Worry Worts: Tierney Says Relax!

It’s been said that worrying is like a rocking chair and that it gives us something to do, but doesn’t get us anywhere. Well, in these uncertain times, with all the reports of doom and gloom, worrying’s become almost second nature for the majority of us –especially small business owners whose stakes a little higher than the rest of us.

But, fellow worry worts, I think I’ve found a ray of sunshine by way of the New York Times. As we enter into the last month or so of summer, John Tierney lightens the mood with a list of 10 things we really don’t need to worry about as we try to enjoy the last of these warm weather days and last-minute vacations.

Some of the things that made his list:

• Your car’s planet-destroying air conditioning –no less efficient than driving with your windows down at 65 mph.

• Cancer-causing cellphones –no definitive conclusions linking cancer to the mobile devices

• The melting ice caps –turns out there’s more ice surrounding the North Pole now than at this time last summer

Just a little light-hearted read for the end of the week.

Where Do You Get Inspired?

If there’s one thing that I learned through writing for the Diaries, it’s that inspiration strikes when you least expect it. Sure, I have my list of usual suspects –news and retail design web sites- that I visit pretty much daily to see what’s new, but I’ve also become more aware of what’s going on around me because I’ve come to learn that I could get a story out of it.

While pondering what I was going to write about today, I got to thinking about inspiration and display design. Where do designers go to get ideas? I suspect that they, like me, are constantly on the lookout, but are there some “usual suspects” in their arsenals that they can turn to again and again for inspiration? Asking around the office, here are some places (and activities) that inspire us:

Window shop.
It’s important to keep an eye on what your competition is doing, but don’t be afraid to check out what’s being done in other product categories. There might be some innovative ideas that can be translated to fit your brand and product.

Take a hike (car ride or walk).
Nature is in, in a very big way. There’s a lot of beauty to be found outside –the colors, shapes, textures, but perhaps the most appealing aspect is its variety. Even if every designer picked up on the nature trend, it’s highly unlikely that any two designs would turn out the same. Urban dwellers need not feel left out either; the city can be just as inspirational.

Local art galleries.
Ultimately you want shoppers to notice the product; the display and graphics are there to emphasize this and add to the experience. One of the best examples of this “product first” attitude is your local art gallery. The art takes center stage. The fixtures blend into the background; and while you don’t necessarily want your displays to completely disappear, art galleries show you how to create displays that complement rather than overpower the product. Plus, the art can be pretty inspiring in itself.

Museums.
Read an article about point-of-purchase or retailing trends and you’ll undoubtedly see something about customer-product interaction. Engaging shoppers comes a little easier when there is some level of interactivity involved. It could be as simple as product sampling or as complex as touch-screen media. Not sure what to do? Why not visit a museum? Museums are in the business of captivating audiences and they do so in many ways. (Children’s museums offer brilliant examples as their exhibits manage to interact with an audience that has a notoriously short attention span.)

There are just a few sources of inspiration for us. What inspires you?

The Energy-Efficiency Bandwagon: Hop On Soon!

There are plenty of reasons retailers should look into increasing their energy efficiency – tremendous cost-savings, improved public image, good karma. Even after that convincing argument, there are still retailers out there that are looking for a little more incentive to hop on bandwagon. Well, here you are: the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Two main goals of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 are to 1) increase efficiency standards and 2) reduce harmful greenhouse gas. To reach those goals, the government is placing strict requirements on manufacturers and the products they offer, some of which go into effect as early as next year. This means the discontinuation of some products -like most general-service incandescent lamps – that could leave retailers scrambling for alternative solutions.

Perhaps even bigger than the new mandates is the fact that the energy-efficiency tax deduction created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 will expire at the end of 2008 and not be continued under the new energy bill. That means proactive retailers eager to make upgrades will be rewarded while procrastinators will miss out.

If the government’s going to make you do it anyway, wouldn’t you rather get a tax break for your efforts? I know I would.

Color & the Economy

There’s no denying that retail is heavily influenced by the economy. Decreased spending and a lack of consumer confidence are leaving many retailers’ futures in limbo. Here’s yet another article (this one from BusinessWeek) that foreshadows doom and gloom for the industry and even some retail powerhouses of recent times are closing stores (click here to find out if your beloved Starbucks is closing).

These connections are quite obvious. Going through some notes I had from a past Dadson Diaries entry, I stumbled across another, more “subconscious” connection that retailers can actually use to their benefit – color. Turns out that, historically, changes in our economic cycle have affected colors and trends too.

A little nugget of history that I found in my notes –the Color Marketing Group’s color forecast for 2002 –begins with a reference to the economy and its effect on trends. Think about it. These forecasters were dealing with the uncertainty September 11 created and an economic downturn as well. Given today’s state of the economy, it was kind of cool to read their thoughts on design and color for tough economic times. Some highlights:

• Upturns and downturns change both the appearance and the use of color.

• In a strong economy, lively, bright, richer colors are popular.

• In a weaker economy, more neutral, practical, long-lasting colors are preferred.

• Palettes in a weak economy move back to traditional colors that give comfort and a sense of stability.

They also mention that a traditional, more conservative palette brings a sense of safety and that bright colors used as accents can “raise spirits and alleviate pressure.”

Certainly some interesting stuff and definitely worth consideration as retailers scramble for ideas to bring more consumers into their shops.

