Move Over Maury

Move over Maury Povich, because here comes Rite Aid! That's right, I said Maury Povich, as in "The Maury Show"--a daytime talkshow infamous for its paternity test results shows (don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, especially if you've recently been home sick "watching" afternoon TV as you drift in and out of a cold medicine haze). Well Maury is about to lose a boatload of guests--who are all going to be headed to an aisle in their local Rite Aid drugstore instead of on stage and on camera. According to a press release from DNA-tester Identigene, Rite Aid started carrying its paternity test kits on March 25. Oh, and apparently Meijer will offer them, too.

Whatever will Maury do? (Other than quickly search for a new schtick to add to his smorgasbord of rotating segments, some of which include freakish diseases, out-of-control teens and, of course, people with bizarre phobias, such as a deathly fear of peaches or cotton balls. Oh, and don't forget my personal favorite, the Man or Woman? episodes, where the audience guesses if the guests are, in Maury's words, "Hot Spring Bunnies or Men Dressed as Honeys." The best part is when they show reaction shots of audience members who guessed wrong, like the guy in the front row who vehemently declared, "Now Maury, that's a woman." Only it wasn't.)

But I disgress...

Identigene, a self-described "leader in DNA identification testing," says its DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit was the first DNA test ever sold in retail stores when it was offered on a trial basis beginning November 2007 in California, Washington and Oregon. I'm guessing tests (pun intended) went well, because now the DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit is available for over-the-counter purchase at all Rite Aid drugstores throughout the United States, with the exception of stores in New York state (so there are some sane ones left, huh?).

Here's how it works, according to the press release: "With an Identigene DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit, participants of the test collect a DNA sample by rubbing a swab inside their mouth. The samples, along with consent forms and a lab fee are sent in an enclosed postage-paid return envelope to Identigene for processing. Results are available from Identigene within three to five business days of receipt. Customers can choose to receive results by mail, email, or online through a secured Web service. All information remains strictly confidential."

Suggested retail price for an Identigene DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit--$29.99. Laboratory processing fee--$119. Knowing who the baby daddy is--priceless.

--Jessie Bove

Photo: Click the photo to see this guest's victory dance once he discovers that he is NOT the father! I guess the 11th time isn't the charm after all. 

Kohl's and JCPenney Will Make You Cry

When it comes to TV commercials, I don't have the time. I'm off to grab a snack, fold laundry--anything but watch 30 to 60 seconds of someone telling me I can't live without their product or service. But lately, two apparel retailers have been stopping me dead in my tracks, as I stare at the television in absolute awe. The new Kohl's commercial actually stopped me mid-bite. And nothing gets between me and my food. Until now.

Soft blue colors, gorgeous clothes, Ben Lee crooning "We're All in This Together" drew me in. Suddenly, I had chills. My eyes misted with tears. I wasn't being told to buy anything, I was being invited into a lifestyle where the sky is perfectly blue, the hair is neatly coiffed and the clothes are worn effortlessly (and don't even need to be pressed!). Little children giggle, and the adults are at ease. I want to live there! Thankfully, via YouTube, I can watch this masterpiece again and again.

JCPenney's American Living commercial elicits the same kind of response from me. I can't even talk when this commercial comes on--I shush everyone in the room. It's more subtle than the Kohl's ad, because I don't even notice the clothes. Yeah, it looks a bit like summer in the Hampton's (very Ralph Lauren), but the rest reminds me of growing up, falling in love and laughing with my family. And how cute is the little girl in the red boots stepping on her birthday cake? I mean, seriously. By the end, I'm pulling out the Kleenex. I'm sure Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's version of "Killing the Blues" isn't helping. Don't believe me? Check out YouTube and you'll also find yourself suspended in time, smiling and covered in goose bumps.

Pure genius. Kohl's and JCPenney are employing the same tactics that have made Apple and Nike successful for so long--using a combination of beautiful imagery and music to sell a lifestyle (that just happens to be donning their product). I'm convinced that the success of these commercials is all in the song choice, because it dramatically takes you to whatever you're being shown visually.

Yay Kohl's and JCPenney! I would love to see more retailers employ these advertising methods-- it's not about sales and shoving a product down someone's throat; it's about making people feel something so overwhelming that they can't help but fall in love with your product. And then, tell everyone about it. In a blog.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to shop at my two new favorite stores...

What do you think of the commercials? Have examples of other retailers who are using commercials to connect with the public? Send them my way!

