Home Depot Unveils Its New Color Solutions Center
The Home Depot has unveiled its new Color Solutions Centers, designed to take the guesswork out of selecting paint color. The Color Solutions Center simplifies the color selection process through an enhanced display that includes improved color presentation, inspirational brochures and idea cards, and revolutionary color selection technology. “Our research clearly pointed to customers’ desire for a more user-friendly color presentation system,” said Sophia Schade, Home Depot’s V.P., Merchandising for paint and decor.
Home Depot’s 30-foot Color Solutions Center brings together different paint brands, including Ralph Lauren, BEHR Premium Plus and Glidden, into one display that includes more than 3,000 paint samples. Home Depot introduces the ColorSmart by BEHR kiosk as part of the Color Solutions Center. Customers can browse a collection of inspirational palettes, preview colors in virtual rooms and receive instant color coordination tips with the help of the in-store kiosk. The interactive kiosk also provides practical painting tips and a paint calculator and supplies list.
The lighting surrounding the Color Solutions Center is designed to cast natural light on the color samples. The Home Depot also has simplified the sheen selection process by creating consistency across the different brands.
Here’s how a Color Solutions Center works. A customer is drawn to the Glidden section of the display. She selects a color from Glidden’s Bright and Lively Color Collection, which includes suggestions for coordinating the trim and moldings. Next, she moves to the BEHR part of the display where she pulls an extra large color card. She scans the color card into BEHR’s ColorSmart system. From the video display, she views a virtual kitchen with walls depicting her chosen color along with corresponding hues for the trim, ceiling and floor.
Dacor Counter Display Features Trim Options
Dacor needed to create awareness of the many options available in its Dacor Epicure line of appliances. The line offers unique trim options, but this message was not reaching consumers due to limited floor space at dealers who couldn’t display all finishes.
This counter display utilizes the actual elements of the product, such as a stainless steel handle and control knobs with accents around them. A large Dacor logo is placed at the bottom of the display at a 45 degree angle for brand identification.
This display was created for Dacor by R/P Creative Sales, Inc., a Burbank, CA-based p.o.p. display company.
Pier 1’s 1,000th Store Is Largest To Date
Pier 1 Imports recently opened its 1,000th store, its largest store yet, in Summerlin, Nev., a growing area for retail in Las Vegas.
“Reaching our 1,000th store opening in North America is a significant milestone for Pier 1,” said Marvin Girouard, CEO of Pier 1 “It is symbolic of our long-term growth and of our staying power as a leading home furnishings retailer.”
More than twice the size of Pier 1’s regular store, the 20,137-square-foot Summerlin store will offer customers expanded retail space, a distinct merchandise assortment and larger-scale items complementing the homes in the Las Vegas demographic area.
Survey Finds That Well-Wired Home Is Most Important Amenity For Younger Americans
According to a national consumer survey conducted for the SBC family of companies, 42% of younger Americans, aged 18-24, said a well-wired home with plenty of telephone jacks and electrical outlets was the most important amenity when choosing a home; one in 10 younger Americans selected high-speed Internet access availability as their top feature, when offered a choice that also included walk-in closets, a fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen.
By contrast, 27% of older Americans, aged 55-64, selected either a well-wired home or walk-in closets as their most desirable trait. A gourmet kitchen and a fireplace ranked above broadband availability for this generation.
Americans Spending More To Personalize Their Homes
Contemporary homeowners are transforming their living space into retreats with a sense of personal flair according to the latest Lowe’s Home Improvement Trendex survey, conducted by Harris Interactive.
"With the continuing nesting trend, growing numbers of American homeowners really want to personalize their homes," said Melissa Birdsong, director of trend forecasting and design for Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. Increasingly, Americans see their home as the primary stress-free refuge. More than half of homeowners surveyed (54 percent) say they most often socialize at someone’s home rather than go out to a restaurant or club (37 percent). Additionally, the majority of homeowners (55 percent) would rather invest in their homes, preferring to remodel rather than spend money on a retirement or vacation home (39 percent).
For homeowners, creating tranquil spaces for stressful lives extends beyond interior rooms to where the sights and sounds of nature provide a relaxing environment. Three in ten homeowners (30 percent) say they find a water garden to be the most appealing outdoor living feature to add to their home. Nearly one in five (17 percent) homeowners say they would be most likely to add an outdoor living room.
With more homeowners choosing exterior environments for entertaining, many noted if they had $10,000 for any home improvement project, they would spend it on a deck or patio (28 percent). “The American dream is evolving with the times,”said Birdsong. “As demographics shift and priorities change, creating home spaces that express personal vision and provide peace and comfort is outpacing yesterday's desire for the white picket fence.”
Garden Market Report Issued
“Today’s $41 billion garden market offers tremendous opportunity for marketers and retailers over the next five to ten years as consumers turn their decorating passion to the outside living areas of their home,” said Pam Danziger, President of Unity Marketing, a Stevens, PA-based research firm. Unity Marketing has published “Future Vision: Garden Report,” revealing that the fastest growing garden category is garden “hardware,” i.e. the accessories, products, furniture, tools and equipment that enhance the consumers' gardening experience, rather than garden “software,” i.e. the plants, seeds, shrubs, trees and other plant material.
“The big opportunity for garden marketers and retailers over the next decade is to tap into consumers' growing passion to enhance their enjoyment of the garden by adding luxury accents, furniture, and accessories.
Bruce Hardwood Floors Vista Selling System
This system features three Slat Wall Modules constructed of steel tube frames and supports, and a Center Kiosk constructed of vinyl clad particle board. Product samples are displayed in sturdy wire trays. This is the only display in the industry that is completely modular relative to the presentation of product samples. Samples can be relocated with unlimited flexibility. Graphic holders and frames are also able to be placed anywhere on the display. The display will merchandise at least 160 product samples and supporting graphics. The display, which won the Gold OMA in the Home Furnishings and Housewares Category, was created by Harbor Industries, Inc., 141130 172nd Street, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Luminere 24 pc. Counter Display. The display is designed specifically for Luxury Linens, to work within their shelving guidelines. It is shipped as a fully assembled near pack. The retailer simply removes the display from the package, places the pre-installed header in the upright position, and loads the product on the steps. Created by Triangle Display Group, Div. Menasha Packaging Company, Inc., 601 E. Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19134. SILVER AWARD.
Sikkens Floor Display. This display was the centerpiece of an entire re-branding campaign. The display program was developed to increase name recognition and to show that the product was high quality, high value and easy to use. The design and choice of materials provide a high-end furniture look. Created by Evolve Marketing Group, 1687 Webster, Birmingham. MI 48009. BRONZE AWARD.
La-Zboy® Power Rocker Information Console. This information console is placed between two La-Z-Boy Recliners enticing customers to "test drive" the many functions. This unique display makes customers aware of the new line of recliners. This Informational System was designed by Radix Communications and manufactured by Visual Marketing, Inc., 154 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610. SILVER AWARD.
Cold Air Inflatables
Sky Signs Balloons offers Cold Air Inflatables, which are sewn fabric products inflated by a small electric fan. They are fantastic attention getters and are great for trade shows, grand openings, product introductions. They are available 8 ft. - 80 ft. tall and are made of the highest quality materials in the USA. For more information, contact Sky Signs Balloons, Ltd., 659 South Second Avenue, Phoenixville, PA 19460-2752.
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