Young Adults Just Wanna Shop...In-Store

It’s 11 a.m. on a Tuesday and my 23-year-old sister Ashley calls me. She’s in the area and wants to see if I’ll meet her at Pioneer Place for some mid-morning shopping. My response? "You want to shop on a random Tuesday?!"

I shouldn’t actually be surprised. All of my younger sisters (there are four of them) love to spend a morning, afternoon or evening (they don’t discriminate) with a latte in hand while perusing through H&M, Forever 21, Nordstrom – you name it.

A new study by LIM College and the NRF Student Association (NRFSA) reveals that, in general, 18- to 25-year-olds prefer in-store shopping. Apparently, all of our fears and predictions that technology would circumvent the need to be in-store is pretty much false.

The survey goes on to share some fascinating details about this demographic’s shopping preferences:

• 68 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds would rather be in-store for apparel and shoe shopping.

• More than 88 percent of this demographic do not want to shop via Facebook/Twitter (I don’t blame them – so not a fan of this!) although they will “like” a brand on Facebook.

• 66 percent use the Internet as an information-gathering tool, not for shopping.

• Only 23 percent use a tablet or smart phone to shop.

Turns out, these young shoppers are savvier than we thought. They want to feel and try on their merchandise before buying, they love having the shopping “experience” (especially with sisters or friends!), and they use technology the way it’s meant to be used – for information gathering and knowledge enhancing.

I’m quite impressed!

So, while I (the 30-something that I am) spent my holiday gift cards online, this survey is turning it all around for me. I plan to say, “Heck ya!” next time my sister calls for a shopping excursion. Maybe that will keep me young. Will you join us?

What’s your take on the 18- to 25-year-old demographic? How can we continue to entice them into stores? Leave your thoughts below.

-Heather Strang

Welcome to Tax Season 2012

It’s been all celebration and hoopla, what with ringing in the traditional American New Year and the Chinese New Year. But, those days are drawing to a close. By Jan. 31, we should all have our tax documents in place. And then comes the real fun.

Welcome to tax season 2012.

Retail was bound to get in on the action at some point. And mega-retailer Walmart has found a way with its recent announcement to open 2,800 Jackson Hewitt Tax Service kiosks inside its stores nationwide.

The benefit is twofold – existing Walmart customers get the benefit of killing two birds with one stone, with tax preparation and shopping handled all in one spot. Secondly, the kiosks may also attract non-regular Walmart shoppers who also happen to need their taxes done. And – oh wait, that’s more than two, but hopefully you don’t mind – Jackson Hewitt is able to offer its tax services to more folks than ever before with this recent partnership.

In a sense, everyone wins.

Walmart has continued to sweeten the tax deal by offering IRS-check-cashing services – only $3 for checks up to $1,000 and $6 for checks up to $7,500 (restrictions apply, see official press release). In addition, Walmart is offering:

• Bill payment options for 88 cents.
• Money transfers (like MoneyGram) for a “low fee.”
• Walmart MoneyCard, a loadable, pre-paid debit card.

Wait – is Walmart getting into the financial services industry? It appears as though they might be. While I’m not sure if this is a good idea or a bad one, it is an excellent example of a retailer meeting the needs of its consumers in a variety of ways. 

So, who is doing your taxes this year? Do you approve of the merging of finances and retail? Give us your perspective here.

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Choose Your Retail Favorite Here!

Everybody has their favorites. My mom swears up and down my little sister Alison isn’t her favorite, but we all know she is. I have my favorite pair of boots, favorite sushi roll (it’s the Alaskan if you must know) and favorite friend (that’s top secret info, of course).

Favorites are one of those things we can ascribe to virtually anything. Retail is not excluded from this. In fact, we even have an “America’s Favorite Fashion Retailer” designation.

And by “we” I mean Market Force Information, which released its top favorite fashion retailers results earlier in the fall. Market Force interviewed approximately 7,000 consumers in North America asking for their favorite retailer from a list of 91 national chains.

Consumers clearly have options. But still, one clear winner stood above the rest.  
Are you ready? (I’m building tension for effect – is it working or did you cheat already and look at the graph above?)

The No. 1 favorite fashion retailer, according to Market Force Information is…Kohl’s. In fact, Kohl’s is a sure winner – with a 16 percent lead over Nordstrom.

The rest of the favorites rolled out like this:

2-Nordstrom
3-Macy’s & Dillard’s (tie)
4-JCPenney
5-Coldwater Creek
6-Ann Taylor Loft & TJ Maxx (tie)
7-Old Navy, Marshall’s, Ross, Lane Bryant & Banana Republic (tie)
8-Dress Barn & Target (tie)
9-Walmart

So, what constitutes a favorite fashion retailer you might ask? Market Force looked at a variety of angles, noting that Kohl’s led in just about every category: prices, easy parking, customer service, atmosphere and no-hassle returns. However, the survey noted that Marshalls was the only retailer to receive props for its loyalty program (something other retailers can work on strengthening before next year?) and Macy’s led the way for providing the widest variety of clothing and accessories.

