis Leggett, creative director for Gap brand. "With much of today's music being consumed digitally and shared online, we wanted to create an online experience where people could discover new, original songs and share them with fellow music lovers."

Oh, c'mon--there must be a plan to monetize this. Turns out, Gap's latest promo is about using colors to liven up your wardrobe. Chi-ching! However, I can't find any cross-promotion of the Sound of Color site on the Gap shopping site. Interesting...Whatever is going on, I have to give love to a retailer that gives me free downloads and excellent tunes from actual artists (no digitally created bimbettes here!).

What's your favorite color/artist from the Sound of Color site? Do tell!

--Heather Strang

Return of the Real Woman

They strut down the catwalk. They grace magazine advertisements and covers. They're in our faces on television. Models, who needs 'em?

Models are typically the antithesis of the modern woman--super skinny and bizarre looking (think druggie chic) along with out-of-control egos. Well, people, the tide is beginning to shift. More magazine--already known for honoring "real" women-- hosted a model search for women over 40. While these women are exceptionally beautiful (see 2007 winner, Chung Winstanley, 45, pictured) they also have a quality today's fashion models do not have; they are real, tangible women with lines on their faces and a glow that only comes from really living life (not smoking cigarettes on the set of a high-fa-lootin' photo shoot). Their smiles are easy and calm, and you know instantly that she is not much different from you or I. This just happens to be the exact opposite of what one thinks when looking at traditional models.

Simon Rogers, head of Ugly New York, a casting agency for real models, said, "I definitely think there's some backlash amongst people who see fashion shows, then read stories about how the models have to smoke themselves to death and only drink lemon water for six weeks. People would like to see somebody up there who reflects how people on the street really look."

Amen, brother!

Bloggers are helping the movement, often posting photographs of real women in high-fashion clothes. The response has been so positive that clothing lines like Ben Sherman are receiving more attention since real world models began appearing in their clothes on a variety of blogs. Sites like Street Peeper are making the shift to "real woman modeling" more hip and acceptable.

So hip, in fact, that it's already happening. Lycra used 20 real women to model their swim suits at the 2007 Miami Swim Fashion Week. And with the success of show's like Ugly Betty and Carson Kressley's "How to Look Good Naked," not to mention the popularity of Dove's Real Beauty campaign, the message is clear--real women are back. And isn't it about time?!

Real women are in such high demand, some of them are even leaving their regular gigs to pursue real woman modeling full-time (how cool is that?!). Patricia Neville, 50, (2006 finalist) was inspired by More magazine and is now pursuing a modeling career of her own. Love it!

Do you know a retailer, fashion designer or clothing line that's embracing the look of real women? If so, share it here!

--Heather Strang

The City Mouse and The Country Mouse

Both Sharper Image and Lillian Vernon filed for bankruptcy last week, which reminds me of the oft told tale of “The City Mouse and The Country Mouse.”

You’ll recall in the classic Aesop’s fable, while both envious of each other's lifestyle (the grass is always greener) after a series of mishaps, they realize that they are most content when they are at home, and that while related, each is similarly distinctive.

That being said,  both Sharper Image and Lillian Vernon are related in so much as they are primarily gift stores. Sharper Image is a perfect City Mouse with its sleek interiors, urban locales, luxury profile, high-tech gadgetry and haughty sales staff. Lillian Vernon is a perfect Country Mouse with its quaint and cozy catalogs, home spun, and cottage made product, cutesy personalized items, and overly cheerful phone reps.

Sharper Image's stock and trade are items like the Turbo Groomer, $39.95, a motorized hair trimmer for men suffering from unsightly nostril and ear hair, no more plucking ouch! The Roomba 560 Vacuuming Robot, $349.75, oh it works, but is frightfully noisy. And the classic Panasonic Real Pro Ultra Total Body Massage Lounger, a motorized recliner that features Junetsu ultra-kneading, $4,799. But wait, there’s the Alco Hawk Pro Digital Breath Alcohol Detector, a pocket breathalyzer that helps you find out if you've had one too many--$139.95. Now I know what to get dad for Christmas. Unfortunately, Sharper Image's Ionic Breeze Airpurfier, which accounted for a good part of the company’s revenues, never worked. In fact, tests shows that it released harmful levels of ozone into the air, lawsuits not withstanding. Sharper Image is in arrears to UPS for more than $6 million. Say what? When I’m late on a $64 payment my shipping is cut off.

