And the #1 trend for the New Year is…

As the month and year closes out, so does our list of top retail trends for 2008. While it was tough to choose only 5 to talk about, #1 was pretty obvious. #5 was home-style décor, #4 was streamlined and simple, #3 was high-tech design, #2 was sensory experiences, and, without further ado, here’s our #1:

#1: Green is the new black.

So, a few friends and I got together for dinner last night when a Jack Johnson song came on the radio. I immediately began talking about how much I like his music and my friend countered with, “I don’t like his music, but I respect what he’s doing for the environment.” Among other things (like using recycled jewel cases for his CDs), I guess his record label’s office roof is completely outfitted with solar panels. My friend then made the comment, “A lot of businesses are going green these days.” A 10+ minute conversation ensued.

Reducing your negative environmental impact used to be something only the niche, nature-loving brands worked toward, but as society begins embracing the environmentally-conscious state of mind, more retailers are jumping on the bandwagon to stay in tune with their target customers.

While the initial cost of eco-friendly products is still substantially higher than their less friendly counterparts, shoppers can look forward to experiencing more green design elements in the New Year. Beginning with flooring, sustainable materials like concrete, bamboo, and linoleum will set the stage for low-VOC (volatile organic compound) wall treatments that will serve as a background for fixtures constructed from reclaimed wood, wheatboard, or other recycled materials. Natural daylight and other energy-efficient light sources will highlight the fixtures and illuminate stores. With the increased demand, there’s sure to be further innovation that will produce even more green options as well as reduce pricing for those currently on the market.

When two young 20-somethings randomly start conversing about it and Wal-Mart starts doing it, you know it has to be big. Mother Nature would be proud.

And there you have it, folks! The Dadson Diaries picks for the Top 5 Retail Trends for 2008. Think we hit the nail on the head or did we completely miss the boat? We’d love to hear what you think!

What an experience!

All of us at F.C. Dadson would like to wish you a very merry holiday. For our gift to you, we’ve decided to save one of our favorite trends of the countdown for today. #5 was home-style décor, #4 was streamlined and simple, and #3 was high-tech design. Now for the good stuff…

#2: A treat for the eyes, ears, nose, taste buds AND fingertips

As the Dadson Diaries has discussed in previous entries, consumers are looking for more than just products or services when they enter a business. They are looking for an experience. With the power a great experience has on same-store sales, retailers are doing their best to create immersive environments that are a treat for more than just the eyes.

Hearing, smell, taste, and touch are stepping out from sight’s shadow to create a complete sensory experience. Audio has become more than bland elevator music. Stores like American Eagle Outfitters are now filling ears with special mixes and others are playing satellite radio. These soundtracks set the pace for shopping. Smells are being pumped in to tap into a shopper’s memory. Food and drinks are tantalizing taste buds in a number of stores and interactive media and product displays are keeping hands busy. All these elements work to create a sense of comfort, increase dwell time, and influence purchases. In addition, they provide even more outlets for retailers to present their brands to consumers, creating a complete brand experience for shoppers.

Some Holiday Fun

Yes, we normally reserve our posting for Mondays and you can bet there will be an entry waiting to be read 3 days from now, but the office is so full of festive fun this morning that we couldn’t help but let some of it spill over onto here.

Besides, who doesn’t like a little Holiday trivia? Try these out and amaze co-workers, family, and friends everywhere.

If you were to receive all the presents listed in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” you would be opening 364 gifts!

We all know that Ralphie wanted a BB gun in A Christmas Story, but it wasn’t just any gun. No, it was a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle. That’s a mouthful!

Rudolph is hands-down the most popular of Santa’s reindeer, but did you know that he wasn’t part of the original lineup that appeared in “The Night before Christmas”? Instead, the big guy’s sleigh was pulled by Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Coment, Cupid, Donder, and Blitzen.

Speaking of “The Night before Christmas”, the famous poem is actually titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and it was written by Clement Moore in 1823.

It’s a Wonderful Life is an incredibly popular movie around the Holidays, but do you know the first name of the angel who visits George? It’s Clarence.

From all of us at F.C. Dadson, we hope your holidays are full of good food, friends, family, and – of course – fun!

Store Design 2.0

This month, the Dadson Diaries is devoting the bulk of its entries to the five retail design trends we think will make it big in the New Year. #5 was home-inspired design and #4 was streamlined and simple. #3 is up next.

#3: We’ve entered the digital age.

It seems that everything is going “hi-tech” these days. Why should retail be any different? The cost of introducing in-store digital media is a high one once you’ve accounted for the hardware, software, mountings, and wired or wireless connections to support it, but that isn’t keeping retailers from experimenting with the technology.

I’ll admit that when I first heard the words “in-store digital media,” visions of plasma and LCD flat screen monitors danced around in my head. Wall-mounted screens playing looped video and audio is probably the most widely-used version of this media, but manufacturers are coming up with amazing products that add even more to the interactive shopping experience.