--Heather Strang

Eye Candy

There is a big difference between what is a fad and a trend. And I know a trend when I see one. While I don’t rely on a crystal ball, I do rely on the fashion magazines and shop windows on Fifth Avenue to assist in my prediction. Here goes…this year, and next, retailers in droves will be jumping on the “Wet Look” bandwagon, and the latest thing in mannequins will be their “finish,” not their style, pose or posture. The new “wet look” is in. Rest assured mannequins will be shinier than your old tube of strawberry flavored lip gloss. The flat white chalky mannequins of days of yore may not disappear entirely, but they will be fewer. Today’s mannequins have shine appeal.

Following what we’ve seen stroll down the catwalks, the “wet look” has captured couture and mainstream fashion retailers alike, which is why we’re seeing a preponderance of clothing produced in shiny fabrications--waxed jeans, oiled linens, slick polyurethane down vests. Glossy fabrics, once considered cheap and déclassé, have made a comeback, including patent leather, gold lame, pleathery spandex, super-shiny silks and acetates. Versace’s gold linen men’s suit was the talk of the Milan shows. It’s not just a pretentious fashion accessory, Tom Ford needs to wear his signature sunglasses, as his showroom is awash in Zenga suits blended platinum or something equally shiny. Shiny finishes have infiltrated the popular culture too. Now that TV has gone digital, even the dullest newscasters have tossed away their old wool suits, and replaced them for suits made with a touch of shine and sparkle to add that extra dimension to your 42-in. screens.

This “wet look” trend follows the influence of metallics that have been, and continue to be, seen on the fashion pages. Mannequin manufactures seized upon that trend in 2005 and began to introduce automotive finishes a few years ago. That’s right, you could get your Lexus or Prius in the same color as your junior or women’s ready-to-wear mannequin. About the same time mannequin manufacturers started adding pearlescent and opalescent flakes to their paint mix to create jewel-like finishes known in the trade as “candy coatings.” A benefit of the flake was that it added depth of color when lit that standard paints cannot offer.

The wet look suggests liquidity and movement, even dark colors like black, when produced in a high gloss, reflect light and become a mirror-like surface that is fun to play off of. The look draws the eye. Emotionally the “wet look” is just in keeping with the timbre of the times. It's fluid, sinuous, expansive, neither here nor there; it’s ever changing and constantly moving. It’s reflective and anamorphic. In these transitional times it appeals to our psychological subconscious.

Wet is the new dry.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Most Admired Retailers

I'm not afraid to admit it--I envy J.Lo, otherwise known as Jenny From the Block, Jennifer Lopez or that fly girl from In Living Color (I used to fantasize about being a fly girl, but that's a whole other story.). Not only is she gorgeous and incredibly talented, but everything she touches turns to gold. And she even makes cute babies. How unfair is that?!

In a country that practically created the grass is greener concept, we're all about admiring the good fortune of others. In that spirit, Fortune magazine recently released its "most admired" companies list. Sure, it's no ode to celebrities like J.Lo, but it was nice to see some retailers make the Top 20 cut.

Apple took the No. 1 spot (I think the killer commercials helped!), with Starbucks coming in at No. 6, Target at No. 11, Costco at No. 15 and Nordstrom squeezed in at No. 20. Great work, retailers! For most-admired "industry champions," Costco was No. 1 in specialty retailers, while Nike was No. 1 in apparel. Nordstrom was top dog for general merchandise, and for food and drugstores Publix Super Markets took the No.1 spot.

The admiration continued as the most admired companies for innovation included Apple at No. 1 and Nike right behind in the No. 2 spot. Fortune narrowed the admiration down even more and included a listing for most admired companies for each state. Wow! Specialty retailers such as Lowe's topped the list for Mooresville, N.C.; while Toys "R" Us made the cut in Wayne, N.J.; and Home Depot was Atlanta's favorite.

Oh, how we admire our retailers. So who do you admire the most (J.Lo aside)? Post your faves here.

--Heather Strang

The “R” Word

Diva does not like to use that nasty “R” word [no, not like in Toys “R” Us]--like in Recession. That’s when money gets tight, and Diva has to switch her shopping from Bergdorf Goodman to BJ’s Wholesale Club and from Tiffany to Target. For a while it seemed that the experts could not agree, whether we were in a recession or not. Some financial experts thought we were; others disagreed.