Lillian Vernon is a true Country Mouse with the saccharined "World's Best Grandma" Quilted Throw, just $59.98. And what well dressed woman wouldn’t want to wear the innovative Light-Up St. Patrick's Day Necklace--was $5.98, now just $3.98 (Valentine’s and Christmas versions also available). Drag Queens and Anna Nicole wanna-bes might like to purchase the hot pink Leopard Cats Bed Skirt, for $29.98, not available at Bed Bath & Beyond. And what guy wouldn't beam with pride when the Mrs. served his cholesterol laden nachos on the Football-Shaped Snack Plates--was $14.98, now $10.08 for the big game. Vernon’s low-low prices are irresistible, if her product is not.

Lillian Vernon, like Sharper Image, credits the downturn in the economy, the competition and prevalence of major discounters, and the trend among customers to hold back on splurge items in deference to having to meet high mortgages and oil prices, as precipitating the possible dissolution of their business. While that may all be true and contain much merit, one wonders how one gets into that predicament. Were there not tell tale signs? Did company executives not have a plan B? Maybe like the lesson of The City Mouse and The Country Mouse, both retailers will realize that to be most content one needs to appreciate its environment and realize that sometimes the grass is not always greener.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Kicking China to the Curb

China, as it turns out, isn't as great as we hoped it would be. Sure, with billions of inhabitants the possibilities for consumer consumption are endless and for our benefit, the products are dirt cheap. So, our country has been more than happy to take advantage of these low, low prices and then sell Made in China goods to everyone in the United States.

But, then like all seemingly perfect partnerships, China dropped the ball. First, with the tainted pet food containing melamine, which killed thousands of our beloved pets. Then, we discovered that many toys Made in China were tainted with lead, a known poisonous killer. Of children. Now, going with the cheapest manufacturer of products isn't sounding so good.

Today, there are even deeper concerns about how widely pesticides and illegal antibiotics are used in foods from China. Yikes! The whole thing is starting to get pretty frightening. Apparently, the saying is true--you do get what you pay for. And we haven't even touched on their communist regime and oppressive treatment of their people.

Fortunately, one food retailer is actually discontinuing their use of some of their Made in China products. Trader Joe's recently announced plans to pull single-ingredient items from China (like spinach and garlic) from its stores in efforts to protect its customers. Yay Trader Joe's! Whole Foods, on the other hand, released a statement defending its relationships with vendors in China, stating that they carry so few Made in China products, that it doesn't make sense for them to discontinue use.

Really? Even though illegal antibiotics and pesticides are reportedly being used on food coming from China? Wait--isn't Whole Foods a health food store? I'm so confused. Since Whole Foods doesn't carry a huge amount of products from China, it wouldn't seem like a big deal to eliminate them from its product lines. It would actually seem like a positive way to send the message to its customers that their health (and survival!) is important. So, what gives?

I love Whole Foods, or at least I did. As a girl that eats wheat-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free, I need a store like Whole Foods. But, I don't need pesticides or illegal antibiotics in my food and I am not a fan of China.

What do you think is motivating Whole Foods? Are they simply trying to save a buck (a savings we as shoppers are not receiving, as their prices are outrageous!)? Or do they really believe in the solidarity and safety of their products/vendors from China? Do you think all grocery chains should ax all products with ingredients from China? Would love to hear your thoughts on this hot topic.

--Heather Strang

Reproduction Mania to Overtake Retail

In case you hadn't noticed, everyone and their mother is pregnant these days. Seriously. I have friends giving birth every month from now through September. What's up with that--was there some type of blackout I missed? While the baby boom may mean all my friends are going away for at least 18 years, it also means bigger biz for baby-focused retailers.

