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.
Adding a social element to the retail environment creates an opportunity to develop a deeper, more personal relationship with consumers. One category that we’re seeing make great strides in this approach is the sports apparel and footwear category. We’ve watched brands evolve from just selling products to supporting a lifestyle. Lululemon, a pioneer in the yoga lifestyle category, has paved the way for many to follow.
Image via Reebok
Reebok recently made the move to capitalize on one of the hottest fittest trends of the moment, CrossFit. For those not familiar with CrossFit, it’s a high-intensity workout that incorporates such activities as weightlifting, powerlifting, kettlebells, medicine balls and box jumps. You can check out this Reebok CrossFit video to see more of what it’s all about.
Image via psfk.com
As the title sponsor for the annual CrossFit Games, it makes sense why Reebok would want to bring that energy into a retail space. The Reebok CrossFit store on Fifth Avenue combines the retail and gym experience. The main level, referred to as the “Fit Hub,” offers product for every skill level and expert staff to help you find the product right for you.
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.”
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.
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.
“Let’s Make Excellent Happen!” That’s the theme of New Balance‘s most recent campaign. According to Josh Rowe, NB’s marketing manager, it reflects the brand’s desire to inspire and motivate athletes to achieve their very best. And after visiting the Flatiron New Balance, I was surely inspired!
The experience store celebrates NB’s past, present and future, and highlights the brand’s heritage. Located at the corner of Fifth Ave. and 20th St., the store features a running track and a demonstration area devoted to showcasing the making of running shoes. Balancing old and new elements, the space’s original architectural elements including exposed brick and floor-to-ceiling columns are mixed with modern technology.
Images via savannahnow.com, facebook.com/burgerking, beautyandbeyond.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. In a recent post celebrating National Mom & Pop business day, we mentioned our Intelligence Report “When Creativity Trumps Budget: What Big Brands Can Teach Indies.” One of the Big Ideas we feature in our report is “Fostering New Talent.” We were delighted when we spotted The Limited doing just that! They’ve partnered with Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) to offer a unique jewelry collection to customers—created by students. The Limited’s CEO, Linda Heasley explained, “We were very fortunate. It was all done under the spirit of teaching and training and learning. We were thrilled that SCAD chose to do this with us. I’m very proud of the collection.” You can find the jewelry in stores starting in 2012.
Check out this video to find out more about this partnership that provided students with real business experience.
2. Food trucks have gone mainstream, just as we predicted last year in our own exploration of the mobile food market. This time, fast-food chain Burger King is testing out the idea. We heard awhile back that the chain would be delivering burgers to your home (within a specific proximity to local restaurants), but now the burger chain has gone one step further by literally taking operations on the road. We’re excited to hear how consumers respond to the initiative. We think food trucks create interest because of the unique offer and the convenience factor. Not to mention, it’s a great way to introduce new products which is exactly what the burger giant is rumored to be doing—using food trucks to introduce new menu items. They’ve launched new salads and fruit smoothies through a line up of celebrity endorsements including Sophia Vergara, Jay Leno, David Beckham and Salma Hayek. Check out the commercials here.
We’ll just have to wait and see if burger lovers love the new mode of fast food “delivery.” Remember—convenience is king.
Click here to read more about Burger King taking the Whopper (and more) to the streets.
3. Recently opened within Fred Segal in Santa Monica is the first beauty store operated by a magazine. Readers of NewBeauty are now able to find all of the products featured on the pages of this popular publication in one place. Products are accompanied by relevant editorial content allowing them to find the right product solution for their need. Beauty experts offer advice and product demonstrations, and an on-site video editorial staff is there to conduct customer interviews about the products. One customer described it as “putting the pages of the magazine on the shelf.” Check out the video below to hear more rave reviews from the magazine’s readers.