But now, it seems, more are leaning toward the dreaded “R” word. A Wall Street Journal survey released in the last few weeks reveals that 70 percent of economists think, “The economy is in recession.” The economists surveyed predict meager economic growth this year--ranging from 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent GDP growth, per quarter--with a rise in unemployment to 5.5 percent by December. Fifty percent of economists surveyed say that this recession could be worse than the downturns that occurred in 2001 and in 1990.

Well, the good news is there will be lots of sales and markdowns at department stores--Diva is already planning a post-Easter shopping spree. Unless, of course, gasoline sneaks up to $4 a gallon, sooner than predicted [industry experts say it will hit $4 a gallon this summer]. The dollar fell to a new low last week, against foreign currencies--especially the Yen and the Euro [forget that trip to Italy], while gold has skyrocketed to $1,000 an ounce--a record high [so expect prices at jewelry stores to soon follow suit]. Oil is more than $100 a barrel [it was in the high $20 range, less than 10 years ago]. So expect to hear the “R” word on more people’s lips.

Now, frankly, Diva prefers “R” words like rosy, romantic, rainbow {there’s one at the end of every recession, you know]. Well, you get the picture.

--Diva

Amuneal Mfg. Wins Best in Show at GlobalShop

Proving that horror films can inspire great things in retail, Amuneal Mfg. took the award as Best in Show booth winner at GlobalShop 2008. Featuring an Alfred Hitchcock inspired theme (from The Birds, no less!), the booth was surrounded by aluminum panels with cut-outs of birds in flight. Fortunately, the booth wasn't even remotely terrifying.

To complement the fascinating theme, teak window frames accented the space, along with stainless steel flooring and a slate-colored entrance. Once inside the booth, Amuneal used graphics to showcase its work, including product samples and a brochure area. "We wanted to showcase some of our work and the case studies we have completed," said Chris Golas, a member of the company's sales and design team. "The booth is kind of a case study in itself. It shows off our full range of design capabilities."

Bravo to Amuneal for creating an incredible booth space and utilizing a bit of Alfred Hitchcock's genius (bonus points from me!). This was the third year Amuneal participated in GlobalShop, and I can't wait to see what they come up with for 2009!

-Heather Strang

 

Rock Out with Muzak at GlobalShop

Wandering the aisles of GlobalShop, you'll find just about anything and everything you could ever desire. There are some spectacular booths, everything from Sparks cocktail lounge to bright and bold colors from Epson. But, one booth in particular is a must-see. It's rockin'. Literally.

Booth #638 Muzak, located in the visual merchandising section, transports you into a whole other world. On top of that, you can pretend you're on America's Next Top Model and engage in a quickie photo shoot. Tyra Banks would be so proud. Best of all, you get to express the following four emotions: elation, angst, desire and pride. Once photographed, you leave completely cleared of all emotions and confidently immersed in the best emotion ever--bliss.

But besides the fabulous booth, Muzak does much more. They understand how important creating emotion is for the retail experience. Shoppers want to feel something and so, Muzak employs audio architects (how cool of a job is that?!) who create customized music tracks for retailers.

I love it. And I love the Muzak staff. So, be sure to stop by. Get out your angst, pride, elation and/or desire, listen to some rockin' music and chat with some cool people.

What was your Muzak experience like? Leave a comment here.

Happy GlobalShopping!

-Heather Strang

Retailers Go Ga-Ga For Digital Signage

A recent addition to GlobalShop is Digital Signage Day (in its 2nd year). It's a full day of conferences intended to give retailers the scoop on digital signage (DS) - one of the hottest forms of media today. During Digital Signage Day, retailers explore:

-Market trends.
-Enhancing in-store messaging.
-Case studies of successful DS campaigns (think iPhone).
-Connect with audiences through out-of-home networks.
-Other retail success stories.

So, of course, I needed to know more. I slyly stalked the DS-4 session, "Retailers Embrace Digital Signage" to get the 411. Fortunately, people at GlobalShop are nice and obliged me.

I chatted it up with John Kallmeyer, vice president of sales operations with Vista Color Imaging.

Q: How helpful did you feel the DS session was?
A: It was extremely helpful and provided a good general overview of the concept, taking all of the technology and messaging to make it more interactive for consumers. The session generated a lot ideas for me, I took a lot of notes. In fact, I even hatched an idea for a niche market I want to pursue.

Q: Why did you sign up for this session? Are you looking for DS or technology ideas to use in-store?
A: I'm more of a producer of static signage so I'm looking for the ability to display different content at different times as costs of plasma and other networks decline.

Q: Did you find any technology you plan on implementing?
A: I'm actually headed to the show floor right now to see what I can find. I have an idea so now I need to find someone to partner with to make it happen.