For me, a favorite retailer has amazing service, reasonable prices and an eclectic selection. Which is why I would vote for Ross & TJ Maxx as my top two favorite fashion retailers (my Nordstrom-only sister is rolling her eyes right now – but hey, I love a bargain!).

What is your favorite fashion retailer? Agree or disagree with Market Force’s results? Tell us all about it here!

-Heather Strang

2012's Color of the Year

If you’re anything like us, a lot has already transpired in the beginning of this very new year. We’ve made and broken a few of our resolutions (a couple of times, actually) and we’re already planning sunny vacations (we’ll be traveling a lot in February to be precise). But, there’s one thing we almost forgot. Almost.

Pantone’s color of the year.

2011 was the year of honeysuckle, and 2012 is—are you ready?—the year of tangerine tango or Pantone 17-1463, to be more exact. Yep, we’re going big and bright this year. A combination of red and orange, tangerine tango just makes us want to visit the sun, ASAP.

You’re sure to start seeing this bold and bright color everywhere – painted on retail walls, furniture, jewelry, makeup (Pantone has forged a partnership with Sephora, so be on the lookout for tangerine tango make-up in March.This will either be awesome or scary. The verdict awaits.) and fashion. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re apt to see some member of the DDI staff in this show-stopping color during GlobalShop. Just sayin'.

So, keep your eyes peeled.

In the meantime, what’s your take on tangerine tango? Too much, not enough or just right? Where are you hoping it will pop up? Leave your comments here.

- Heather Strang

*Photos courtesy of BDE.

Trend Alert: The Anti-Salon

Trend alert! Here at Retail Design Diva, we love discovering new retail design concepts, product offerings, visual merchandising, sustainability projects, etc. – if it’s retail - we love it. We also (if you’ve ever met any one of us) love our hair. So, when the two merge together, it’s sort of a big deal.

Now, that we’ve got your attention, here’s the trend: a salon that does nothing more than blow out your hair. If you’re a man, you probably have no idea what this means. We’ll explain. A blow out is when your hair is freshly washed and then blown dry into the lusciousness that you always knew your hair could be, but that you can never get it to be on your own.

For only $35, customers can enter Drybar, sip a tasty beverage (champagne perhaps?), watch a favorite movie, relax and walk out with movie star hair.  

Have I mentioned that we love this?

It gets better. Drybar is mixing it up by creating several choices for thier customers (so smart!). They host parties for girlfriends, offer a variety of blow-out options (from the Straight Up to the Cosmo-Tai to the Hot Toddy), and even – now this is really smart – offer monthly memberships for ladies who rely on a blowout as their signature look.

And the reason we’re calling this a trend is that Drybar is popping up all over the place. They currently have locations in NYC, Atlanta (the home of DDI), Texas, California and Arizona. Now, if I can just talk them into opening a location in Portland, Ore.…

Part of Drybar’s expansion and success may be linked to bringing on Karen Kelley as COO and president. Kelley is a retail executive with more than 20 years of experience with a host of national retail chains. There just might be a connection...

OR it’s just a wicked awesome concept. You decide.

First things first, have you been to a Drybar? If so, details please! Secondly, what do you think of the “anti-salon” concept? Leave your illustrious thoughts here!

-Heather Strang

Welcome to 2012! But First, Some 2011 Holiday Shopping Results

Happy 2012! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

And now, for the important stuff. Drum roll, please…

The results from the 2011 Christmas holiday season are in (thank you ShopperTrak – who had the data out before any of us were even back to work!), and they are spectacular. In all ways, the 2011 holiday season rocked. Let’s review:

• Roughly $44 billion was spent the week ending Dec. 24, a 37.8 percent increase over the week prior and a 14.8 percent increase over the same time period in 2010.

• Month-to-date sales for December 2011 were 4.7 percent higher than December 2010.

• We’re still procrastinators – 32.4 percent more of us were out shopping the week ending Dec. 24 than the week prior. And yes, that was me on Dec. 24 hitting a few stores for local wine and cheeses (it’s amazing who you forget to put on your list in all of the holiday shopping hub-bub!).

• The day after Christmas was also a booming shopping day; it was fourth in foot-traffic and sales for the entire holiday season, with foot traffic increasing 25.9 percent from the same day last year. Consumers spent approximately $7.1 billion, a 25.5 percent increase from the same time period in 2010.

Whew! So we shopped until we dropped, or until the ball dropped on Jan. 1, 2012 that is. 

I know I was guilty of last-minute Christmas shopping, were you? If you’re a retailer did you experience the same stellar results that ShopperTrak discovered? Leave your comments here.

-Heather Strang

P.S. And here’s to an even more outstanding year in 2012 for everyone!

Image credit: © Nevit Dilmen found at Wikimedia commons

Mobile Mayhem

Diva loves having a smart phone and all the conveniences that come with it. Case in point: a few weeks ago, Diva made an unexpected stop at a local Gap store during one of her holiday shopping marathons. She actually found a few items on sale that would make perfect gifts and proceeded to the checkout line, wishing that she'd remembered to print out that $10 coupon she received in her e-mail from Gap several days earlier. Diva's only hope was that the store would accept the coupon via mobile phone (plenty of other stores do, so this was not a long stretch). Here is what went down:

Diva: (Standing at the register, Diva shows the sales associate her phone screen.) Do you accept e-mail coupons via smart phone?

