design:retail - October 2015 - (Page 36)

the visual eye 036 Positive Thinking PETER-TOLIN BAKER VISUAL MERCHANDISING SPECIALIST P-T B DESIGN SERVICES ptb@ptbdesignservices.com W ORKING IN RETAIL, we are rarely satisfied. The merchandising always can be reworked, the mannequins can be restyled, the store graphics replaced-and sales always could be higher. We tend to obsess equally over both major and minor details, and we usually are our own worst critics. We instinctively observe and evaluate the retail landscape around us, always considering ways to improve it on the next project and striving to find a way to do things better, faster, cheaper. It is this inquisitiveness that drives our pursuit of new ideas, new processes and new materials-ultimately creating the ever-changing demand for vendors and suppliers to provide inventive new products and services. As this year's design:retail industry report (page 56) highlights in this issue, we also seem downright positive about the industry and our role as designers and visual stylists. A majority of survey responders noted that the importance of store design and visual merchandising has grown significantly in the past five years, and that it will continue to grow in importance over the next five years. Equally upbeat is a significant increase in how many retailers feel that they are well positioned to engage the new consumer across all platforms-including bricks and mortar, marketing, social media and online sales. A positive, expansive attitude toward retail design and visual merchandising can only help to make today's retail environments that much more experimental, relevant, engaging and successful, highlighted by the following noted retail industry influences: OCTOBER 2015 DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM ENVIRONMENTAL Our natural world is heating up and rapidly changing, with evermore extreme weather and natural disasters that affect large portions of the retail industry worldwide. Store design is responding to such demands in a variety of ways-be it working within restrictive energy conservation codes, providing safer store layouts and exits, adding backup generators for security, or the use of sustainable, recycled and renewable materials and finishes. TECHNOLOGY CONSTANT CHANGE This ongoing aspect of retail design and visual merchandising is a natural extension of the now ubiquitous pop-up store concept that no longer is just a novelty, but rather a part of the everyday retail landscape. This industry influence is leading to new approaches and increased demand for store fixtures, décor, displays, graphics and even lighting to be highly flexible and easy to change. SOCIAL ISSUES Headlines abound with the news of a restless and vocal world. Topics such as race, gender and obesity all fight for coverage, as well as ageism, gay rights, security and the disabled. Consider how these newsworthy social issues are influencing retail design and visual presentation decisions- be it via mannequin styles, window displays, merchandising categories, customer services or store planning. The retail design industry always has been a vanguard in the use of new technology, and we continue to experiment with creative ways of incorporating today's newest options into store environments, through interactive kiosks, facial recognition technology, integrated POS systems, emerging beacons and smartphone technology. Interactive store windows are more frequently used to further engage the window shopper-all of which is creating a more seamless and interconnected shopping experience. Take advantage of the prevailing positive industry outlook and determine how best you can incorporate the industry trends and influences into your store presentation. Now is the time to continue to do what we all do so well-observe, evaluate and change. BASED IN NEW YORK, PETER-TOLIN BAKER IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH RETAIL DESIGN AND VISUAL MERCHANDISING VIA P-T B DESIGN SERVICES (OWNER), THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (ADJUNCT PROFESSOR), RETAIL DESIGN INSTITUTE NY CHAPTER (BOARD PRESIDENT), AND AS A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO DESIGN:RETAIL. Illustration by NURANVECTORGIRL/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK http://www.DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of design:retail - October 2015

design:retail - October 2015
Contents
Editor’s Note
Show Talk
On Trend
We Love This!
Designer Picks
Clicks & Mortar
Postcard
How’d They Do That?
Have You Heard?
Mingle
Perspectives
Visual Eye
Searching for Steve Jobs
Under Armour
John Varvatos
Retail Design Industry 2015
Backstory

design:retail - October 2015