There are self-serve kiosks where you can see additional product details and demonstrations, peruse the store’s inventory, and check out after you’ve made all of your selections. There are touchscreens that allow shoppers to tailor their experience and products (as is the case at the styled by me Barbie Boutique) to their specific wants and needs. Dynamic light displays and motion-interactive elements are also becoming large parts of the hi-tech movement.

If these technologies just aren’t fitting in the budget, you can take part in the trend with your store décor. Back-lit acrylic, metal elements, geometric shapes, and black and grey color schemes –among other things– can make your store look “techie” without being technical.

Simplicity Is Bliss

To catch the newbies up to speed, The Dadson Diaries is devoting its December entries to the five retail trends we think will help shape the retail landscape in ’08. Last week’s trend: Home-inspired design. What have we chosen for #4? Read on and find out.

#4: When in doubt, keep it simple.

Sleek unadorned fixtures, monochromatic color schemes, and minimalist design in general are finding a home in a wide-range of retail locations. Clean and simple, the effect is reminiscent of art galleries; and just like those galleries, these stores are letting the products do all the talking.

Other attractive elements to simplistic design are its affordability and longevity. Depending on the materials that are chosen, streamlining is an economical option for those looking to spread their pocketbooks a little further. It also can work to extend the life of the design. Classic colors and finishes rarely go out of style. Add those to a modular design and your store will always be in style while still allowing you to change it up every once in a while. What used to be considered “playing it safe” is now the “thing to do.”

Thought of some other trends that will make it big in '08? Tell us about them.

A Touch of Home

With January right around the corner, everyone has their eyes on 2008. What will the New Year bring for retail design? During the month of December, The Dadson Diaries will devote its entries to five trends we think will help shape the retail landscape in the coming year.

#5: There’s no place like home.

How furniture found its way into the retail environment is a mystery to me. It might have started with people needing a place to sit while waiting for something. Maybe it grew in response to customers’ increasing demand for comfort during the shopping process. Perhaps it continues to grow because it can exude luxury, keep the uninterested shopping companion entertained, or maybe some products just look better when displayed in an armoire (or entire bedroom setting). Whatever the reason, retailers will continue to bring a little bit of home to the store in 2008.

I’ve experienced lounge areas complete with leather couches and plasma screens. I’ve even seen entire selling areas designed around certain rooms of the house (Tom Ford’s Madison Avenue store anyone?) Wood finishes, designer fabrics, crown molding, and other home accents set the tone for a relaxed shopping experience. Just remember to keep your shoes on!

What do you think will be the big trends in ’08? We’d love to hear them.

Sensing Success

Experience is a powerful thing as far as brand marketing and loyalty goes. Products and services don’t always last forever, but the experience –if strong enough– has the potential to; and it’s the memory of the experience that brings customers back.

So, how does one create a memorable in-store experience? In her white paper titled “The Sensory Potential,” WomenWise’s Dori Molitor provides one answer and, according to her, it all comes down to sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

Turns out, senses are the stuff memories are made of. For a retail environment, it begins with a design that incorporates colors, textures, and materials to create the visual background. Adding music or other audio to listen to, inviting aromas to smell, and samples to touch and taste (if your products are edible) helps people tap into their memory banks and use that information to make a decision about your brand. All of these elements come together to create a sensory experience that can be enjoyed just as much as the products themselves.

Aha! So, that’s why I love bakeries and candy shops so much. Here I thought it was because of my giant sweet tooth. (Ok, I suspect that’s still a reason, but perhaps it was my experiences that created my love for sweets in the first place?)

To see all of Dori Molitor’s insights on the topic, you can view her white paper here.

It's Thanksgiving already?

2-for-1 pumpkin pies and an influx of turkeys being checked out can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving has arrived. What is F.C. Dadson thankful for this year? Here are a few things I think should make the list:

• The M&M dispenser in our lobby area (a gift from our office supply company) and all those who donate to the “Keep It Filled” fund.

• Every day Brillo, our office mascot/the owner’s dog, doesn’t rummage through our garbage.

But seriously, I think what we’re most thankful for -and these are the ones that count- is our dedicated customers who continue to have faith in our abilities and our creative employees and partners who go on making the impossible possible.

So, while we’re eating too much on Thursday and supporting the retail industry Friday, we hope you’ll also be enjoying the indulgences of Turkey Day and the long weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saving the World on a Budget

When David Schwimmer dresses as an environmentalist superhero for prime time television, you know it has to be a big thing. Greenzo only further proves that the green movement is here and it’s gaining momentum.

We’ve all read about the green initiatives of the retail industry’s larger players, but what about the smaller stores that may not have the budget to take on the initial costs of some of the same environmentally-friendly projects?