Sales Associate: Ummm, I don't know, let me check. (Looks slightly exasperated, as if a partial eye roll is on the verge at any moment. Turns to coworker at other register.) Ummmmm, like, John, can we use coupons off phones?

Coworker John: Yea, definitely. Just have her expand it so you can see the code and type in the number.

Sales Associate: Okay, yea, just like, expand it (mimes the technique used for zooming on an iPhone with his fingers, which Diva does not find helpful since she has a Blackberry).

Diva: (Tries to zoom in, accidentally clicks a link that navigates away from the coupon, but quickly goes back and zooms in properly, then hands phone over to cashier.) Sorry about that, here it is zoomed in, is that close enough?

Sales Associate: Uhhhhhh, yea. (Starts to type code in, then places one hand on his hip and cocks head over his shoulder to another coworker.) Jamie, this is exactly what I was talking about.

Diva: (Stands in shock, cannot believe this employee is copping such an attitude and clearly talking smack about Diva right in front of her.) Excuse me???? (Glares at employee with dagger eyes, then shoots an "are you serious"-look at the coworker/supervisor to cashier's left. [Diva has younger siblings and knows the fastest way to retribution is always through an authority figure.])

Sales Associate: (Gets reprimanded by his coworker/supervisor and is told to "knock it off." Then completes the transaction, hands Diva her merchandise in a bag.) Have a great holiday!

Diva: (Still fuming, only offers up a death stare.)

And, scene!

The moral of this ridiculously long story: mobile marketing is convenient and great, but if your sales staff is not trained on how to implement it at the store level, than it really does more harm than good. While Diva loves a smart phone, she does not love a snippy, untrained sales associate giving her attitude. Period.

--The Diva

Happy Holidays! Macy's Is Open 24/7 Until Christmas

Happy Holidays! As we inch ever closer to Christmas Day (3 days and counting!), retailers are turning up the heat.

Macy’s recently announced its plans to remain open for 83 hours leading up to the big Christmas holiday. In fact, beginning yesterday, Dec. 21, 14 Macy’s locations are open 24/7 through 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24.

Now, there’s really no excuse to miss out on getting any holiday gifts. Guys, are you hearing us? You can’t bail with the whole, “I ran out of time” excuse. Macy’s just ripped it from you.

In addition, 27 stores will remain open until 2 a.m. on the three nights leading up to Christmas Eve. I’m a bit worried for Macy’s employees, although Macy’s notes that employees volunteer to work these shifts (and surely they’re receiving time and a half pay, right??).

I’m not sure if this is pure craziness or not. I mean, do we really need our retailers to be this available? Or is Macy’s beating out the competition with this ultra-smart (and possibly exhausting) business move? The final holiday reports will show us the results.

In the meantime, happy shopping! Be sure to leave comments below if you shop at Macy’s at 4 a.m. or any other wacky time or have a pulse on whether these extended hours are too much even for crazed holiday shoppers.

May this be your best holiday season yet, and may 2012 shine brightly for you and yours!

-Heather Strang

Arch + Design Makes Job Hunting Easy

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a one-stop resource for jobs in architecture and design? And wouldn’t it be great if the top brands posted jobs on this resource, and also included career news and tips?

Yeah, we thought so, too.

And that’s why we’re thrilled to announce the start of Arch + Design Job Market, a career resource for architecture and design professionals. Powered by Adicio and launched by Nielsen Expositions Design Group, Arch + Design features more than 5,000 jobs and an audience of more than 100,000 professionals.

Not a bad way to kick off a job site, eh?

Arch + Design intends to provide a connection between hiring companies and recruiters to engage with its brands, such as: Contract, Hospitality Design, Kitchen & Bath Business and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, along with the rockin (if we don’t say so ourselves) DDI and GlobalShop. The site not only features 5,000+ jobs, but also the latest in industry news, salary research, a resume builder, writing guide and career tips.

So, are you ready to get your career on?

Check out Arch + Design and let us know what you think. Leave your comments below.

-Heather Strang

When Bad Gifts Happen to Good People

Remember when grandma gave you that extra large fuzzy sweater for Christmas a few years ago or that hard-as-a-rock loaf of fruit cake from Aunt Nancy? While the holidays present an opportunity to get everything we do want, we can also end up with some stuff we would never want in a million years.

Luckily, this happens to everyone, so we can all commiserate together.

In fact, there’s even a survey out by Consumer Reports that tracks what people do when they receive terrible gifts over the holidays. And as far as surveys go, this is one of my favorites; it’s right up there with the top 10 Halloween costumes report.

