Images via prnewswire.com, wwd.com and pinterest.com

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. We’re always looking for great examples of digital signage in retail. One example recently brought to our attention was the Benetton Live Windows in Milan created by Fabrica. A sophisticated software system connects ten Benetton flagship stores from around the world in real time—from New Delhi to Moscow, and London to Shanghai. Replacing traditional mannequins, the high-definition, video-walls incorporate the company’s ad campaigns and product offering, as well include interactive elements with the goal of creating visibility and connecting with people outside the stores. Alfio Pozzoni, Project Leader and Creative Director at Fabrica for Benetton Live Windows Project said, “Fun is the key to get a major memory retention. Positive experiences live longer: this is what we want, to offer people new kinds of positive experiences, letting them playing with their own image, in a public context.” We’re not the only ones taking notice, the project took First Place in last week’s Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.

2. Brazilian footwear brand, Melissa, known for its colorful jelly shoes, opened its first location outside of Brazil in New York’s SoHo last month. Melissa’s brand director, Paulo Pedó Filho explained that “the point is not to sell a lot of Melissas. It’s a galeria.” The space at 102 Greene St. is very much an interactive experience for guests. Psychedelic video art runs at the back of the store; click here to watch a video.

We reported on the São Paulo location back in October, referring to Melissa as a shoe store mixed with an art gallery. Check out our Changing Façades post.

3. Lots of businesses are using Pinterest nowadays (we reported on the hot online pinboard last year before it went mainstream). We wanted to recognize Guess for using Pinterest to promote their 2012 colored denim. The brand’s Color Me Inspired Contest asks fellow pinners to show how color inspires them in exchange for a chance to win a pair of colored denim! If you’re interested in hopping on the Pinterest wagon, click here to read Inc.‘s 9 Tips to Boost Your Business using Pinterest.

During our Monday morning studio meeting, our Senior Designer of Brand Communications inspired the team with a presentation on the talent and experience of graphic designer and custom chalk letterer, Dana Tanamachi.

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

Image via westelm.com

Recently, I was shopping at West Elm and came across these great typographical paper weights. I, of course, couldn’t resist and purchased the ‘M’ version. At checkout, the cashier informed me that the same designer who created the style behind the series of paperweights also designed a series of wall graphics, that can be seen immediately upon entering the store.
Okay–now my interest was peaked. I had to find out more about this designer. Read more…

Wrapping up the conference, we started out the day with Nielsen’s Senior Vice President Consumer & Shopper Insights Todd Hale. In his closing keynote session, “Insights Into Our Economic Recovery: Tracking Trends That Matter,” he gave some predictions about what’s in store for the future.

Image via Nielsen

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After a kicking off Day 1 with our session, “When Visual Creativity Trumps Budget: What Indie Retailers Can Teach the Big Brands,” we thought why not take a seat and find out what insights some of the other speakers had to share. A few of the highlight sessions we attended were: “Adding to the Mix: How Retailers Are Adding to Their Product Mix to Become One-Stop Shops,” and “Leverage Your Store to Build Brand Value.”

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

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Image property of Chute Gerdeman

We kicked off day one of GlobalShop presenting the session, “When Visual Creativity Trumps Budget: What Indie Retailers Can Teach the Big Brands.” The third most attended session at the show was a success! And the audience loved it. Bess Liscio, VP, Visual Strategy; Joanna Felder, VP, Intelligence & Brand Strategy; and Jay Highland, VP, Brand & Marketing shared their insights while incorporating lessons learned from the indie retailer perspective, and presented ways in which major retail chains could incorporate some big ideas. For a quick session recap, check out our Intelligence Report from our most recent issue of The Gist. If you’re interested, sign up for our webinar on March 15 when we’ll represent the session live.

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With GlobalShop 2012 just days away, the Chute Gerdeman team is looking forward to taking part in our industry’s premier event for store design, visual merchandising and at-retail marketing. We’ll be on the ground in Las Vegas from beginning to end, February 29-March 2—walking the show, meeting with clients, partners and friends, and keeping up on the latest happenings in retail trends and technologies.

If you’re going to GlobalShop, be sure to attend Chute Gerdeman’s session on Wednesday, February 29. The conference session, “When Visual Creativity Trumps Budget: What Indie Retailers Can Teach Big Brands,” begins at 1:30pm. Chute Gerdeman’s VP, Intelligence & Brand Strategy, Joanna Felder, VP, Visual Strategy, Bess Liscio and VP, Brand & Marketing, Jay Highland, will co-present the session. More and more, real retail innovation is showing up around the corner and in the neighborhood at our favorite independent stores. Whether it’s an old-school “Mom & Pop” or a one-off new shop, small, indie retailers are showing the big guys how it’s done, and done well. The CG team will incorporate lessons learned from the retailer perspective, and present ways in which major retail chains could incorporate some big ideas.

In addition to Joanna, Bess and Jay, several other Chute Gerdeman associates will be on hand, including Denny Gerdeman, Elle Chute and George Nauman, in the new Design Inspiration Showcase. If you would like to arrange a meeting, feel free to contact us at cgevents@chutegerdeman.com or just stop by Booth 3044A.

Be sure to check back before, during and after GlobalShop as we’ll be blogging live from the show, with some on-the-fly observations and retail reporting from Sin City. This year, what happens in Vegas will be featured here!

We look forward to hearing from you or catching up at the show.