In fact, it's not just my friends reproducing. The National Center for Health Statistics reported that in 2007 alone 4,299,000 babies were born, up from 4,185,000 in 2006. And 2006 had seen the largest baby boom in 50 years. Wowza!

Motherhood Maternity released a press release celebrating the 2006 increased stats (and why wouldn't they?!), including a report that 34 percent of all pregnant women are in their 30s. Disposable income anyone? These high birth rates by a sophisticated demographic mean a larger customer base for maternity wear, baby clothes, accessories, furniture--ven home sales. But, that's just thinking short-term.

Babies grow up to be pre-teens, who have an insatiable desire to buy clothes for brand purposes only, hang out in malls inventing the next form of American slang, and consume, consume, consume. It gets worse--or better depending on how you look at it--as the "baby" grows into a teenager with needs for a car, even better clothes, cell phones and gobs of accessories.

So, stop worrying about the recession. As long as our society keeps popping out babies at this rate, there's nothing to worry about--except for maybe the environment, but that's a whole other story. Babies, pre-teens and teenagers could care less about cash on hand,  they have needs. Needs the retail community and parents are all to happy to fulfill.

Is everyone in your inner circle having a baby? Have some of your own mind-blowing statistics to share? Leave a comment here.

--Heather Strang

Now and Zen--You Just Want a Burger (With No Meat)

Move over McDonald’s, here comes a new competitor for fast-food dollars. And this new competitor has a definite green tinge, which may resound well with today’s eco-conscious consumers. Zen Burger, out of Manhattan, has its sights set on becoming a national fast-food chain. From the founders of Zen Palette, which thrived for years in and around Midtown, appealing to organic types, now comes a new concept: Zen Burger. The burgers they flip at Zen contain no meat--they are hard-core vegetarian. All-vegetable burgers and chicken tenders, inspired by McNuggets, [six pieces for $3.95] dominate the menu. A selection of salads and sandwiches is also offered. Prices are in line with typical fast-food chains, and the restaurant interior is bright and well lit--like most fast-food chains--and accented with colorful, fun graphics. Zen Burger has the fast-food guilt factor beat. No meat or dairy, low in calories--it’s all clean, lean, green cuisine. Check out Zen Burger at 465 Lexington Ave. when you are in the city.

--Diva

Show Me The Products!

Forget selling me your "environment," how about having some product around for me to buy? It certainly makes a dramatic statement to have a store with wide open flowing spaces and maybe a dozen shirts artfully hung at odd angles on a couple of rods around the perimeter, but I’m not impressed. Well, maybe I will be a bit impressed by how much margin and markup you have to have on those dozen shirts in order for the sale of even one of them to cover the cost of your rent and utilities. But I don’t think that that is the impression you are trying to make. Or maybe I’m just not your target customer, but I should be--I’m the guy with the money and plastic in his wallet, and the two daughters taking me in tow.

As I said, maybe I just don’t get the fashion statements that stores are trying to make with their minimal inventory and some outright bizarre mannequins showing their wares. Or do they just keep the good stuff in back and only trot it out when they have a live one in their environment? I don’t know. But I do know that after killing the weekend trying to spend some money on my daughters that I wasn’t really impressed with what I saw. For the record, the time was spent at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Ill., which--until Mall of the Americas was built in Minnesota--was the largest indoor mall in the country. And it still takes a full weekend to cover all of the stores. All of the big guys are there, along with a gazillion small shops, and yet it was hard to spend money there.

A few recent posts have cried out for seating and resting areas in stores, but I would like to cry out for more fixtures and product to look at. And maybe turn down the volume on the music blasting through the store. It may be nice for the employees, but as a customer trying to listen and make sense out of the daughters' talk it was very distracting. Not that I’m asking for elevator music, just a lower decibel rating.

Admittedly the big department stores had plentiful quantities of product, but it sure all looked the same to my tired old eyes. And it was not to my daughters' liking either. They did find things at the small boutique stores, but there wasn’t much to look at and not many had a full range of sizes to back up meager wares. Apparently some stores are opened to sell to one small niche of design and customers, but are they too narrowly focused? My girls did go to the mall specifically to find a couple of the small shops that they have liked in the past, but they were gone and replaced with new stores after only a few months.

