We love when we get to break company news here at The Diaries. It makes us feel like we're "in the know" and, on top of that, it leaves us feeling --well-- a bit entitled really. Anyway, before we let this get to our heads...
F.C. Dadson is very excited to introduce the online world to the newest member of its sales team, Marie VanDrisse. Marie comes to us with over 27 years of sales and marketing experience with an emphasis in visual merchandising. Her experience leaves her more than ready to take on the role of Senior Account Executive, where she'll be responsible for identifying prospects, developing targeted sales strategies, and establishing and nurturing new accounts for FCD's Display & Exhibits division.
When not at work, Marie would rather be golfing (though Wisconsin doesn't do much to cater to her hobby given its short "nice weather" season).
Welcome to the FCD neighborhood, Marie!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Retail Vacancies
One man's junk is another man's treasure. As this article featured on San Diego's Union-Tribune website points out, expanding retailers are finding real estate gold amongst troubled retailers' abandoned store fronts.
Real estate 101 teaches us that it's all about location, location, location, and many store closures are happening in some very desirable markets. Couple that with landlords' eagerness to fill vacancies and retailers that are lucky enough to still be in expansion mode are finding some incredibly favorable lease opportunities in areas that were once nearly impossible to get into.
Unfortunately, the article also points out that the number of retailers looking to expand has dropped in the past year and not all vacancies will fill as quickly if at all. Referring back to the "location, location, location" lesson, filling vacancies will hinge largely on the surrounding neighborhood's desirability. Shopping centers in "established neighborhoods" have a better chance of attracting new retail than those storefronts surrounded by "a lot of foreclosures or delayed subdivision developments."
Depending on which way I take to get to the local mall, I pass empty stores once filled by Steve & Barry's, England Furniture, and Linens-n-Things. There's also a soon-to-be empty Circuit City. It'll be interesting to see which, if any, retailers find these locations desirable enough to set up shop.
Real estate 101 teaches us that it's all about location, location, location, and many store closures are happening in some very desirable markets. Couple that with landlords' eagerness to fill vacancies and retailers that are lucky enough to still be in expansion mode are finding some incredibly favorable lease opportunities in areas that were once nearly impossible to get into.
Unfortunately, the article also points out that the number of retailers looking to expand has dropped in the past year and not all vacancies will fill as quickly if at all. Referring back to the "location, location, location" lesson, filling vacancies will hinge largely on the surrounding neighborhood's desirability. Shopping centers in "established neighborhoods" have a better chance of attracting new retail than those storefronts surrounded by "a lot of foreclosures or delayed subdivision developments."
Depending on which way I take to get to the local mall, I pass empty stores once filled by Steve & Barry's, England Furniture, and Linens-n-Things. There's also a soon-to-be empty Circuit City. It'll be interesting to see which, if any, retailers find these locations desirable enough to set up shop.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Mimosa
All the articles I'm reading about this Gap/Pantone collaboration leave me wondering more about Pantone's pick for color of the year than anything. Mimosa? Sounds fun and fizzy. After visiting the official Pantone website to get the low down on this bright color, it turns out that "fun and fizzy" isn't too far off.Mimosa is described as a "warm, engaging yellow." According to Leatice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance." Mimosa is also a color that "sparks imagination and innovation."
After reading that description, mimosa seems like a natural choice for the "it" color of 2009 - a year when we're all looking for some reassurances and creativity and innovation will be called on more than ever to solve looming problems.
Winters are too long in Wisconsin. I'm thinking a mimosa-colored t-shirt from The Gap would be a fitting ray of sunshine right about now.
Monday, January 19, 2009
A pina colada with your purchase?
With the attraction of online shopping growing ever stronger, bricks and mortar retailers need to step up their game to attract shoppers and increase dwell time. We've seen in-store cafes, snack counters, and lounges, but will we soon be able to throw back our favorite alcoholic beverages at our favorite stores. Well, if the recent denial of UK retailer Topshop's application for a liquor license for its NYC store is any indication, it doesn't look likely.
When it comes to unconventional thinking, a bar in a store is pretty good even if it doesn't quite jive with zoning requirements. I can't wait to see what these quirky retailers come up with next.
When it comes to unconventional thinking, a bar in a store is pretty good even if it doesn't quite jive with zoning requirements. I can't wait to see what these quirky retailers come up with next.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Retailers Want a Holiday
With the holiday season not boding well for retail, it seems retailers have turned their sights on another sort of holiday (as reported on BusinessWeek.com). In an effort to kick start spending, the National Retail Federation is proposing that sales tax holidays be included as part of a stimulus plan.
The plan calls for three sales tax holidays to occur throughout the year -one in March, one in July, and one in October. The federal government would reimburse states for the lost tax revenue. The Federation estimates that in doing this, the average family could save around $175 a year.
What I'm left wondering, as one commenter on BusinessWeek.com was too, is if this relatively small amount of savings will really convince people to get out and spend more. Perhaps on larger purchase like cars where the sales tax is more substantial, but for lesser purchases, it might not prove as stimulating. If the deep discounts offered by many retailers this past holiday season wasn't enough to coax shoppers to buy, I'm not quite sure what will do the trick.