The survey uncovered something very lovely about human beings. We are far too nice when it comes to receiving bad gifts—40 percent of respondents made the “best of” the lousy gift, while 39 percent hid it somewhere (like the back of the closet or under the bed, perhaps?), and 18 percent donated it to charity. While fairly passive-aggressive options, it’s far better than what some folks choose to do.

There’s a tenacious 2 percent of respondents who actually have the gall to return the gift to the gift-giver. Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on the wall for that showdown? Yikes!

The report went on to share the culprits of this horrible gift-giving. It’s the usual suspects, of course: in-laws, friends, and grandma and grandpa. However, because we’re so nice, at least 44 percent of respondents believe the thought is more important than anything else—even a bad gift. Aww…aren’t we sweet? But really, I would like grandma to know I wear a medium and that camel is not my color. Ever.

With Americans set to spend $707 each on holiday gifts this year (up 4 percent from last year!), there’s a lot of room for bad gift-giving. We just hope it doesn’t happen to you.

What do you do with your bad/ugly/awful holiday gifts? We hope we’ve at least given you some good ideas, but if not, please share your responses below.

-Heather Strang

Will the Tablet Be Next to Rule the World?

Remember when the iPhone was the biggest thing around? Then, before we knew it the iPad was here and a brand new revolution launched.

Well folks, the evolution of technology is continuing (shocking!), and it has a big impact on how consumers shop and how retailers, well, retail.

A May 2011 report from BizRate Insights / Forrester Research study found that:

• 60 percent of tablet owners use their tablet to shop

• 21 percent of online/mobile commerce is tied to tablets

• Tablet shoppers are five to six times more likely to buy than smartphone shoppers, and nearly two times more than PC shoppers. They also spend 28 percent more on each order than non-tablet users. (What is it about that tablet?!)

• 56 percent of tablet users download shopping apps

The folks at Revel Touch have taken this data and their love of retail/shopping to create an interface that allows users to shop at an optimal level. Anthropologie is one of the first to utilize this new technology for its customers.

When a retailer uses Revel Touch to create its very own app, customers can then have access to the retailer’s entire inventory, and have all of the retailer’s social media and online components integrated in one place. My personal favorite aspect of this new technology is that users can build their entire outfit via the interface.

I love this “build-your-outfit” concept, and I hope more retailers will jump on board. Let me mix and match, and play with different styles on my tablet (when I get one, that is); I’m sure to buy more that way and have a lot more fun. And that means I’ll be telling everyone and their mother about this cool new interface that lets me design my entire wardrobe without having to stand under poor lighting and spend hours taking my clothes on and off. That’s a win-win for everyone.

It will be interesting to see if the tablet becomes the new shopping mechanism for consumers and if Revel Touch will be a bigger part of our online shopping experiences.

Do you love the tablet concept? Shop with yours currently? Tell us about it here!

-Heather Strang

Macy's Makes Us Believe Again—Enter to Win Today!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

There, I said it.

And not just because of the gorgeous, sparkling trees, smells of cinnamon and baked treats, cheerful holiday tunes, or cozy romantic nights (the power of white twinkle lights!). It’s also wonderful because of the giving spirit that encompasses both consumers and retailers during the holiday season.

Macy’s is one such retailer.

Beginning Dec. 9, Macy’s will launch its Believe campaign. The campaign is aimed at reclaiming the magic of the holidays (in surprisingly creative and mobile ways), and runs through Dec. 24.

Macy’s has done a fantastic job creating a Believe campaign that’s worthy of our attention. Check this out:

• Stores nationwide, as well as online, feature letter-writing Believe stations and Santa Mail letterboxes.

• For each letter received, Macy’s donates $1 to The Make-A-Wish Foundation (so far they’ve received nearly 550,000 letters!).

• A “Macy’s Believe-o-Magic” app can be downloaded for IOS and select Android users allowing folks to interact with characters from the “Yes, Virginia” holiday classic. Customers can take a photo—which can then be uploaded into a holiday card template—to share via e-mail or Facebook.

• Believe fans will be entered into Macy’s Facebook “Believer of the Week” contest with the chance of being featured as Macy’s profile photo (hint: you need a lot of “likes” for your photo to win).

In fact, Macy’s is so ga-ga about their Believe campaign (and we gotta say, so are we) that they're offering a free Snode Snowglobe to one of our lucky blog readers! Simply write a comment below with your thoughts about the Believe campaign. Can Macy’s lure you into the magic of the holidays? Believe with us!

Happy Holidays!

-Heather Strang

 *Please note: Only one comment per reader.

Holiday Shopping 2011 Is Off To a Successful Start

As if eating enough turkey and pumpkin pie for 10 people all while spending time with the people we love wasn’t enough to make our Thanksgiving 2011 the best ever...Then retail sales skyrocketed on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday (we’re still awaiting word on Small Business Saturday)!

ShopperTrak was right on all the action releasing its Black Friday results the day after the big sales. According to ShopperTrak reports, Black Friday sales increased 6.6 percent over 2010, accounting for $11.40 billion in retail purchases. Retail foot traffic rose as well – jumping 5.1 percent over last year’s shopping frenzy.