Also for the record, the girls aren’t outrageously sized, but they are tall, razor-thin dancers. They are also a newly graduated elementary school teacher who was seeking a professional looking wardrobe to go with the new job, and the other is an education major looking for the same wardrobe to go do her student teaching in. It shouldn’t have been difficult, or am I just naïve about fashion retailing nowadays? There just didn’t seem to be a lot of middle ground between hopelessly out-of-date, and way-too-much-in-date.

So how about it folks, could we get a broader selection in your stores to sing your praises for you, and maybe turn down the volume so that I can hear the choir?

--Scott Caldwell, Guest Blogger

You Can Never Be Too Rich or Have Too Much Chocolate

Well, Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Its success can be measured in chocolate. Did you get too much of the sweet stuff--or not enough? [Let Diva count the boxes.]

When it comes to gift giving, it used to be that a box of Russell Stover from the corner Walgreens was the ticket. But, today, chocolate has become a luxury purchase, like fine wine. Connoisseurs expound about the finer points, comparing one chocolate with another. Now, Diva can tell the difference between Godiva, Neuhaus, Jacques Torres and Michel Cluizel, but some of these chocolate “noses” [like perfume experts] put the chocoholic in Diva to shame. An article in
The New York Times, printed these descriptions of a chocolate encounter: “The Java gives strong caramel, with a nice bitter edge; the Surabaya tastes of smoke, tobacco and old leather; the Asfarth, from northern Sumatra, is fresh and fruity, with a whiff of caspium.” Now Diva does not want chocolate that tastes like old leather [calls to mind a pair of old smelly loafers], or tobacco [Diva doesn’t even smoke cigarettes; why would she want chocolate that tastes like tobacco?] and she doesn’t even know what caspium is [she will have to go look that up]. The article goes on to talk about “cocao cultists” and such--pretty lofty stuff. After all, this is just candy.

Then, in another article, also in The Times [they really focused on chocolate this Valentine’s Day], in an interview with Katrina Markoff, the founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat, Ms. Markoff said that she wears yoga apparel and goes off by herself to sample her Valentine’s Day chocolate treats, so she can be “really present.” And here’s that tobacco thing again. Markoff says: A great chocolate can contain complex notes “like tobacco, leather, fruit and plum skin.” According to Markoff, a current best seller in her line is a “bacon bar,” a chocolate bar with bits of applewood-smoked bacon [gag!] in it. Markoff warns that it is best not to eat more than five pieces of chocolate in one sitting, because, “your palette will get worn out.” [Evidently, never mind the effects of those 3,000 calories on your heart or waistline.]

If all this chocolate connoisseurship is a bit much for you, maybe you were one of those shoppers who rushed through Wal-Mart’s Lovers Lane Express earlier this week, loaded up with a big bag of Hershey’s Valentine Kisses. The retailer dedicated special lanes in some of its stores, just for romantic gift-givers [how sweet!].

Hope you counted your chocolate blessings this V-Day.

--Diva

A Gift--Or Not

If you’re like Diva, you probably have about a dozen or so gift cards floating around in a drawer somewhere at home. While the Starbucks gift cards get used a lot, the ones for places Diva rarely shops, or restaurants seldom frequented, just sit there, neglected. The last time a gift card took me to a restaurant, the card paid for two meals--with about $12 left over. That was three years ago. Since it wasn’t a favorite dining destination, it just didn’t seem worth throwing in another $40 or so dollars to go back there, just in order to spend the remaining $12. 

As handy as gift cards are, the amounts never seem to work out right. Either there is a small amount left over after the purchase, or else, it’s not enough, and a bunch more money has to be paid in order to settle the bill. Some of these cards have expiration dates [Diva never looks], which can also trip up consumers, and some charge dormancy rates. Still, it’s the thought that counts, right?

