Contract - May 2013 - (Page 42)

Everything Retail at GlobalShop 2013 in Chicago photography: courtesy globalshop industry news 1 2 For globalshop, attendees streamed into Mccormick place west (1) and onto the expo floor (3), which boasted more than 600 exhibitors. herb sorensen (2), author of Inside the Mind of the Shopper and founder of consulting firm tns sorensen, presented the keynote session. attendees danced the night away (4) at the globalshop opening night party at enclave. 3 The retail industry gathered at Chicago’s McCormick Place West in mid-April for GlobalShop, the largest annual tradeshow for the store design, visual merchandising, and in-store marketing industries. Attendees got a first look at the newest products—from shelving and showcases to lighting, flooring, signage, and the latest in-store technology. Prevalent trends included the tendency towards minimalism and seamless integration of technology, where decluttered spaces showcase a highly edited selection of products. Nicole Guarascio, a trend specialist for Stylesight, referred to this approach as “quietude,” describing a tranquil, modest look with a neutral color palette, smooth surfaces, and soft glazing effects. Though technology is ever-present, retailers are beginning to blur the divide between physical stores and their online presence by integrating kiosks, outfitting associates with tablets, and equipping fitting rooms with technology to help shoppers create outfits. The week’s conference schedule included 27 informative sessions, kicked off by Herb Sorensen’s keynote address, “Training Shoppers to 42 4 Buy: Harness the Power of Habit and the Subconscious.” He pointed to research on shopper movements, revealing that customers are typically attracted to open spaces, though he believes retailers tend to put too much emphasis on moving customers. He suggested using signage to direct them to top selling products, or placing end caps and mid-caps to create focal points for shoppers. “Stop trying to get them to do something, and help them to shop quicker, which improves sales,” Sorensen said. Day one of GlobalShop concluded with the A.R.E. Design Awards at the Hard Rock Cafe, at which Tiffany & Co.’s SoHo store took home the coveted Store of the Year award. The GlobalShop Opening Night Party at Enclave followed the awards. Another highlight was the popular Retail Roundtable, in which attendees connected directly with retail VIPs. New special events included the Power Lunch, which began with a presentation on today's driving factors in retail by Nielsen’s Todd Hale, and the Brand Breakfast, which featured a panel from top brands discussing their views on the industry. —lauren mitchell contractdesign.com may 2013 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2013

Contract - May 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Attending NeoCon® to Enhance the Knowledge Base of You and Your Client
Exhibition: GlobalShop 2013
Exhibition: Coverings 2013
Exhibition: Salone Internazionale de Mobile
Product Focus: Midcentury Made Modern
Product Focus: Uninterrupted Workflow
NeoCon® preview
BBC North
Paul Hastings Atlanta
3M Headquarters
Federal Center South Building 1202
Adobe
Atlassian II
An interview with Vijay Kumar, author of 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization
Designers Select: Office
Sources
Ad Index
Commentary: On MoMA’s Plans for its Modern Neighbor

Contract - May 2013