Map data ©2012 Google, Sanborn. Inset image property of Chute Gerdeman.

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.

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Image property of Chute Gerdeman

As mentioned in a previous post, Top 5 Trends From NeoCon 2012, NeoCon serves as a great way to educate and inform attendees of new resources and product innovations. It’s also a highly informative platform to hear industry experts speak on some of the most relevant topics. Below are some highlights from a couple seminars that I attended.

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NeoCon is a conference for the design world to explore the most innovative products and resources for commercial industries, from corporate to healthcare to retail. For designers and architects, it’s an opportunity to become educated as well as inspired. As a designer and specialist of materials trends, this is one of the most exciting shows for me to attend. I can’t keep all the great discoveries to myself though, so I’ve compiled the Top Five Trends for you. Read more…

Map data ©2012 Google. Inset image property of Chute Gerdeman.

My fiancé and I planned a trip to Montana for our Memorial Day weekend. Not for sight-seeing, but for a family wedding. The town in which the wedding was held has a population of fewer than 600 people. Needless to say, I was not expecting to come away with any sort of blog-able experience from this trip. I should know by now, never say never because I was wrong! During a layover at Salt Lake City International Airport, we happened upon Vino Volo, a wine bar and ale house. With over two hours to kill, we rolled our luggage to a cozy table in this welcome respite in the middle of typical travel chaos.

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Image property of Chute Gerdeman

These days, consumer electronics can be considered one of the hottest accessories and owning the newest, high-tech device can definitely be a way to express personal style. You may have even heard the question, “Are you a Mac or a PC?” Despite knowing a gadget’s fashion quotient, I was still surprised when I came across Best Buy’s window displays in downtown Chicago. Typical product and promotional signage was replaced with vignette displays that looked more like fashion stories complete with mannequins and propping.

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

Through a partnership with The Art Institute of Chicago, Best Buy brought their windows to life by tying in the Institute’s current exhibition Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective. Lichtenstein’s vibrant pop art set the tone and theme for the bold displays featuring some of Best Buy’s hottest electronics like an HP printer, Kuerig coffee maker, GeoPro and Canon cameras, as well as a complete Samsung entertainment system.

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

With a relatively simple storyline these windows create a powerful “pop” and an unexpected draw for passersby. You can’t help but want to check out what it’s all about.

If you’re in the Chicago area, check out the windows for yourself at 875 North Michigan Avenue. And for more information about the Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective, go to the Chicago Art Institute website.