Puma Displays Soccer Apparel
Puma Canada wanted to display soccer apparel and accessories while maintaining a small footprint. Puma also wanted to build brand awareness.
Gorrie Marketing Services of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, designed and produced this display, which can be shopped from both sides, is easy to re-merchandise and move to another location in the store.
The display was made using a 1” square metal tubing frame, powder coated black, MDF melamine wall and shelves with a laminated aluminum facing. On top was a metal laser cut header with a 3-color printed decal.
Levi’s Lets Customers Create ‘Made For You’ Levi’s
Levi’s has announced the expansion of its customization services, which uses individual body measurements to provide a personal fit and style combination, to include the hottest fabrics, finishes and cuts for the ultimate in “Create Your Own” pants.
Consumers can create their own jeans at any one of the 12 Levi’s stores or they can customize a pair of authentic Levi’s jeans, cargo or carpenter pants without ever leaving home. The Create Your Own process is easy, requiring a brief Levi’s Store fitting in which the customers’ waist and hip measurements are taken. These measurements are entered into a computer, which suggests a prototype trial jean for the customer to try on.
From there, the customer can explore a variety of options (looser/tighter, longer/shorter, fabric/texture, etc.) to determine his or her personal style and fit preferences.
Wolverine Displays DuraShocks Boots & Shoes
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is using this slatwall fixture with shoe shelves to introduce its new Wolverine DuraShocks Motion Control technology.
The slatwall fixture describes the features of the Wolverine DuraShocks Motion Control boots and shoes including the DuraShocks Vibram rubber outsole with multiple flex curves for flexibility and stability; patented shock-absorbing pads; exposed high-density arch support system; external heel counter that encases the heel; and tri-density footbed with visco-elastic polymer pads to absorb shock and transfer energy for extended comfort.
The shoe shelves on the fixture display up to two styles.
Dickies Concept Shops Placed In Kmart Stores Across The Country
Kmart has announced the expansion of its Dickies concept shops to a total of 398 Kmart stores across the country, as a result of its successful 98-store test. The Dickies concept shops allowed Kmart to offer customers a much broader assortment of work shirts, pants, denim, coveralls and jackets.
The goal of the Kmart initiative was to build incremental business through adding innovative branded workwear products to the traditional core Dickies line, such as the double-knee work jeans and twill work pants (both with cell phone pockets), stone washed utility jeans, work shorts, jackets, etc.
“Workwear is a growing category, and Dickies is the dominant brand,” said Carmine Esposito, Vice President of National Sales, Dickies. “When Kmart wanted to become a destination store for quality workwear, we got behind it 100%. We created exclusive promotions and signage, focused on forecasting, and continued our excellent fill rate to support their expanded program.”
Jansport Display Promotes Airlift Backpacks
Jansport wanted a display that would draw attention to its new Airlift line of high-end backpacks and convey the uniqueness of the “gelastic” padded straps and lumbar pad.
This was accomplished with a display that holds a large quantity of product within a small footprint . The display was constructed from a combination of powder-coated sheet metal and tubing, as well as particle board side panels with full color graphics.
The product had nearly a 100% sell-through.
The Jansport Airlift Backpack Display was produced by Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc., Grafton, WI.
Coldwater Creek Opens Retail Stores
Coldwater Creek, the catalog and e-commerce retailer of upscale women’s fashion and accessories, has recently embarked on an aggressive campaign to open 80 stores in 29 states.
The in-store atmosphere has been carefully designed to create a place where customers can get away from their daily routine and shop for their favorite items. “Each store is designed to recreate the ‘Coldwater Creek Experience’ in a brick and mortar setting using soft woods, ambient lighting and water features (such as our trademark floor-to-ceiling waterfall) to further define the brand,” said David Gunter, Coldwater Creek spokesperson.
The niche customer base that has contributed to the success of the Coldwater Creek brand through its four catalogs (Northcountry, Spirit of the West, Natural Elements and Coldwater Creek Home), as well as its Web site (www.coldwatercreek.com), factor into where stores will be located. Stores will be located in lifestyle centers and upscale malls where Coldwater Creek’s customers already live. Stores will average between 7,000-8,000 sq. ft.
“The stores will be filled with the ‘best of the best’ from the catalogs and Web site, as well as items exclusive to the area,” said Georgia Shonk-Simmons, President of Catalog & Retail Sales. “Shopping Coldwater Creek in the retail setting will be like walking right into our catalogs, with one big difference — you’ll be able to touch, see and experience the merchandise in person.”
A total of 10 full-line stores are open to date.
Lands’ End Mall Tour Demonstrates Online Shopping Innovations
Lands’ End has launched a shopping mall tour to introduce new online shopping innovations. At the Lands’ End My Virtual Model Tour, consumers in 14 cities across North America can have their body scanned and measurements translated into an exact My Virtual Model (MVM.) This is the first time body scanning has been combined with virtual modeling to create a precise body replica. Image Twin personal body scanners are expected to be in cities from New York to Chicago to San Francisco within a year. In addition, My Personal Shopper (MPS) creates the most personalized recommendations engine on the Web. After consumers answer a few brief questions, MPS suggests clothing based on personal preferences.