Cyber Monday seemed to follow in Black Friday’s footsteps. Forbes reported that an estimated $1.25 billion was spent online, a 22 percent increase from last year (wowza!). Online deals ranging from retail to travel seemed to be getting everyone’s attention – my inbox was practically imploding on Monday with all of the deals offered. Cyber Monday’s success was attributed to not only an increase in the number of consumers shopping online – 11 percent -  but folks also spent 9 percent more than they did last year at this time.

All in all, it’s safe to say that holiday shopping for 2011 is in full swing and that it’s rockin! The prognosis for the rest of the shopping season looks grand, especially with such a strong start. It appears that we’re all ready to celebrate the holidays big this year and give our economy the nudge it deserves.

How did you celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday? What’s your retail prognosis? Leave your comments here!

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Jobsearch on Wiki Commons.

Gaga's Workshop Sets a New Bar for Retail Displays

Never before in the history of holiday window displays have celebrities turned out to gawk, stare and enjoy. But, they are now.

People.com caught Neil Patrick Harris and his partner at the opening of the Barneys Gaga’s Workshop, not to mention a host of other A-B-listers vying for a glimpse at this much-hyped display.

One of the most prominent features in the workshop that’s catching our eye is the 11.67-ft. by 6.25-ft. laser phosphor display (LPD) video wall by Prysm. It’s titled as the “Gaga Constellation” and is located in a window next to the Barneys front door.

This isn’t just any video wall (as if it could be for Gaga!). Oh no, this thing has it all – including social media and film. There’s a 90-second film directed by Tim Richardson that showcases Lady Gaga as she morphs into a variety of constellations along with a LIVE Twitter feed. Barneys and Gaga fans can send Tweets that will show up right on the video wall.

Who even knew that was possible?!

It’s classically Gaga – over the top, indulgent and raising quite the ruckus. It’s perfect for Barneys, perfect for Gaga and even allows customers to engage (right alongside celebrities). If this isn’t the best display idea, I don’t know what is.

And while I’m not a Gaga fan (she frightens small children!), there is no denying her draw and ability to get attention.

I certainly hope we see more retailers using video wall displays. Can you imagine all of the creative possibilities that exist with this option?

What are your thoughts on this display? Love the video-wall? Know other retailers who are utilizing this stellar technology? Leave your comments here!

-Heather Strang

*Photos courtesy of Prysm Inc.

P.S. The Diva can't wait to see these windows in person! She'll be in New York next week for the annual DDI Winning Windows competition—click here for more info!

Eats For Your Post-Thanksgiving Feast

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get my hands on some turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie on Thursday (let’s hear it for Thanksgiving!). But I also know - and maybe like you - that after a few days of eating turkey, I don’t want to eat it ever again, or at least until next year.

Luckily, there are a million other tasty foods we can eat the rest of the year when we’re not partaking in copious amounts of turkey.

The Consumer Picks Survey recently released its results for the top favorite U.S. restaurants – or at least the top faves for more than 5,000 survey respondents. These results, my friends, will give you some good go-to options when you’re driving back from your mom’s house on Sunday or Monday. I know, you think you won’t ever want to eat again after Thanksgiving 2011. But trust me, you will.  And now, you can thank me and Consumer Picks for giving you some ideas!

Top 10 Limited-Service Restaurants

1) Papa Murphy’s                             
2) In-N-Out Burger                           
3) Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop       
4) McAlister’s Deli                                                           
5) Haagen-Dazs                                                  
6) Potbelly Sandwich Shop                            
7) Chick-fil-A                                     
8) Panera Bread                                 
9) Cold Stone Creamery                                 
10) Jason’s Deli                                                  

Top 10 Full-Service Restaurants

1) Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2) Bonefish Grill
3) P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
4) The Cheesecake Factory
5) Carrabba’s Italian Grill
6) McCormick & Schmick’s
7) Cheddar’s Casual Café
8) Olive Garden
9) Outback Steakhouse
10) Red Lobster

While I can’t say these are my favorite restaurants, there are a few possibilities here for my post-Thanksgiving eating. McCormick & Schmick’s has one of the best happy hours in the Pacific Northwest, as does Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Cold Stone isn’t a bad choice for dessert.

Do you see any of your favorites here? Or want to add a few others to the list? Leave your comment below!

In the meantime you should know – we’re incredibly thankful for YOU! Thank you for making Retail Design Diva one of the coolest and most fun blogs around. Happy Thanksgiving!

-Heather Strang

*Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons, Ben Franske.

Destiny USA Offers Sustainable Bliss

Ignorance used to be bliss. But, not anymore. As our knowledge about the state of our environment grows, we are forced to find ways to honor our environment and expand our human potential.

Destiny USA, a shopping center in Syracuse, N.Y., seems to understand this on a massive level. The 2.4 million sq. ft. “destination” (as its being called) is now the sixth-largest shopping center in the United States, and is in the running to be the nation’s largest LEED Gold-Certified commercial retail project. In addition, it expects to have more than 100 of its retail tenants also be LEED-certified.