Seems Diva is not alone in her frustration. According to TowerGroup, an arm of MasterCard Worldwide, Americans lose an estimated $8 billion annually by not redeeming gift cards--a virtual windfall for retailers. Gift card spending increased by around 25 percent during the past holiday season, totaling around $30 billion--a significant segment of the annual $100 billion being spend on these cards.

Hey, about those unused gift cards, Can they be donated to charity? Diva needs an income tax deduction.

--Diva

Welcome to Un-Reality

Remember The Truman Show? Or Matrix? How about The Game? While the characters in the movie thought they were dealing with reality, in actual reality, everything around them was fake. If you look closely at these plotlines, you'll see the fake reality was always a test for the character. So, in an ode to Hollywood, retailers are pulling storylines straight out of the movies, busily creating their own un-reality--test stores. It's the creepiest and coolest idea in test marketing that I've ever seen.

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based SuperValu created a store mock-up that's complete with everything from linoleum floors, to checkout lanes and magazine racks. The goal? To make sure stores have the exact look and feel they want. SuperValu isn't leaving anything to chance, which is why they strategically create the same 30,000-sq.-ft. environment you or I would experience in any of their stores. Then, they go to work. Minus the muzak, of course.

Mike Buck, vice president of SuperValu's fresh foods merchandising had this to say about test stores, "It's a big disruption to do things in a store and this (test stores) will let you mess around without hurting the store."

It doesn't really bother me if the saltine cracker end cap is on aisle 8 one day or 18 the other, but I see his point. Besides, how much fun is a test store?! I'm wondering if they give tours. Is the food in the test stores real? Inquiring minds want to know...

For major design overhauls, a test store would be a way to ensure perfection. Often, it's tough to tell if reorganizing the customer service center/bakery, etc. will work until you see how it flows with the rest of the store. Bravo SuperValu! How smart are they?

If we could just talk Nordstrom or Barneys into doing the same, we could then follow in the IKEA guy's footsteps and live there. Now, that would be fabulous.

Do you know a retailer who invests in test stores? Ever been to one? If so, leave us a comment with all the details.

--Heather Strang

Step Outside the Box This Valentine's Day

Okay, here's the deal: traditional Valentine's Day gift ideas are lame-o, with a capital 'L.' Chocolates, flowers, lingerie (let me buy it myself, for god's sake!) and jewelry is a bit tired. Yet, how are we supposed to do any better when retailers only offer up the same-old goods year after year? A recent jaunt through the mall left me empty handed. Did I really want to give my man chocolates in a heart-shaped box? Um, probably about as much as he wants to receive one.

Fortunately, AreYouRomantic.com launched just in time for V-day, offering sassy ideas for spicing up the romance in any relationship. But, first they did a poll to uncover the following:

 -70 percent of men are waiting until the last minute (read 5 p.m. on Thursday) to make Valentine's Day plans.
-Men typically give their partners cards (59 percent), flowers (42 percent) or candy (19 percent).
-68 percent of women feel men should be planning something special.

So, with that in mind, here are some gift ideas for V-day beyond chocolates and flowers to 'wow' your significant other. These are gifts you can get pretty much anywhere, which means no more blaming retailers for not giving us better options.

And, for the record, I don't think it's only up to the guy to make plans. Ladies, we're notoriously good planners--so get your guy something fun and fabulous!

For him:
-iPod accessories
-Razor phone
-Clothes, clothes, clothes--specifically gym gear and sexy boxers (not the ones with red lips!)
-Book: Mortified: Love is a Battlefield by David Nadelberg
-19-in. flatscreen computer monitor
-Subscription to Men's Health or GQ
-Weekend at a posh downtown hotel--make sure flatscreen televisions are somehow included

For her:
-Sex & The City - complete DVD series set
-Spa day
-Gift card to her favorite clothing retailer
-Plush, short bathrobe
-LG Chocolate phone
-Kate Spade handbag
-Weekend at a bed and breakfast

See, that wasn't so bad. And if you're without a valentine, remember it's just a commercialized, silly holiday. Oh, and those chocolate hearts are on sale on the 15th--I'll see you at Target to cash in.