Grocers on a Diet

Are grocery retailers finding that bigger isn’t always better? It certainly seems so with all the giants rolling out smaller-format versions of their larger selves these days. First there was Tesco with its Fresh & Easy neighborhood markets. Not to be outdone, America’s grocery giants –Wal-Mart, Safeway, Whole Foods, Giant Eagle to name a few- starting creating their own “small-marts” and the trend was born.

Jewel-Osco is the latest to jump on the bandwagon with the announcement that it’s planning to open its own small-format stores, the first of which will appear in Chicago. Dubbed “Urban Fresh,” the new store will have a focus on fresh and prepared meals.

Some do it to create convenience for their shoppers. Others do it in an effort to fit into the cramped urban landscape. Whatever the reason, the future is looking smaller. And it’s not just grocery retailers that are slimming down either. With less space to work with, designers and manufacturers will be challenged to streamline displays and make smarter use of the space.

Lessons from Moscow's Summer Cafes

I thought that perfect summer days were hard to come by in Wisconsin. After reading this New York Times article about outdoor cafes in Moscow, it turns out Wisconsinites are actually pretty lucky with their three months of mostly marginal weather with a few standout days and occasional weekends mixed in. Summer in Moscow is a mere two months, but boy do they make the most of it; and outdoor cafes are profiting from their patrons eagerness to dine al fresco.

These outdoor cafes don’t sound like anything special: fairly simple construction on cramped real estate. They do, however, provide something you don’t find too often over here –roofs (generally made from vinyl) so the diners can eat outside rain or shine. Talk about catering to your customers. And the customers are showing their appreciation by paying the premium prices and stopping often with some saying they eat at a café every day.

Is there something you could be doing in your stores and restaurants to make the experience more enjoyable for your customers? Maybe it’s offering covered outdoor seating, but it could also be something like installing directional signage that makes finding products easier. Whether its adding convenience or comfort, chances are your customers will appreciate it and reward you for your efforts.

Our New Senior Designer

Fireworks are exciting. I saw some amazing ones last week and I’m not ready to let the excitement end. Neither is F.C. Dadson as they gave me some excellent news to relay -- a little “Dadson Diaries firework” if you will.

F.C. Dadson has a new addition to its design department! That’s right. We’d like to introduce you to Sandi Dahlke, our new Senior Designer. Her background includes earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and working as a store designer, visual merchandising manager and home décor buyer in previous positions.

I asked her about what she was most looking forward to working here at FCD and she had a lot to say. Learning about the manufacturing end of the design process, collaborating with teams, and getting to unleash her creativity on a daily basis were a few things she mentioned. Getting to wear jeans to work everyday also ranked high on her list. (I love that too, Sandi!)

She’s already busy at work, contributing to some upcoming projects we have. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

Welcome to the team, Sandi!

Unusual Sources for Financing

With financial institutions tightening their lending standards and the economy as it is, retailers have been challenged to find more untraditional sources for financing new stores. Some have stepped up with some pretty creative solutions, but I think this one takes the cake – selling off a palace of gold.

I admire Mr. Lam’s ingenuity. I mean, he crafted a toilet from gold as a tourist attraction in an effort to build his jewelry company’s brand and new retail operations. The golden toilet led to more golden pieces being added and a hall of gold was born. Granted, gold was a little cheaper then, but what a flashy showroom and sales promotion! And now that gold’s price tag is soaring and his itch for adding more retail stores is growing, the same things that brought Mr. Lam’s initial retail success are helping his dreams come true again.

Just another example of how thinking outside the box pays off.

I guess that about $64 million worth of gold has been melted down and sold off so far and there are plans to unload more if the price of gold goes up again. While they aren’t too discriminating about what goes, Mr. Lam says the toilet stays.

Top 5 Favorite Things about the 4th

High Fidelity was on the other night and for anyone who has ever seen the movie (or read the book even), you know that the main characters are constantly making “Top 5 Favorite” lists. So, in a nod to Rob and his crew, I’ve decided to put together a “Top 5 Favorite” list of my own.

5. The parades
Parades are not for everyone, but I personally enjoy the marching bands, floats, and watching kids practically tackle each other for the smushed Tootsie Rolls and other treats being tossed at the crowd.

4. The weather
This might not make everyone’s list, but for those living in areas where there actually are four seasons, you know where I’m coming from. Summer’s finally starting to come around, the temperatures are going up, and I can finally break out my shorts and tank tops.

3. The food
Is it just me or does everything really taste better when cooked on a Weber charcoal grill? Barbecues are great. Hamburgers, hot dogs, brats –a must-have for any Wisconsin cookout!, potato salad, noodle salad, any other type of salad, whatever as long as it’s on a paper plate being eaten with plastic utensils. Perfect!

2. The fireworks
Oooh! Aaah! A mark of just how cool a holiday the 4^th of July really is. I mean, what other holiday gets celebrated with fireworks? And if you’re a curious person like me, here’s an awesome explanation –complete with diagrams- of how fireworks are made.

1. The day off
Getting a day off in the middle of summer to do whatever I want is enough of a reason to love the 4^th. I can head to the mall and hit up the sales, travel up north and enjoy some outdoor time, head downtown for parades and cotton candy, anything. The day is mine.

Here’s hoping that everyone has a safe and fun 4^th of July weekend!
~ From all of us at F.C. Dadson