The shopping center, which is home to restaurants, entertainment and retail outlets, is chock-full of sustainable features, including:

• Rainwater-harvesting system

• Low-flow toilets (this combined with the harvesting system will conserve more than four million gallons of water a year!)

• Daylight harvesting

• LED lighting

• Cool roof to reflect heat from the sun

• More than 90 percent of all building materials have been recycled, keeping 7,000 tons of material out of landfills. Example: all 23,000 tons of 95 percent recycled steel was used for the building structure.

• All construction vehicles are powered by bio-diesel fuel.

The project won’t be totally finished until spring 2012, but when it is, it will feature 264 businesses and anticipates attracting more than 20 million visitors annually. I don’t know about you, but I would be interested in visiting just to see all of the amazing sustainable options they’ve used.

Destiny USA is also in a very powerful position to influence their tenants. While they’re projecting that at least 100 tenants will be LEED-certified, I would like to challenge them to require that all of their tenants be certified. In 2011, ignorance is no longer bliss. Sustainability is imperative!

What are your thoughts on this hot topic? Tell us about it here.

-Heather Strang

Let the Shopping Begin!

Black Friday sales have already begun. Christmas tunes are infiltrating the airwaves. To say we’re a bit anxious for the holiday shopping season to kick in is an understatement.

Lists have been made, cash is available and shoppers…well, they’re chomping at the bit. In fact, I’ve already made some of my own Christmas purchases and it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet.

So, if you’re also a retailer, you might be a little excited as well. ShopperTrak recently released its Top 10 Busiest Holiday Shopping Days report just for you. You know, in case, you needed more anticipatory anxiety about how the 2011 holiday season might go.

And while I’m never a total fan of predictions (how do they really know??), the news is so good, it’s worth sharing.

Here are the highlights:

• There are 10 key shopping days that make all the difference for retailers. No pressure. Seriously.

• We’re still procrastinators. Consumers generally wait until the week before Christmas to get their purchases made. Which means Dec. 18-24 will continue to be the biggest shopping week for retailers.

• Black Friday still rules the holiday shopping roost (I know, I’m full of them today, eh?) with predictions to yet again be the top-performing sales and foot traffic day for the holiday season.

• Dec. 17 is the next highest sales/foot-traffic day, also known as Super Saturday.

• And, Black Saturday, or the Saturday after Black Friday (Nov. 26 this year), is also an important day to watch. It’s not as powerful as its Black Friday sibling, but it’s got enough power to earn it a ranking as the sixth-busiest shopping day of the year.  It’s also Small Business Saturday, so be sure to shop local on this day!

When it’s all said and done, what’s most important is that we’re prepared during these days – whether we’re shoppers or retailers. This is an opportunity for us to keep our economy thriving and celebrate one of the most glorious times of the year - together.

So, when will you be shopping? Leave your comments below.

-Heather Strang

Bottega Veneta Does Windows Right

Sometimes retailers blow us away with their window displays. Now, this doesn’t happen all of the time, but when it does, we’ve got to give them the appropriate props.

Our dear friend and blogger, Ronald Knoth (who passed away earlier this fall) shared with us Bottega Veneta’s recent old-fashioned painter display – and we’ve got to say: it’s quite eyecatching.

As you can see from the photos, the mannequins are decked out in old-fashioned painter caps and have paint splashing out of their buckets. We love the look of the mannequins (painter caps are hot btw!) and we absolutely dig the way the paint arches and splashes onto them.  

We can only guesstimate here, but we’re pretty sure Bottega Veneta is letting us know the paint is transforming the color of the apparel.  Ron also pointed out to us that the paint splashes branch out almost like hands and embracing – do you see that too? We really love it when a retailer can give us multiple messages in a display!

Adding action to a fashionable window display isn’t always the easiest thing in the world, so we tip our painter caps to Bottega Veneta for a job well done. As Ron said, “these windows are magic.”

Thank you Ron and thank you Bottega Veneta!

-Heather Strang

Retail Has Your Football Season Solution

Oh, football season, how we love you. But along with football season comes the need for gear. I mean, you can’t watch your favorite game without the appropriate jersey. That’s like, I don’t know, blasphemy.

Case in point - before I could go to a recent University of Oregon football game, I had to drop some cash on a sexy UO tee. I was just grateful that I didn’t have to wear some oversized polyester jersey. Thank you sports apparel vendors!

In any event, Old Navy must know about this “watch the game in team gear” requirement because this summer it started its Superfan Nation in-store destination that’s chock full of NFL and collegiate gear – for the whole family (they've even got PJs with NFL logos!). Smart move Old Navy. Because, let’s be honest, it doesn’t get more adorable than a baby in a Cowboys jersey.

This isn’t a huge stretch for Old Navy (although it seems like a bit of a commitment), as it has been offering licensed apparel, like NFL and collegiate tees, since 2009. The Superfan Nation expansion simply allows the company to fully cater to this market in a more dedicated manner.

The good news with all of this is – at least we know where to go. And with Old Navy, we’re almost always guaranteed reasonable prices. I was mortified at how much the Ducks Store expected me to pay for a tee, so from now on I’ll be heading to Old Navy.