Do you have a fabulous V-day gift idea for either him or her? If so, share your wisdom by leaving a comment.

--Heather Strang

Time for Spring Cleaning--Make That Store Cleaning

Retailers have a knack for moving rapidly to protect themselves when the economy downshifts. One way to do that is to rapidly close underperforming units, and that’s what they are now doing. Read the headlines: Charming Shoppes to Close 150 stores; Movie Gallery to close 400 stores; Macy’s is closing nine stores; Zale is closing 60 stores; Ann Taylor is closing 117 stores; Pacific Sunwear is closing 154 demo stores; Dell Computer is closing all of its 140 retail outposts; and all of the 54 Sigrid Olsen stores are closing. In addition, Starbucks will be closing an undisclosed number of units.

Cutbacks in personnel are also happening at retailers around the country: Home Depot is laying off 500 at its corporate headquarters; 180 at Ann Taylor will lose their jobs; J.C. Penney is jettisoning 200; Eddie Bauer will lay off 123 people; and at Macy’s, 899 will be out of work. As the stores listed above close, even more will lose their jobs. Retailers are gearing up to batten down the hatches--hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

It is debatable whether the recession has already started [the experts don’t agree], but many retailers are preparing, as best they can, for a period of declining sales, which apparently started in late 2007. With home prices in free-fall and other prices [food, gasoline, medical, etc.] headed north--2008 will be a tough cookie! Retailers are not counting on any sweet treats this year.

Hey, Diva just remembered--she has a few closets that need cleaning out. Or should she hang on to last year's styles, just in case she can't afford to buy new ones this year?

--Diva

Baaaaad Abercrombie

Abercrombie & Fitch has been gettin' dirty on the beach--Virginia Beach to be exact. Its store at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach, Va., had a visit from law officials after some customers complained of lewd photos being displayed. One of the photos reportedly showed three shirtless young men (no biggie...G-rated), with one man's "upper buttocks" showing (okay, butt cleavage definitely slides slightly into PG-13)--the other image was of a woman whose breast was "mostly exposed" (moving right into the R-rated there, I admit). Honestly, if they're the same photos on A&F's Web site right now, they're really not that bad. A bit of overreaction if you ask me. However, Virginia Beach code prohibits display of "obscene materials in a business that is open to juveniles," making the sexy photos a no-no.

This is my favorite part. The police not only came in and confiscated the two display photos (where are they now, I ask--bathroom decor in the police station?), but the store manager was cited on a misdemeanor obscenity charge, and if convicted, could face a fine of up to $2,000 and as much as A YEAR IN JAIL. Ouch.

Abercrombie sells sex--they always have. What makes a thick-striped rugby shirt and corduroy pants a turn on is a mystery to me, but I admit to having saved a catalog or two of theirs in years past (they halted them in 2003, 'tis a shame). Luckily, most of their stores are so dark, the majority of customers probably missed the "obscene" graphics anyway. You need a flashlight to find your size in that place.

--Alison Embrey Medina

Eek--I Smell a Rat!

Diva should have known--2008 is the year of the rat [she thought she smelled one around here somewhere]. Or at least it is the year of the rat, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. As the Chinese celebrate the New Year, on Feb. 7, it ushers in the year of the rat. Now, while women hate [and fear] rats, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the rat is not such a bad character.

The rat is the first creature in the 12-year Chinese lunar cycle. (The rat succeeds the pig and will be followed by the ox.) Individuals born under the sign of the rat are said to be charming and natural leaders, but they like to be in control and never stops thinking [scheming]. On the positive side, rats are innovative, enterprising and hardworking, but they can be bossy, and they like to gossip. It is, however, supposed to be a good year for new business ventures, which is a good thing. And it is supposed to bode well for the U.S. political election.

