Consumers, especially millennials, value brands that stand for more than simply the products they sell. And some brands are recognizing that it’s not just good enough to provide healthy options; they have also taken on the responsibility of educating consumers on healthy options and helping to empower them to make better choices.

Image via Whole Foods

Whole Foods, known for their high standards in natural and organic products, also places a high importance on nutrition and wellness education specifically with children, through their Whole Kids Foundation. In an effort to end the childhood obesity epidemic, the brand supports and funds initiatives that help provide salad bars in schools—raising awareness and increasing kids’ exposure to healthier options.

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Image via facebook.com/GoSproutIt

I have a friend who has always had the best garden; throughout the summer her yard and kitchen are filled with fresh herbs and vegetables that cannot be beat by anything bought from the grocery store. I have always been a little envious of her green thumb but never had the confidence to try out my own. Lucky for me, and everyone else who has ever hesitated to start a garden of their own, she put her gardening and design expertise to work and created Sprout it; a web based app that takes the “guessing out of gardening.”

Image via Sprout It

Created by Sarah Bush, Matt Armstead, Brooke Paul and R. Brian Stone, Sprout It helps users to design and maintain their garden by guiding them through growing plans, planting tips and advice and notices that are specific to your garden and location.

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Image via Davis Furniture

I love the Tre stool by Davis Furniture. I recently saw this item at NeoCon last June, but I rediscovered it again while browsing around on the Davis website. I had forgotten how much I love this stool.

The Tre stool is available in three heights: low, counter and bar, making it convenient for practically any purpose. It’s also available in various paint and wood grain finishes as well as white laminate.

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Handwritten thank you cards…do you remember them? Handwritten anything for that matter? In times when tech rules, it seems as though personal touches have all but disappeared. Lately, though, I’ve noticed the thoughtful gesture popping up in unexpected places, which I hope means written thank yous are making a comeback.

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

I was recently shopping at Coach for my niece’s sweet sixteen birthday. I spent some time with the salesperson in search of the perfect gift. She was genuine in her demeanor and asked me about my niece’s interests so she could recommend the right bag for her. After sharing a little, Mallorey suggested the Kristin Hobo bag. My niece loved it, and a few days later I received a thoughtful handwritten note in the mail—from the salesperson! The message was personalized and included details from our conversation. She noted,  “It was such a joy meeting you and helping you.” Meeting me, not selling me? Wow, now this is excellent customer service! Read more…

Burberry’s Hi-Tech London Flagship, Niketown’s Chicago Renovation, and the C9 Active Apparel Store in San Francisco

Images via retaildesignblog.net, Nike Chicago Facebook, wwd.com

Editor’s Note: When we spot something noteworthy, our first thought is to share it with our readers. We might not have loads of research about it, but we do know it’s something we’ll want to experience at the first opportunity. Show & Tell is a collection of recent finds that makes us say, “Hey, this looks amazing, and you should know about it.”

1. Burberry’s Hi-Tech London Flagship

After two years of renovations, Burberry has unveiled its new World Live Flagship at 121 Regent Street in London. It’s a celebration of British design and craftsmanship and a hi-tech integration that brings burberry.com to life. Burberry CEO, Angela Ahrendts, explains the thinking behind the name, “Burberry Regent Street brings our digital world to life in a physical space for the first time, where customers can experience every facet of the brand through immersive multimedia content exactly as they do online. Walking through the doors is just like walking into our website. It is Burberry World Live.”

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Image via McAllen Library

When one door closes, another door opens. Such is the case for many retail stores when a brand expands or remodels—one location closes only to open a fresh, new location from scratch. But what happens to the original store? Unfortunately for many communities, the structures are often deserted; another vacant shell, foreshadowing the decline of the smaller businesses surrounding it. What’s a city to do when this happens? Read more…