We Love Kate Spade
We’ve loved the Kate Spade brand for a long time. But, what we’re loving even more is the announcement of a new line, Kate Spade Saturday, targeting a younger demographic and at a lower price point. We’re excited about the news and looking forward to seeing what this means for the in-store environment. Kate Spade New York stores are known for the brand’s signature storytelling style and colorful brand personality, and we’re hoping “Saturday” will bring the same upbeat energy. Stay tuned; you know we’ll be watching.
Ever notice how some people have oodles of really cool stuff on their desk? Katie Clements, a Materials Specialist Designer, is one of those people. Here’s a snapshot and a few words from our “material girl.”
1. I meet with vendors frequently to stay updated on the latest and greatest materials, so my old-school rolodex is literally bursting at the seams. I have a one-in, one-out policy to keep it manageable.
2. My sister lives in Miami, FL, and the Clevelander at South Beach is always our first stop when I visit. I try to make the trip at least twice a year, and this Clevelander coaster is always a great reminder of our time together.
3. My favorite trade show is NeoCon at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. I went this year in June and saw so many great new products and trends! [See Katie's favorites from NeoCon 2012 here.]
4. OMG, I love everything Kate Spade, and this advertisement makes me feel like taking a fantastic road trip. I also proudly display Kate Spade’s Live Colorfully campaign, which introduces a different color theme, with merchandise to match, each month.
5. I work closely with great vendors and sometimes they surprise me with fun gifts: a brush man to clean my keyboard, a vintage cage lamp and cork puzzle pieces!
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And here’s a little bit about the lady behind this desk…
As Chute Gerdeman’s Material and Trend Specialist, Katie is involved in all projects providing design support as a materials and color expert. She utilizes her vast knowledge and extensive library to present clients with well-considered selections for fabric, carpet, tile, wallcovering, lighting, furniture and any other special feature.
To read more from Katie, visit The Gistto check out her Top 5 Summer Trends.
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…
Just because airline attendants spend all day in the air keeping order and serving travelers, they shouldn’t be required to wear unflattering attire made of unrecognizable materials. Airline brand Virgin America agrees and as a result enlisted Banana Republic to take fashion to new heights. Together the duo created a new co-branded uniform collection described as “utility chic,” taking into account Virgin’s brand attributes: modern, clean and sleek.
Image via Banana Republic
Envious of the travel-ready looks? No need to be. Starting this week, in stores nationwide, Banana Republic is debuting a special Fall Collection inspired by travel and style on-the-go. Items available for purchase include aviator sunglasses, a chic tote, a men’s messenger bag and classic trenches for men and women.
Nokia Gift Machine, Louis Vuitton’s Spots, Nike House of Innovation, and Unique Partnerships
Editor’s Note: Once in awhile we come across something noteworthy and we want to share it with our readers. However, due to a variety of reasons (it’s too new to obtain research, it’s in a far-away land that we can’t quite reach, etc.) we don’t quite know what to do about it other than tell you, “Hey, this is amazing and you should know about it.” Show & Tell is a collection of those recent things.
1. Nokia Gift Machine
The Nokia Gift Machine is a total mash-up of high-tech and low-tech. Utilizing location-based social networking site, Foursquare, visitors can “check-in” on their mobile phone and receive a gift just for being there. The machine is manually filled with cylinder tubes containing everything from candy bars and movie tickets to the ultimate prize, a Nokia device. After approaching the vending machine and checking in on Foursquare, a cylinder tube is dispensed to unveil the prize. What a simple way to reward a customer and create a moment of surprise and delight! Check out a video of the Nokia Gift Machine at work.
Louis Vuitton has collaborated with Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. The newly released collection features Kusama’s signature polka dots on everything from dresses, shoes, suitcases, shoes and more. During the unveiling on July 11, the event included not only the product launch but an updated exterior façade and windows (emblazoned with dots of course) at LV’s Fifth Ave. store in NYC. We applaud this collaboration because it goes beyond just the product on the shelf and has made an impact on the exterior. What better way to let customers know something new is happening inside. Check out the Louis Vuitton website to read more and Racked for your chance to see the spots for yourself.
3. Nike House of Innovation at Selfridges
Coinciding with the much-anticipated Olympic Games, Nike is has unveiled cutting-edge technology and marked this “Summer of sport.” The athletic brand has has partnered with London retailer Selfridges to create the Nike House of Innovation. In Selfridges’ Ultralounge, the House of Innovation features five zones where customers can test and purchase the newest Nike products and attend events and seminars with sports stars and Nike designers. The shop is open daily through August 12th. Can’t make it there in person? You can still shop the innovative, new gear online.
4. Unique Partnerships
Recent announcements from Nordstrom and Target just go to show that unique partnerships are still thriving! Nordstrom announced that select locations nationwide will feature products from fast-fashion retailer, Topshop. The collection will feature favorite Topshop items, as well as limited edition, exclusive pieces. Check out The New York Times for more details on Nordstrom and Topshop.
Target’s latest collab is slated to be a partnership with Neiman Marcus and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Their holiday collection will feature products from 24 CFDA designers, including Marchesa, Tory Burch, Alice + Olivia, Marc Jacobs, Brian Atwood, Oscar de la Renta, and CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg. The collection will be sold in both Target and Neiman Marcus locations. And we thought Missoni was huge! Should we start lining up now? Check out this video to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what we can expect.
A note from the editors: “Inspiration boards” give a glimpse at the inner landscape of a creative person’s brain. Boards can convey a concept, a design direction, ideas for a kitchen remodel, or in our case, a personal narrative. Every so often, we feature one of the creative spirits at Chute Gerdeman.
It’s time to bring out the American Flags and clear the DVR, people! The 2012 London Olympics are here! As a former competitive gymnast of nearly 18 years, I can honestly say that I live for the Summer Olympic games. They are better than my birthday, better than any holiday. To spread my love for the games, I thought I’d share a little London Olympics 101 with everyone.
Several colleagues and I traveled to NYC for a quick trip this past week. Though we were constantly on the go, being the dutiful retail spies we are, we managed to spot a few goodies to share.
::: 1. SOUTHWEST PORCH | Bryant Park :::
Yes, that Southwest. As in Southwest Airlines. The Porch opened in 2009 to celebrate Southwest’s new service at Laguardia. It’s the perfect spot in the middle of the city to grab a bite, meet a friend, sip a drink or catch up on emails. Partnering with gourmet sandwich experts, ‘wichcraft, the food is actually very good. And yes, there’s alcohol. We love this out-of-the-box thinking from businesses. This unexpected venture from Southwest emphasizes how much they value their relationship with their customers.