To most westerners, rats have a bit of an image problem--they are persistent pests that steal our food and spread disease [except for that cute Mickey, of course]. We certainly don’t want them in our houses--or stores. And speaking of houses--it looks like a pretty cheesy year for the housing industry [might as well have rats in the basement]. And to be a bit perverse--the whole economy is beginning to look like a rat’s ass. The Chinese haven’t done so well this year, either. Millions of Chinese, traveling and trying to celebrate the Spring festival and New Year, have been stranded in the worst snowstorms of 50 years. The storms have brought most of the country to a complete standstill.

Diva says, maybe we had better put out some cheese--to keep those mice happy during 2008. [Or look for a Pied Piper.] Oh, well, Happy ratty New Year, everyone!

--Diva

Retailers Are Moving On Up

Fitting in a daily 30-minute workout can be a real challenge. Anyone else feeling this? With everything we have to do in our busy lives, it hardly seems like there's enough time to sit on a stationary bike, pedaling nowhere or hip-hop dance in a room full of strangers. More and more, I'm forced to find ways to get my workouts in, in mini bites. And who would have thought that I could find a decent workout inside the latest big-box retail stores?

I'm not talking about sweating to fitness DVDs in-store. I'm talking about quad killers--the stairs. You may have noticed that recently retailers are moving up when it comes to new store design. In fact, due to rising real estate costs, retailers are jumping on the two-story design bandwagon like never before. This means only good things for those of us looking for ways to get some cardio in. REI (stairs, no escalator, so extremely great workout/shopping option), Target, Home Depot, Costco, Kohl's, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods and even Wal-Mart have re-discovered the two-story store.

While two-story facilities can have additional costs (escalators and elevators for instance), they do allow retailers to maximize cost efficiency by building up, rather than out--thus avoiding higher real estate costs and saving our environment by taking up less space. In addition, city planners and developers often encourage retailers to take the vertical approach not only because of density issues, but also because two-story stores provide a more warm and fuzzy shopping experience than the coldness that can result from a huge parking lot sized store. Some retailers hesitate to build up rather than out, due to increased staff needs, redesign and special infrastructure additions. However, the excessive climb of real estate prices and limited space in most urban areas is requiring the change.

Real estate costs aside, I'm in agreement with the city planners. From a shopper's perspective, two-story stores are just more fun. There's more to explore and let's not forget, opportunities to take the stairs five or more times, providing a shopping and workout experience all in one. Multi-tasking never looked so good!

My favorite shopping/workout experience comes from REI, who has a gorgeous store with beautifully wide staircases and lots of goodies for my next adventure.

Do you have a favorite retailer who's maximizing space, in addition to giving you opportunities for cardio? If so, fill us in by leaving a comment.

--Heather Strang

Will Everlast Ever Have a Store?

The other day it suddenly occurred to me that sports and fitness brand Everlast doesn't have any retail stores. Sure they sell their products at sporting goods retailers, through catalogs and online, but what about a storefront purely dedicated to their brand? (If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know!)

Everlast is mostly known for its boxing-related sporting goods equipment and apparel, but the company has branched out to other areas like fitness, footwear and other complementary product categories. Another interesting thing about this company is that, while it does have a sort of masculine appeal (I mean boxing is pretty much as male as it gets), it also has a lot of great products for women too. Not that I'm a boxer or anything (the thought of myself boxing makes me laugh..trust me, it would make you laugh too), but their fitness clothes are great for just working out or playing tennis (my fav are their Energy Studio jackets and pants).

I think Everlast could capitalize off their apparel lines and launch a standalone concept--maybe one that caters to men, or women or both. Think of the creative possibilities, like a store with a boxing ring in the center! Or maybe one that offers boxing or other fitness classes on weekends--part gym, part store. What better way to motivate yourself to workout than to promise yourself a round of shopping afterwards? Now that's a "round" where I could guarantee a K.O.

--Jessie Bove

New Clothes Are Like Old Friends

There is an old adage that you can judge a person by the company he keeps. There is another old adage that clothes make the man. If both adages are true, than I’d say, “New clothes are like old friends."