Lids & Footstar Enter Strategic Alliance
Lids Corp., a leading headwear retailer, and Footstar, Inc., a leading footwear retailer, have formed a strategic alliance where Just For Feet will operate Lids shops in all Just For Feet superstores. The Just For Feet superstores will bring the total of Lids retail stores to approximately 500 locations.
The Just For Feet alliance is the latest in a series of aggressive marketing initiatives for Lids, which recently unveiled the e-Center, an internet kiosk that gives customers access to a virtual inventory of over 50,000 hats.
Just For Feet stores, located outside Lids’ traditional mall-based stores, contain video walls, basketball courts, and thousands of styles of shoes and apparel. Customers are engaged in a shopping-friendly environment, with branded concept shops providing direction. The addition of the Lids branded solution for headwear is in keeping with the Just For Feet shopping experience.
Banana Republic Reopens Flagship Store
Banana Republic has re-opened its newly expanded flagship store in San Francisco, CA. In addition to adding nearly 30,000 sq. ft., the Union Square landmark store is introducing a host of new customer services. For those on the go, Banana Republic’s concierge will re-charge a cell phone and check packages and coats for hands-free shopping. To make the shopping experience even easier and more convenient for its busy customers, Banana Republic also offers Clientele Specialists who can provide personalized one-on-one service in the store.
Recognizing that many people shop Banana Republic with specific occasions in mind, the retailer features certain areas in the store that are dedicated to specific occasions, like workwear or fashions for going out.
Study On Apparel Brand Loyalty
Consumers are choosing apparel brands they know and trust, according to a recent national survey from the consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates. This survey uncovered that, despite the dizzying array of brands available, many consumers opt for a name they are comfortable with, decreasing the chances of future trial for brands for which they don’t have an affinity. What consumers want is consistency of fit, value, relevance, and more innovation from brands they currently own.
This year’s KSA/NPD Apparel Brand Reports show the average loyalty for all brands surveyed has increased over the past two years. The top five men’s brands ranked by loyalty are: Levi’s, Nike, Dockers, Hanes and Fruit of the Loom. The top five women’s brands ranked by loyalty are: Hanes, Old Navy, Fruit of the Loom, Route 66 and Dockers.
“Although apparel brand managers typically invest in market research and analysis to acquire new customers, they often do not show an equal interest in reinforcing the loyalty of their current consumers,” said Adelle Kirk, KSA Director of Consumer Marketing. “Brand managers need to increase their understanding of their consumers and the attributes they value. The key today is not more consumers, but more profitable consumers.”
Candie’s Time Fashion Watches Debut
Candie’s Inc. has entered into a license agreement with Skagen Designs for a line of fashion watches. Said Neil Cole, CEO of Candie’s, Inc., “Candie’s Time will give our customer the trendy styles she desires at price points she can afford. With the tremendous success of Candie’s fragrances and eyewear, we thought that Candie’s watches was the next natural step.”
Candie’s Time consists of 45 styles. The collection will retail from $19.00-$39.00.
Compaq & Eddie Bauer Team Up For New Products
Compaq Computer and Eddie Bauer have formed a merchandising partnership whereby Compaq will and market consumer PCs and accessories co-branded with the Eddie Bauer name.
This is Compaq’s first co-branding partnership. The companies are heralding it with the Compaq Presario 1400 Eddie Bauer Special Edition, a notebook PC designed to reflect the Eddie Bauer lifestyle. The PC is accented in Eddie Bauer’s signature metallic olive green color.
Nike Shox Are Launched
Nike’s research team has spent more than 16 years researching how to attach springs to the bottom of an athlete’s foot. Now, Nike is bringing this technology to athletes with the introduction of Nike Shox footwear. By using a suspension system at the heel to make the shoe “spring” back, Nike Shox provides unparalleled responsiveness and impact protection.
The new Nike Shox line includes the Nike Shox BB4 basketball shoe, the Nike Shox R4 running shoe; and the Nike Shox XT4 cross-trainer.
Macy’s Childrens Dept. Features High-Impact Displays
Macy’s Children’s Dept. in Herald Square, New York recently featured 3-message internally-illuminated displays from Clearr Corp., of Minnetonka, MN.
Clearr’s Graphic Revolutions units (3-6’4” long x 4’ tall) are joined together at angles to create gigantic high-impact displays. Six units of the same size were placed in the Children’s Department, and through specially-designed computer controls, they all change in unison, along with the Moving Pix units. A total of 64 22” x 22” Moving Pix units were installed in groups of 4 and 8, flanking the Graphics Revolutions units. Each individual unit holds up to 10 graphics and displays images sequentially.
Carolina Shoe Display
Carolina Shoe Co. required an easy to ship floor unit to display its footwear. This display shipped in a 18” x 30” x 6” box and weighed less than 40 pounds. Each unit came with detailed set-up instructions and was assembled in minutes. The display featured a lifestyle graphic and brand identity.
The Carolina Shoe Display was designed and produced by Corporate Display Specialties, Inc., Bridgeport, CT.
Computer Eyewear Display
Insight Eyeworks needed a display to communicate the benefits of the AOL Computer Eyewear program.
Concept Displays, Ontario, CA, created this fixture, with oversized header graphics and the AOL logo. Additional vertical graphics space is used to help the consumer with product selection. Heavy-duty hooks showcase the blister packs containing the glasses and eyewear case. The 4-sided rotating black pegboard barrel is mounted on a speckled gray storage base.
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