Q: Where do you see DS technology in the next 5 to 10 years?
Ultimately, I think it will displace static signage and move into the forefront.

Then, I was able to connect with Maurice Chu, a research scientist with the Palo Alto Research Center.

Q: How helpful did you feel the DS session was?
A: It gave real-life examples of how digital signage can be used in today's environment.

Q: Why did you sign up for this session? Are you looking for DS or technology ideas to use in-store?
A: I wanted to get a feel for what's happening in the world of digital signage. 

Q: Did you find any technology you plan on implementing?
A: I actually came up with some ideas on technologies that can be added to digital signage to make it even more effective, especially for niche marketing.

Q: Where do you see DS technology in the next 5 to 10 years?
A: It's going to be far more pervasive, because you can target advertisements, making them less annoying and more effective. Eventually, I think we'll see digital signage popping up on our personal mobile devices. It's really exciting!

What's your take on digital signage? Is it the wave of the future? Leave your comments here.

-Heather Strang

What Retailers Think About GlobalShop

With all of the hub-bub surrounding Globalshop, it's tough to know exactly what retailers are thinking as they wander the show floor, absorb conference sessions and engage in interactive booths. To put the mystery to rest, I hit the show floor with the sole intent of digging into the depths of retailers minds. Well, maybe not the depths of their minds, but close enough.

I had the chance to talk with Gail Schwarzer, manager of creative services and John Johnston, designer with Hannaford Supermarkets .

Q: What do you think about GlobalShop this year?
A: The quality of exhibitors and booths is much better than in year's past. It's great!

Q: What are some of the more innovative products or booths you've seen so far?
A: McRae Imaging had an excellent set-up. I liked their display and structural design.

Q: Have you spotted any trends or inspiration on the show floor?
A: Fabrics are a big trend this year, there's a lot of creative use of fabric.

Then, I was able to spend some time chatting with Lillian Perotto, manager of signage for Staples.

Q: What do you think about GlobalShop this year?
A: So far, so good! We're here looking for very specific items in warehousing and logistics.

Q: What are some of the more innovative products or booths you've seen so far?
A: Specialized recycling fixtures, and also the Madix booth.

Q: Have you spotted any trends or inspiration on the show floor?
A: Green products are everywhere this year. And we're also seeing the use of a lot of different textures.

Next up was Daryl Finley, visual merchandising manager for Mattel, Inc.

Q: What do you think about GlobalShop this year?
A: There's definitely a more diverse mix of vendors this year, some I haven't seen before.

Q: What are some of the more innovative products or booths you've seen so far?
A: Lighting tape - I've never seen it before. I saw it when I walked in and now I can't find it! It looks like it could be used for a variety of different applications and may be a good fit for us.

Q: Have you spotted any trends or inspiration on the show floor?
A: Video at retail is an inspiration right now for us.

And finally I managed to harass one more retailer -- Wolfgang Hucke, visual merchandiser and Edward Solari, creative services for Spencer Gifts.

Q: What do you think about GlobalShop this year?
A: We like that it's in Chicago this year, a different city means more diverse vendors that might not have been able to attend when the show was on the West Coast. We've seen a lot of vendors from Canada that we haven't seen before.

Q: What are some of the more innovative products or booths you've seen so far?
A: The portable roll-up sign by Rololight - they're from Canada too. It's an ultra light, simple to put together backlit sign.

Q: Have you spotted any trends or inspiration on the show floor?
A: idX Corp. had a magnet component that they brought over from Euroshop. It holds up to 50 pounds and is easy to reassemble. It's perfect for us!  It solved one of my problems -- so that alone makes the show worth it!

What do YOU think about GlobalShop? If I couldn't catch you on the show floor, be sure to leave your likes/inspiration/trend thoughts here.

-Heather Strang

The Evolution of Chocolate

In the 1300's Aztec kings dined on 90 cups of chocolate a day. Today, chocolate is no longer reserved for the elite, and is instead consumed by millions every day. Denny Gerdemen with Chute Gerdeman and Ken Nisch of JGA spoke today about the reemergence of chocolate as a cultural phenomena.

In fact, Gerdemen and Nisch are calling chocolate the new wine. Instead of swirling and sniffing, consumers today are going crazy for 80 percent, bittersweet, milk chocolate or super dark. Forget Cabernet or the latest pinot noir. That's soooo 2002. We're on to chocolate now.