Is this a good move for the Old Navy brand? Have you purchased gear from Superfan Nation this football season? Or do you go elsewhere? Tell us about it here!

-Heather Strang

Small Business Saturday Supports Local Businesses During the Holiday Rush

Happy Halloween!

And with the passing of Halloween comes Thanksgiving and with Thanksgiving comes Black Friday shopping (and then a whole lot of holiday excitement from there!). I know, I know, we’re moving too fast – but the truth is – it does go that quickly!

Retailers everywhere are preparing busily for the biggest shopping day of the year, also known as Black Friday or the day after Thanksgiving. American Express (AMEX) wants you to remember your local small businesses this year with its Second Annual Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26.

AMEX provides perks for consumers to patronize their local small businesses. A $25 statement credit is available to card-members who register their cards for the Small Business Saturday and spend $25 or more at any participating small business. In addition, Facebook (always one to get in on the action) will offer $100 worth of free Facebook ads geo-targeted to a particular area for participating small businesses.

Currently, more than 200 businesses have joined American Express OPEN, which handles all of AMEX’s small businesses. And that means you’ve got plenty of small businesses to choose from. Check out the AMEX Small Business Saturday Facebook page to get all the details.

The holiday season means lots of shopping, so let’s not forget about our small businesses who are working hard to provide us with all sorts of great goodies for ourselves and our loved ones.

Will you participate on Nov. 26 and visit an AMEX participating small business? Are you already gearing up for after Thanksgiving shopping? Share your thoughts here!

-Heather Strang

The Answer to Vacant Retail Space

Walking around downtown Portland the other day, I couldn’t help but notice some rather large and empty retail spaces off of SW 1^st Ave.  Not only is it unsightly, it also made me wonder how commercial property owners are paying their bills when they have several vacant spaces. Surely, there’s a solution that is a win for everyone involved.

Novato, Calif.-based The W Foundation (TWF) and The Walter Kieckhefer Company (WKC) came up with an excellent solution for unused retail space earlier this summer. The two came together and created a space education exhibit out of the WKC’s marquee retail spot in Marin County.

Pretty innovative, right?

It’s a great idea for empty retail locations nationwide. Temporary museum exhibits are a solid go-between while property managers work to woo retailers into empty spaces. Especially in high-traffic areas, exhibits can attract a variety of individuals and bring new life to an empty space.

Now, I’m starting to visualize what type of museum could go into that vacant space off of SW 1^st Avenue. Do they have a traveling Sex & the City exhibit? If so, it would be perfect! I wonder who I should talk to about it…

What are your ideas for vacant retail spaces? Would a museum work in your city? Leave us your thoughts here.

-Heather Strang

*Photo from Kieckhefer Properties.

Sofia Vergara Saves Kmart

Sofia Vergara is everywhere. What started as a gorgeous and hilarious addition to Modern Family has turned into a full blow Sofia-a-thon. The tabloids can’t get enough of her and the paparazzi follow her around like mad. So, we knew a clothing line was just around the corner.

And sure enough it was.

Sofia by Sofia Vergara was launched this month by Kmart. While I would not have made Kmart my first pick for Vergara, she’s a smart lady – so there must be a reason why she opted to take her clothing line to Kmart.

What I do love is the ad campaign thus far. Work What You Got encourages women to embrace their assets, as Vergara no doubt has, and choose clothing that reflects it. In fact, on the Kmart site the tagline is, “You are a woman, so dress like a woman.” Whoa. Those almost sound like fighting words, but I’m intrigued. Can I channel some of Vergara’s sexiness by dressing like her? If so, count me in!

The commercial that began airing in October is even more intriguing. While I don’t notice the clothes too much, I am totally engaged by the ever-changing women, along with Vergara’s voice. Before you know it, I’ve scurried over to my computer to check out the collection. Maybe I can get that Vergara feel by donning her duds…

And here is where things get very, very interesting.

The clothes are good-looking. The clothes are so good-looking, I just might shop at Kmart for the first time in 10 years. I mean, people, they are that good. They are sexy and flattering and feminine and wow, it’s a good-looking line. Have I mentioned the clothes are good-looking?

I’ve got to say, I’m a little shocked, but I’m also delighted. Kmart needs this and there’s nothing I like to see more than an underdog hitting the jackpot. I wonder if Vergara knew she was possibly saving a retailer with this new line.

In any event, I’m off to Kmart. I want what Vergara’s got and if it lies in a $22 black lace back dress (which by the way is so hot!), then I’m on it.

What do you think of the new line and of Vergara’s Kmart presence? Leave a comment here or join me shopping at Kmart!

-Heather Strang

It's Time to Get Serious About Halloween

October is halfway over (gasp!). And do you know what you’re going to be for Halloween? If not, you’ve fortunately got the National Retail Federation (NRF) to help you out. The NRF recently released its 2011 Top Costumes survey by BIGresearch to help out those of us who may be costume challenged.