Turns out I wasn’t the only one around the office wondering this. Our very own Celia Josh-Sawicki wrote “Save the World on a Budget,” an article full of cost-effective green activities that has been featured on the VM+SD website. The article focuses on smart retail fixture and display design, production, maintenance, and disposal initiatives, and here are a few of my faves:

• Avoid the harsh chemicals of some cleaning products and use mild cleansers instead.

• Reduce the amount of material wasted with careful display and fixture planning.

• Don’t scrap old displays. Give them facelifts instead.

• Earn money and good karma by selling or donating unwanted displays and décor pieces.

• Use recyclable and recycled materials whenever possible. It’s ridiculous what suppliers are creating from our leftovers.

Check out the article for more ways to be green without spending all of your green. And for those of you who missed out on David Schwimmer in a cape, you can catch last week’s episode of 30 Rock on the show’s website.

Did you recently do something green in your store? Have other cost-effective green ideas? We'd love to hear about them.

Why The Boss Is Boss

How would Bruce Springsteen do as a CEO? Actually, he would do quite well. In an entry to his FlowChart blog on the U.S. News and World Report website, author Rick Newman proves to us that crafting a successful 30+ year music career is a lot like running a business and when it comes to being the boss, Springsteen lives up to his nickname. While the post, titled “What Springsteen Can Teach CEOs,” was interesting in its own right, I couldn’t help but think how Bruce’s lessons for CEOs can also apply to the retail design world. Here’s what we learn:

“Never let your customers rest.”
The Boss keeps the music coming. Designers should keep new ideas and products flowing.

“Innovate.”
It may not always be about creating something new. Sometimes you can take a classic idea, rework it, and turn it into something better. This is especially true in the fixture industry where the concept of displaying merchandise doesn’t change, but the means of doing so needs to.

“Give the people what they want.”
Simple enough, but Newman takes it a step further by suggesting that if you want to get client buy-in on new ideas, partner them up with something familiar.

“Share credit.”
Many people come together to create a great retail environment: retailers, designers, engineers, production, installation, and so on. Share the credit and increase team dedication on future projects.

“Set expectations. Then reset them. And reset them. And...”
Never settle. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself every so often to keep in front of the competition.

“Love what you do.”
Another obvious one. If you love your work, it shows.

For some fun reading, check out Rick Newman's full entry here.

Color Power

Stepping outside my house every morning, I can’t help but notice the fantastic colors that come during Fall in Wisconsin. The leaves make me smile. Could that be because Fall is my favorite time of year? Maybe. Color psychologists, however, have other ideas.

Colors and emotions have been tied together for many, many years. Ever been ‘green with envy’ or ‘feeling a little blue’? If color really can influence behavior and feelings, as it is suggested, imagine the power a carefully chosen color palette could have for a retailer. On the flip side, a haphazard color choice could send out the wrong vibe entirely. It might be worth a little research.

Retailers, take note. What are your colors saying about you?

-----

Side note, I checked into the feelings associated with the colors that are covering my front lawn right now. Here’s what I found:

• Red: Passion, strength, energy, fire, love, excitement, speed, ambition
• Orange: energy, balance, heat, fire, enthusiasm, flamboyance, playfulness
• Yellow: Sunlight, joy, happiness, earth, optimism, intelligence, idealism, wealth, hope
• Brown: Calm, depth, nature, richness, rusticism, stability

Some very smile-provoking emotions indeed!

Demographic Design

When designing new fixtures and decor for a client, brand cohesiveness is usually top priority. But what's number two? I think I stumbled across a strong contender while going through my mail the other day.

In last month's issue of Global License!, I found an article called "Demographic Design" that discusses the idea of playing to specific demographics through a store's design. Could 'target market cohesiveness' be number two? Definately!

Referencing your target market's demographics during the design process has a couple of advantages. First, it helps potential customers pre-qualify themselves. Even if they haven't heard of a store before, people can tell at a quick glance whether they could find what they are looking for inside (and in today's time-starved world, this can be appreciated). Second, it helps enhance the overall shopping experience for target consumers by creating an environment they can be comfortable in.

F.C. Dadson's own Tim Matey sums it up best through a quote featured in the article: "For retailers to find success in today's marketplace, they need to find a way to balance their brand identity with those of the consumers they are looking to serve." I couldn't agree more.

Hello, Blogosphere!

You know that excitement you feel when you get to your final destination after a really, really long car ride? That's how we feel right now. It took a while, but 'The Dadson Diaries' has finally arrived!

We're F.C. Dadson, a designer, manufacturer, and installer (among other things) of custom retail environments and displays. Our scope of work constantly presents us with new ideas and challenges that we want to share with the world outside our office. That's where 'The Dadson Diaries' comes in. Each week, we'll blog about new trends, interesting articles, industry happenings, or anything else that we find worthy of a post. We hope you'll stop back often to see what's new.

Want to get in on the 'Dadson Diaries' fun? Feel free to post comments anytime. Or if you have any interesting topics or questions relating to retail environments or displays that you would like to see discussed, send 'em over to LizS@fcdadson.com.