Today, retailers like Godiva, Hershey's and M&M's are intent on making chocolate more than simply a luxurious treat, but rather a chocolate experience.

I'm game, how about you?

It's not just happening here either. Gerdemen and Nisch report that the chocolate craze is in full swing worldwide. Tokyo boasts the 100 percent chocolate cafe chock full of chocolate drinks, pastries, ice cream and even sandwiches. Yep, that's right, I said sandwiches. Seem they've gotten a little creative mixing chocolate with cheese and bread as a new delicacy.

Awfully Chocolate in Asia is another big hit featuring chocolate cakes and ice cream. Even the United Kingdom has its own ode to chocolate with Hotel Chocolat, where chocolate is treated like precious jewelry. In Switzerland, at the After the Rain Spa you can be dipped in chocolate (finally!) or choose from a host of chocolate spa treatments. Even Project Runway designed fashion outfits made from goodies at the Hershey's store.

One this is for sure -- chocolate is everywhere!
So, go eat some chocolate, slather yourself in it or just enjoy the sophisticate that it now is.

What's your favorite way to enjoy chocolate?
I love the smell and frequently go into Godiva simply to take it all in. And then, I indulge in some super dark, dipped in crunchy peanut butter. Yum!

Leave a comment with your chocolate guilty pleasure here.
And stay tuned for more from GlobalShop 2008...

-Heather Strang

LIVE Coverage of GlobalShop in Chicago

Its GlobalShop time, and your favorite retail design magazine, DDI, is live at this year's event. No detail will go uncovered as we scour the show floor for interesting and exciting speakers, products and conference sessions. The show runs Tuesday, March 18th - Thursday, March 20th and is jam-packed full of retail design goodness. This year's show is held in nearly 300,000 sq. ft. of Chicago's McCormick Place in the LEED-certified West Hall. More than 16,000 industry professionals are expected to attend the event, along with more than 900 exhibitors.

Check out just a few of the show highlights:

-Six market-specific pavilions:
The Store Fixturing Show
The Visual Merchandising Show
Store Design & Operations
At-Retail Marketplace
The Digital Store
 Retail Marketing Services

-Extensive conference programs covering chocolate, women's buying habits, the "me" generation, creating the ultimate customer experience and much, much more.

-Digital Signage Day, with six bonus sessions centered around digital media in retail.

-2008 Retail Design Awards hosted by the Association for Retail Environments.

-The 50th Outstanding Merchandising Achievement Awards.

Stay tuned for twice-daily posts on all things GlobalShop, including an upcoming session on chocolate in retail. Yum!

-Heather Strang

Windows That Pop

The Harrods spring 2008 campaign is all about experiencing the luxurious department store and its products with all senses: hearing, sight, taste, touch and smell. How divine! The campaign, which was conceptualized by the Harrods creative team and realized by Elemental Design, invokes bright colors, playful props and interactive elements to create a sort of window theater.

More than display windows are decorated with props such as strawberries, champagne bottles and horses. To play off the sense of taste, the strawberry window is decorated with a vinyl image of a pile of strawberries, dripping with chocolate. One of the strawberries is a 3-D prop attached to the outside of the window, with strawberry lollipops placed inside for customers to take with them. The champagne window also speaks to the sense of taste.

The sense of sight is highlighted in the Phillips window, where a plasma built into a mirrored unit creates an optical illusion--making it look as if there were nine screens instead of one. The other part of the window is a mirrored unit showcasing constantly changing lights. 

"Interactive windows are the future of window display," says Nicola Metzger, the head of mrketing at Elemental Design. "It is all about creating brand experiences that truly engage target customers and make them remember a brand."

Now if only they gave away free champagne and plasma screens in addition to those lollipops!

--Jessie Bove

Recession Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Finally, some good news. The U.S. economy is not going into a recession--at least that's what the Anderson Forecast at the University of California, located in Los Angeles, is predicting in a report. Applause, please. The fear-mongering can cease and we can all get back to enjoying life. Or can we? Considering that the majority of other financial experts are forecasting something on the contrary, this positive outlook from the Anderson Forecast intrigued us enough to look into their thoughts some more.

Sure, we're in a bit of a slump with the housing market drama (after such unbelievable highs, the bubble was bound to burst), but there's no need for more mass layoffs and firings in retail land. In fact, keep those employees on, because you're going to need them.

Edward Leamer, director and co-author of the Anderson Forecast, had this to say, "Americans are not as wealthy as they thought they were, and that's going to factor into consumer spending going forward, but it doesn't cause a recession because consumers all realize their lack of wealth at different points in time."