Working for a company that relies on new store openings and remodels, it's hard to read about bankruptcies, store closings and scaled-back expansion plans. Luckily, our clients have been able to weather the storm pretty well so far. Still, we've a long way to go before we're out of this mess.
If you were in charge, what would you propose the retail industry do? Leave your comments here.
The plan calls for three sales tax holidays to occur throughout the year -one in March, one in July, and one in October. The federal government would reimburse states for the lost tax revenue. The Federation estimates that in doing this, the average family could save around $175 a year.
What I'm left wondering, as one commenter on BusinessWeek.com was too, is if this relatively small amount of savings will really convince people to get out and spend more. Perhaps on larger purchase like cars where the sales tax is more substantial, but for lesser purchases, it might not prove as stimulating. If the deep discounts offered by many retailers this past holiday season wasn't enough to coax shoppers to buy, I'm not quite sure what will do the trick.
Working for a company that relies on new store openings and remodels, it's hard to read about bankruptcies, store closings and scaled-back expansion plans. Luckily, our clients have been able to weather the storm pretty well so far. Still, we've a long way to go before we're out of this mess.
If you were in charge, what would you propose the retail industry do? Leave your comments here.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Franchising Hot Spots
Now that the New Year is in full swing, we're seeing more and more "What to Watch for in 2009" lists. This morning one such list on Entrepreneur.com caught my eye: Franchising Hot Spots. Being that F.C. Dadson is heavily involved in the franchising industry, it's always exciting to see what markets are poised to break out each year. Interested in getting into the franchising business? Be on the look out for franchises in:
- Senior Care
- Frozen Yogurt
- Pets
- Children's Services
- Party/Event-Related Services
- Fitness
- Personal Care
- Green
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Walt Disney & Retail Design
BusinessWeek.com treated me to a fun article this morning about what today's marketers can learn from Walt Disney's efforts some 40 years ago. It's a good read from a marketing perspective and I encourage all of you to check it out for ideas on how to promote your businesses. But my mind works in strange ways and instead of seeing "marketing," I saw "retail design." (Crazy, I know. It happens, though, when you work for a retail fixture company.) So, for today's post, I thought we could explore how we can use some of Walt's lessons in the retail design arena.
Know the story is king.
Every brand has a story and a successful retail environment immerses visitors in that story. The story lets customers connect with the brand on an emotional level; and we should all know by now that emotionally-invested customers tend to be the most loyal. (They also serve as great brand ambassadors, but that's me thinking like a marketer. Putting the retail design hat back on...)
Have the courage to innovate.
Just because something has been done a certain way for so long, that doesn't mean that there isn't a better way to do it. Especially in times like these, if you can show a retailer a more efficient and cost-effective design or process, I'm certain they will be appreciative.
Stay on message.
One of the first things you learn in marketing is consistency. The message (or story) needs to stay the same across all channels. If we consider the retail environment as being another channel (as we should), we should always focus on designing around that message.
Hey, if we can't learn a thing or two from the man behind the "Greatest place on Earth," than who can we learn from?
Know the story is king.
Every brand has a story and a successful retail environment immerses visitors in that story. The story lets customers connect with the brand on an emotional level; and we should all know by now that emotionally-invested customers tend to be the most loyal. (They also serve as great brand ambassadors, but that's me thinking like a marketer. Putting the retail design hat back on...)
Have the courage to innovate.
Just because something has been done a certain way for so long, that doesn't mean that there isn't a better way to do it. Especially in times like these, if you can show a retailer a more efficient and cost-effective design or process, I'm certain they will be appreciative.
Stay on message.
One of the first things you learn in marketing is consistency. The message (or story) needs to stay the same across all channels. If we consider the retail environment as being another channel (as we should), we should always focus on designing around that message.
Hey, if we can't learn a thing or two from the man behind the "Greatest place on Earth," than who can we learn from?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Design & the Economic Downturn
Perusing the NY Times website this morning, I came across this gem of a design article in the "Week in Review" section. There are some industries that actually thrive in down times and, as this article suggests, design is one of them. Michael Cannell, the article's author, offers that recent times of prosperity sent design down a less functional, more frivolous path. The faltering economy could help designers find "a new sense of relevance."
Illustrating his point, he talks of how the Great Depression produced more affordable and intelligent design that was gobbled up by the middle class. Cannell suspects that this time around, the "emphasis will most likely shift to greater quality at affordable prices."
While much of the article focuses on residential furnishings and architecture, I can see retail design taking a similar path as well. As budgets get pinched, retailers will be looking to get the most for their money. This will inevitably drive designers to design more intelligently and manufacturers to produce more efficiently.
The current economic situation could potentially make or break us (designers), but if past serves as any indication, there's a very good chance we might just come out better for it.
Illustrating his point, he talks of how the Great Depression produced more affordable and intelligent design that was gobbled up by the middle class. Cannell suspects that this time around, the "emphasis will most likely shift to greater quality at affordable prices."
While much of the article focuses on residential furnishings and architecture, I can see retail design taking a similar path as well. As budgets get pinched, retailers will be looking to get the most for their money. This will inevitably drive designers to design more intelligently and manufacturers to produce more efficiently.
The current economic situation could potentially make or break us (designers), but if past serves as any indication, there's a very good chance we might just come out better for it.
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