I love shopping for new clothes. I say that because new clothes, like old friends, have the ability to make us feel good about ourselves. New clothes help to define us. New clothes are welcome. New clothes are intimate, but seldom reveal the truth. Some retailers have grasped this seductively simple philosophy. In doing so, customers offer their patronage and sometimes undying affection. To me, Brooks Brothers is like an older friend, offering sage fashion advice, direction and mentoring. It’s so waspy! I sometimes feel like I’ve betrayed Brooks when I head over to next-door-neighbor Paul Stuart, who has become my new best friend. Their Phineas Cole collection is my envy. I do pray they don’t speak to one another. Both retailers are as dear to me as an old friend.

A recent BIGResearch survey, which polled 8,877 shoppers, asked a simple question, "Which retailer delivers the best customer service?" In order to develop a fair comparison, regardless of a retailer's size or geographic coverage, the BIGResearch responses were compared to each retailer's 2006 revenues to develop overall rankings. Here are their surprising findings…

First-place winner went to 92-year-old L.L. Bean, now that’s an old friend. L.L. Bean remains as consistent, and true as an old friend. It has confidence, and doesn’t need to impress us. It’s reliable. Like a pen pal, second-place winner went to Internet shoe retailer Zappos.com, which proves that bricks and mortar are no longer elements of financial success. Zappos.com offers the unexpected, comfortable shoes that fit. Cynics scoffed, "no one will ever buy shoes online." The same people prophesized that no one will buy bottled water. Third-place winner was Amazon.com, followed by fourth-place winner Overstock.com--both like old friends, offer safe “secure” sites, and place no judgments on our purchases, no mater how mundane or ridiculous they may be. Fifth-place winner was Blair. Sixth-place winner was Land’s End (now owned by Sears), and like L.L. Bean, conservative, calm and familiar, always bringing us back to center. Seventh-place winner was Coldwater Creek. Eighth-place winner was Nordstrom, a venerable institution, a bit haughty and pompous like some old friends, but glamorous and a part of the “in” click. At the retail cafeteria of life, they would not let me sit at their table. Ninth-place winner was Lane Bryant, a specialty store that has personified the trend to embrace real beauty in all sizes and shapes, like the old friend with a big waistline and a great personality. Tenth-place winner was Newgg.com.

Four of last year's winners fell right off the list--Boscov's, Kohl's, REI and Macy's. Perhaps this year they will try a little bit harder to become like old friends too. I hope they and other retailers will ponder this top 10 list and ask themselves not only what kind of retailer they are, but what kind of old friend they are.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Please Don't Close My Starbucks!

Everyone--at least everyone that's a coffee junkie such as myself--has their Starbucks. It's the place where they have your order memorized, your name on an internal Rolodex and a smile on their face every time you walk in the door. It's the Cheers bar of the new Millennium--where everybody knows your name. After hearing an announcement this week from Starbucks CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz that the company is planning to close approximately 100 underperforming stores, my throat closed up a little bit. Was my endeared Starbucks, so cleverly located right on my route to work, one to bite the dust? Surely not. No way. Maybe?

Starbucks has definitely seen better days. And if the mind of the average consumer is anything like mine, I can see why. For the past year, I've started limiting myself to only one Starbucks drink a week, which I typically reserve for Friday mornings as my extra little treat for making it through the workweek. This is coming from a girl who, in college, lived on about three venti lattes a day. Not only do I have to worry more about the amount of calories packing on my thighs from those lattes now (let's not talk about it), but the cost has gone up--considerably up--over the past five years. My solution? I make Starbucks-brand coffee at home, with skim milk and a travel mug. It's not the same, for sure, but I've basically tricked myself into thinking it is.

In addition to the closing of stores, the company also said it is slowing the pace of its U.S. store openings this year, down more than 34 percent from 2007. For the first time ever, Starbucks in 2009 will actually open more stores internationally (more than 1,000) than in the United States--a trend we're seeing in more retail arenas than coffee brewing.

Starbucks, I feel for you. I do. Over expansion and a disconnect with your customers has finally started to take its toll. (What happened to the comfy couches?) But you can count on me. I'll be at my Starbucks on Friday morning--if it's still there.

--Alison Embrey Medina