Nice. I choose to believe I possess unlimited abundance. Perception is everything, right? Maybe you can do the same.

Although I'll grant you, it was relatively easy to get caught up in all of the negative talk about markets, recession and years past. With retailers dropping employees like flies and making significant cutbacks, it was starting to feel a lot like 2001-2003. But luckily, it's not. In fact, we would have to see consecutive negative reports for at least two quarters before we could even whisper the word recession.

So, why all the fanaticism? I suspect it's similar to what we experience after a really horrific break-up. You may be familiar with this story line--you get burned so bad that once in a new relationship you're ultra-sensitive. The second you see anything close to what you experienced before, you start running for the hills.

We don't want another recession repeat. So the minute 2008 started showing some drops due to the housing market, people started panicking. This leads to job losses and lots of negative thinking, aggravated by CNN and other "news" programs. But, don't worry, 2008 won't be like 2001 or the '80s for that matter. This year will treat us all much better.

So, go spend some money! I'm headed to the mall right now.

Want to share your positive shopping inspiration? We thought so. Leave a comment here. Let's do our part and bolster the economy all on our own.

--Heather Strang

Leaping Ideas

This past Feb. 29 was a leap year. Worldwide we were all given an extra day. What a treat. In these over-scheduled, over-programmed, over-committed days, where we seldom have enough time to get everything done during the course of a day, the prospect of an extra 24 hours is a true luxury. Did you take advantage, or did it just slip by? Retailers with bricks and mortar stores benefited from the additional shopping day and reported earnings up, albeit slightly, for the month. They seem surprised.

A few very clever retailers took advantage on their Web sites, if not in their physical stores, to drive extra sales. Kudos to them, they were on the ball. Ralph Lauren had a cute Web site page devoted to a leaping polo pony presumably on its way over a hurdle and onto the mall to take advantage of the sales. Retailers more in tune with times took advantage of the potential windfall, with their extra day, and extra savings monikers. Some retailers offered great $29 sales, like A&E’s DVD sale, and Aeropostale had a $29 jeans sale, a great buy, that I did not take advantage of, where as Bluefly.com and Bodyboarders Surf Co. had a 29 percent off sales incentive. Disney had a “Goofiest Week of the Year” with Goofy as its pitch person. Horchow’s, Walgreens and the Memory Zone had leaping frogs--it was interesting to see the variety of frogs, and how a frog could reflect the aesthetic of the store. Petco opted for a hyperactive leaping beagle, presumable excited that its master was bringing home some kind of a doggie treat. Shoes.com asked patrons to leap into their shoes, warning “that savings like these may not come again for another four years.” The Container Store was perhaps the most clever with: “Leap year happens every four years. Filing your taxes doesn’t. Get organized today! Organize before you itemize.” These smart retailers capitalized on the once in every four year event. Congratulations are due. Many retailers missed the boat entirely, neglecting to even acknowledge the day. Shame. Shame.

Maybe savvy retailers looking for a reason to drive additional sales will take advantage of the eclipse, St. Swithens Day, quirky historical anniversaries like the invention of the paper bag, or Barbra Streisand’s birthday (April 24). After all, every day is worth celebrating.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

R.I.P. Enclosed Malls

It's the end of an era. It seems like only yesterday that I trotted down the large aisles of my favorite mall, Orange Julius in hand, donning one of my favorite outfits--fashionable leggings, an oversized sweater, bangles and gold hoops. But those days, my friends, are over.

Enclosed shopping malls are dead. Maybe you didn't get the invite to the funeral, but it's true. In fact, the last enclosed shopping mall was built in 2006 in the United States. Since then, nothing. And there isn't much hope that they're coming back anytime soon.

We've moved on--to lifestyle centers--the new open-air formats that are currently all the rage. Retailers know the importance of creating a space where shoppers will want to stay and linger longer, not to mention consume more. In the '80s that was the closed mall format. Today, it's a lifestyle center complete with high-end retailers, big-box stores, restaurants, an optical center, jewelry store and a cinema. There's no Orange Julius in a lifestyle mall. Oh no, we're over that.

According to Erin Hershkowitz, spokeswoman for the International Council of Shopping Centers, the shift to open-air format malls is an "evolution in the industry." Shoppers are seeking a place they can spend more "leisure time" as opposed to just shopping time. This change in demand has forced a different type of mall to sprout, to meet consumer needs.