First though, we’ve got some fantastic news to report:

• It’s anticipated that consumers will spend $2.5 billion on Halloween costumes this year.

• $1 billion will be spent on children’s costumes, $1.2 billion on adult costumes and $310 million for pets.

• The average American is expected to spend $72.31 on Halloween candy, costumes and décor.

• In total, Halloween spending is set to reach $6.86 billion.

And guess what? That’s the highest amount in the survey’s nine-year history. Who says things aren’t looking up?

Bottom line: Halloween is going to be a blast this year – whether you’re a consumer or a retailer. To ensure that it’s your best ever, follow some of the costume guidance below:

• Already, more than 2.6 million men, women and children will dress as zombies this year (Note: please don’t dress like a zombie, it’s waaaay overdone. Clearly.).

• Witches are the top choice for adult costumes, followed by pirates, vampires, Batman, cats and vixens.

• For the kiddos, princesses reign supreme along with Spiderman, Batman, Superman, fairies, Disney princesses and vampires.

• Dogs, apparently, like to dress up, too (or more accurately, their crazy owners like to dress them up). The top dog costumes are pumpkin, devil, hot dogs, and cat (ouch!).

So, get out there and spend your $72.31 – or more. And while you’re at it, try to guess what I’m going to be for Halloween this year. I’ll give you a hint: it’s from the '80s.

Happy Halloween!
-Heather Strang

*Photo by By AlejandroLinaresGarcia (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Love Your Body Day is a Perfect Retail Opportunity

I was getting a manicure the other day (and yes, the shallac phenomena has suckered me in!) when I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on a conversation between two women preparing for a vacation in Mexico.

It went something like this:

“I tried on all three of my bathing suits last night and I hate how I look in every one of them.  I have too many rolls! So, please do not take any photos of me in a bathing suit. Please.”

Friend says, laughing, “I know girl, me too. It’s depressing, right? And then, we’ve got to be careful with the all you can eat and drink deal at the resort, because I read recently that margaritas and pina coladas have about 500 calories each.”

She proceeded to continue on about what items they could and couldn’t eat.

And let me tell you, these were beautiful women who had perfectly healthy and trim bodies. They were going to gorgeous Mexico and all they could talk about was their body size and calories.

Something’s very, very wrong with that picture.

It took everything I had to not interrupt and tell them about the National Organization for Women’s (NOW) Oct. 19 Love Your Body Day, which is all about celebrating one’s body and accepting it exactly as it is. Something these two ladies desperately needed to do, so they could get on with celebrating their vacation to Mexico – especially when it was pouring rain in Portland, Ore.

I was super pleased to see retailer Lane Bryant involved in the Love Your Body Day festivities in California. In fact, Lane Bryant is hosting a special event on Friday, Oct. 21 in Culver City, Calif., at The Westfield Culver City mall. From 6 p.m.-9 p.m., shoppers are encouraged to attend an evening of fashion at Lane Bryant, including 30 percent off all store items, dancing hosted by a live DJ, specialty Lanetini cocktails (no calorie counts included!) and a $500 gift card to be given away to one lucky winner – all in honor of Love Your Body Day.

If it was up to me, retailers would make every day Love Your Body Day and encourage women to let go of self-criticism and instead, embrace the beauty of their features – in all its many shapes and sizes. I would love to see more retailers joining forces with Love Your Body Day. Do you know any who are?

Leave us your Love Your Body Day insights here. What retailers are doing this well? Let’s talk about it!

-Heather Strang

Kenneth Cole Asks Us The Important Questions

If you read Retail Design Diva often enough (and we know you do!), then you know that I regularly encourage, suggest, state and request that retailers use their influence for good (not just for sales).

I’m proud to report that there is a retailer doing exactly that. And it makes me so happy I can hardly stand myself.

Kenneth Cole unveiled its "Where Do You Stand? Campaign," addressing hot topics, such as marriage equality, gun control, a woman’s right to choose and war. Wow, Kenneth – way to stick to the superficial topics! The retailer hits some of the hardest, most debated topics in our nation in this campaign – and does so in a powerful way through the use of video, imagery and language.

This campaign does so many things well, it’s impossible to touch on them all, but here are a few to note:

• Excellent use of social media. It isn’t the typical example of social media use with Facebook and Twitter logos splattered all over the page. They are stylishly placed and easy to find, but don’t take over the campaign message.

• While addressing massive social issues, the retailer showcases what it does best—fashion— and in a way that’s not distracting, but rather adds to the questions at hand. Who can pull that off? Amazing.

• It isn’t negative; it’s thought-provoking.

• There’s another aspect of the site, called What You Stand In, that focuses in on the fashion piece of the business. Users can watch style-guide videos covering fall trends for men and women’s clothing.

A big round of applause for Kenneth Cole please. They do an outstanding job using their power and influence as a major retailer to get consumers to think about something other than just what they’re going to wear for the fall season, while also getting them to think about what they’re going to wear for the fall season. Brilliant.

What are your thoughts on the "Where Do You Stand?" Campaign? Tell us about it here!

-Heather Strang