Conad Supermarket in Quasar Village - Italy

#TBT to when we visited Conad in Quasar Village (Perugia, Italy)

 The sights and the smells were a feast on the eyes.




Italy knows amazing food.

Lets just say we didn't leave on empty stomachs.

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Retail in Istanbul

This shop in Istanbul took creativity and simplicity and merged it into one.  Sometimes all you need is an amazing brick foundation for your retail experience.  

They allowed the history of the structure to shine through, while still using it to operate in a modern capacity.

Sometimes the best design is restraint.




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Singing Away Those Retail Winter Blues

(brrrrr!!! Lake Michigan is cold!)

I think we can all agree: winter is cold.  Really cold.  But that doesn't mean the retail industry needs to go cold.  So when it’s frigid outside, how does business keep from freezing? Retailers have to get creative to get the buyers away from that crackling warm fireplace, out from under that snug blanket (you know, the one grandma knitted) and into their store.  Retailers need to engage with buyers, so buyers will engage with retailers.  So how do they do that?  As winter continues to give us a sizable dosage of the blues, how do shopping centers and retailers capitalize on providing activities that are meaningful, entertaining, and social?  

With the winter months come the holidays.  While those have long passed, the initial engagements spark that sensation within customers to continue returning.  Light festivals and tree lighting ceremonies, firework shows and live music. Give customers an experience that makes them go, “WOW,” and you’ll see them return that experience with loyalty. 

Nobody likes running from building to building, or shop to shop, in freezing weather.  Bring people that unique something extra, they’ll let the cold slide and slide on into a retailer’s establishment.

There are plenty of venues big and small that bring attractions during the winter months.  Engaging can be as simple as providing hot beverages and snacks.  It can be as grand as live music performances.  

In Chicago, the Magnificent Mile hosts a Light Festival.  They extend shopping hours.  Spanning the course of that mile is a magnificent visual display of lights and awe that give shoppers a reason to get out into that cold.  

In Quebec, LIGHTEMOTION BRINGS GIANT LAMPSHADES TO THE STREETS OF QUEBEC CITY (Stefanie Waldek, Architectural digest).

Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany

In Germany, there are little villages set up to hang out in.

Phoenix, AZ

Not everywhere is cold (lucky them!).  Desert Ridge Marketplace, in Phoenix, Arizona, throws a Snow Fall party nightly for a month.  

Rosa Parks Circle Rink, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Everyone is familiar with the Rink at Rockefeller Center.  Ice skating is one of the most popular ideas.  Up a few hours to our north, Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a city bustling with activity and keeping the public entertained.

Winter markets, like Detroit’s Eastern Market, Grand Rapids' Downtown Market, and other venues that provide the same type of service customers are accustomed to all year long, so they don’t have to drastically change their habits.

Festival of Lights

Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, has food drives, an ice slide, ice skating, holiday films, and light shows.

No matter where you live, no matter the climate, never sing those retail blues.  Be whimsical and creative and you'll find warmth even in the coldest of times.

“There’s a multiplier effect, in which the hardy endeavors of a few draw other people to the scene, thus creating the critical mass for a bustling public place(...)This idea of “triangulation” can create a major city center attraction even during the coldest months of the year.”

PPS.ORG "Winter Cities Show Cold Weather Can Be Cool"




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Discovery through Travel

As retail experts, designers, and strategists we often get the opportunity to travel. We have been all over the map and have gained millions of miles of flight and car time. Many times we sweep in and the entire experience is strictly business. While we love spending the day putting our headstogether with client partners, we often miss out on some of the exciting events and architecture right outside the meeting room doors. I recall one time while in London I had 3 hours of time to burn before heading back to the airport. I wandered off and grabbed the nearest cab that took me to St. Paul’s Cathedral. I was able to climb to the top of the dome via some very narrow and steep stairs. At the top I got to see a great panoramic view of the amazing city. I love the times where I can take advantage of being in new places and gaining the opportunity to explore. In recent years, I have come to enjoy the hidden away places and allowing for discovery time. The big monuments will always be there. It’s the little places where entrepreneurs create their dreams that now seem to inspire me the most. This little place, off the tourist track, was one of those places and one of those times. It’s a simple table and a simple show window, but it captured my attention for just the right moment. Where are some of your favorite little discoveries?

Adam Pew

Senior Designer|Partner