Lifestyle malls just feel, I don't know--better. Even in the rain. It feels like a community--a big, bright shiny community filled with an assortment of activities and stores. Who wouldn't love that?!

So what do you think about this change? Do you long for the enclosed malls or love the new lifestyle centers? Have a favorite? I dig the Streets of Tanasbourne in Portland, Ore. They've got everything a girl needs--an REI, Macy's, Gap, Banana Republic and a P.F. Chang's--to name a few.

Leave a comment with your favorite open-air mall here or why you miss enclosed malls.

--Heather Strang

Holy Hallucination!

Who needs a real cross when you can make one with light? State-of-the-art technology in a church--the next chapter in design revolution. This art installation, “Spero Lucem,” which can be found in St. Agnes’ Church in Cologne, Germany, was created by light artist Michael Bleyenberg.

“Spero Lucem“ is a light design in the shape of a cross on a glass screen. The exhibit was created using HoloSign, one of the latest  technology developments by G+B pronova GmbH. The technology allows for a predetermined motif to be “embedded” in the screen, rather than projected. A homogeneous light source (including the sun) then makes the motif glow in rainbow-like colors--the white light is separated into its spectral components by holographic optical elements. A change in light or movement from the observer results in a spectrum of new colors (if you squint hard, it's really kind of trippy...er, I mean "spiritual").

This "cross of light" is unique in that, for every new viewer, there is a new experience with the cross that appears before them. I suppose this is what appealed to the German church from the beginning. I pity the poor school kids who, dazed out by the hallucinogenic colors, knock it off the pedestal on a class field trip. Amen to church!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Send a Woman to Get the Job Done

It's ant season, folks. And what I've learned is that no matter how many of those buggers I kill, I still need an expert to get the job completely done.

In that same vain, in retail, as in life, sometimes you need to send in a professional to get the job done. Often, that professional is a woman (as was my exterminator)--particularly when you're left with a big fat mess. Not that a man couldn't do it, but let's face it--the guys have had plenty of opportunities to get it right. It couldn't hurt to give a gal a shot to see if she might have the winning formula for success.

I'm speaking, of course, of former Rite Aid executive, Beth J. Kaplan, being summoned (not once, but twice!) to General Nutrition Centers (GNC) to spruce up the company's image.

After being sold to a new set of private-equity owners last year, GNC is ready to get back into the game. Apparently, the retailer recognized that somewhere along the line they had left out a huge segment of the population in their marketing and store design--women. So, who did they call? Kaplan, who worked with the company more than a decade ago. She's returned to serve as the company's president and chief merchandising and marketing officer.

While in the past, GNC tried to change its reputation as being meat-head central, it was unable to adequately alter consumer perception. To really connect with women and change the brand's appeal, they needed to bring in someone who knew the job and the demographic inside and out-- Beth Kaplan.

Case in point, have you been to a GNC recently? It's cold. The store design leaves little to be desired, and even the brand's vitamin packaging is boring, not to mention ultra-masculine. And, of course, there's a huge men's section and a smaller women's section. Some of the vitamins I frequently purchase are often found in the "men's" section, even though they're for the nervous system. In addition, their Web site features a men's section, but not a women's. GNC definitely needs Kaplan's help.

According to the company, by early 2009 it plans to have new ideas out in a few hundred of its stores, most likely mall stores and those that are company-owned.

I look forward to seeing a woman's touch affecting more aspects of our culture, GNC included. Kaplan is certainly qualified--she's been there before and knows the industry inside and out. And like my ants, brand problems and negative perceptions won't go away on their own. Sometimes, a professional is needed. Someone who knows the job, like my exterminator, and like Kaplan.

What's your take on GNC? Have any ideas for their store design? Think a feminine approach could help? Leave your comments here.

--Heather Strang

Tiki Treasures

The scene was a visual merchandiser’s paradise, as Trader Vic’s, the venerable South Sea Island themed restaurant chain, unloaded its surplus décor. Around since World War II [actually the chain's roots trace back to a precursor, founded in 1934], Trader Vic’s was the first experience most Americans had with Polynesian cuisine, and its dining dens were trapped out with fishnets, carved tiki poles, tribal drums and kitschy ceramic skulls.
Rum-laced beverages, including Mai Tais [the drink was invented at Trader Vic’s in Oakland, Calif.] and pupu platters caught on fast. But the chain has experienced difficulties over the years, with some units closing, and a number of relaunches trying to jump-start the dining trend once more. Today, the chain seems to do better in places like Dubai and Amman than in this country [though a new unit is opening in Las Vegas]. So the company decided to pile all its extra trappings into a large warehouse in Richmond, Calif., and have a big week-long sale. An article in
The New York Times reported that “tikiphiles” flocked to buy. Of course, some folks, no doubt, snapped up carved tiki poles to decorate their home entertainment spaces or frat house bars, but some savvy V.M. department may have saved a lot of money on décor for this seasons swim shop.

--Diva

The 99 Cents Store

I love a bargain, so it’s no wonder that I make a weekly sojourn to my local 99 Cents Store on 103rd Street. In it, I find all kinds of things I didn’t even realize I needed. Last week, I purchased a new kitchen strainer, a pastry brush, 150 straight pins, (no I didn’t count them) a 4-ounce jar of pitted Spanish olives (sans pimento), a jar of guava preserves, a recycled oversize tote bag, two hideous floral soup bowls, a three pack of white acrylic tube socks--and still received $1.29 in change from my $10. Okay the store is an eyesore--gondolas, cheap chrome bins, hand-written signs and indoor/outdoor carpeting. Who cares, I know it’s not Sephora!

I have never been a big fan of Bob Barker, or “The Price is Right,” but I’m certain I’d do well in the game where contestants guess what the manufacturer's suggested retail prices of many sundry items are.

I hate being ripped off, so it’s no wonder that when I make a weekly sojourn to my local (no name mentioned) grocery store, in it I find all kinds of things I realize I don’t need--at least at the manufacturer's suggested retail price, like Clorox bleach at $1.69 (only 99 cents at the 99 Centa Store), Renuizit Lavender Meadow Air Freshener at $2.39 (only $1.19 at the 99 Cents Store), Electrasol Dishwater Detergent at $3.89 (only $1.29 at the 99 Cents Store). You get the drift.

Just two blocks away from one another, the same items, possibly delivered on the same truck, are 50 percent to 75 percent off. Okay my math isn’t too terrific, but I still manage to save money.

My grocery store may not give a farthing that I’m skipping their aisles 8 and 9, but let me suggest that some smart grocery retailer might want to start their own 99 cents aisle in their store. Take a deeper discount on those items that are being sold competitively (fairly) just a few blocks away, without the huge profit margins. I might even drop a few dollars for a ceramic reindeer, a Santa Maria votive or a jumbo size box of Q-tips.

--Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger

Victoria's Secret Takes Sexy Back

The recent economic downturn has everyone in a frenzy. Retailers are drastically cutting employee counts, diminishing the number of new store openings and scaling back on merchandise. But, one retailer in particular has been so scared by the downturn that it's taking sexy back, regardless of what Justin Timberlake says.

Victoria's Secret--long known for its scantily clad pencil-thin models and juicy offerings--has a confession to make. It just might be too (gasp!) sexy. Hmm...what was the first clue, the over-the-top, full of pink and glitter "What is sexy?" marketing campaign, or the "Very Sexy" and "Sexy Little Things" lingerie lines?

No wait, I'm pretty sure it's the itty bitty sizes that every piece of clothing and lingerie comes in, regardless of what's printed on the label. For example, if you're a size 8 normally, you'll have to buy a 12 or nothing at all, because they won't have that size available. Not that I'm bitter. I just don't shop there anymore.

Apparently, execs at Victoria's Secret are starting to notice that the only ladies shopping at its stores these days are young college-age girls, who were introduced to the brand through the Pink line (reporting $900 million in sales in 2007).

The Pink campaign, filled with blaring music in stores and electric hot pink decor, has turned off more mature shoppers and left the retailer with a less-sophisticated set of customers. And so now, Vicky is calling the whole thing off, vowing to change her super-sexy ways.

CEO Sharen Jester Turney said recently in an analyst conference call, "We have so much gotten off our heritage. We will return to an ultra-feminine lingerie brand to meet [customer] needs and expectations."

The retailer is promising to raise the sophistication of its lingerie offerings and will add sizes that fit mature women's bodies as well (it's about time!).

Victoria's Secret isn't saying when these changes will take place, but their Web site already seems to reflect less of an emphasis on Gisele with wings pouting her lips in a barely-there get-up, and instead features a more mature form of sexy--minus all the wings and glitter.

Well, I for one love it and can't wait to see the retailer shift into offering lingerie for all women, not just college-age gals. What about you? Do you think Victoria's Secret is panicking for no reason or the change is a long time in coming? Leave your comments here.

--Heather Strang