Simon Pearce’s Post

Interesting visit at the weekend to one of the new concept SCS stores. * It appears that as a direct result of the new ownership by Poltronesofà, they are radically changing the proposition (and potentially the #retail #furnishing market). I believe 8 new style stores opened this weekend, with a couple of dozen more in August. What was different - everything! 💥 Gone is the 'bargain basement' look and feel 💥 Replaced with sharp, stylish, very continental ranges as you walk in 💥 An intriguing welcome including I am 'truly' happy to see you from the salesperson 💥 Black shirts, 'artisan' style aprons (interesting) 💥 Lots more fabric, recliners, sofa beds 💥 Adjustable arms/legs/heads (the sofas not the sales team) 💥 Speaking of the sales team, they were very friendly, enthusiastic, smiley, charming and knew their product knowledge. The downstairs display consisted entirely of chic, designer ranges - at a higher price point (no £499 bargains to be had here). Upstairs was what appeared to be the core SCS range that we might be more familiar with. Albeit almost 'relegated' to the mezz. They have radically changed how they train people, how they sell, and how they are being asked to interact with the customer. Is it better? Hmmm, not sure. It certainly didn't feel like SCS, and I'm not sure if their core customer is ready for it. However - if they want to shift their market away from the £499 bargain basement - they have definitely done that. My view (for what it's worth)? ✅ #Product - amazing choice and quality for the mid to upper-market ❌ #People - I didn't like the greeting, the uniform, and, sadly, despite all this new styling and product - they still didn't ... 🫣 Ask us a single question about our world, our needs, our situation 🫣 Not a single question other than - "What were you looking for", before launching into a transmission of the product features. ➡️ It feels like everything has changed - and yet nothing has changed. The consistent thread in all #sales and every #customer journey I've worked on in retail is: ✅ Find out about the customer's world, their needs, and what is driving their appearance in your store. But in our experience, on this day, in this store - that didn't happen. The bit where they had tools and fabrics looked nice though. * All views and descriptions in this post are my opinion and based on a single visit which may not be representative of the wider business or strategy.

Does your commercial furniture business need a big window to showcase your products? We are still finding most clients wanting a great display window, especially those who are opening their first Clerkenwell showroom. For those with an established business in the area, some are finding that the greater value for money offered by an upper floor, for example, suits their business better. Given my previous work experiences, I'd simply say that if you are going for an upper floor, you'll need to make sure that you have a good CRM system in place and understand that the 'in-showroom' team member role may be rather different from that in the standard showroom. Photo by Rob Jewell of Nowy Styl / Kusch+Co showroom on Clerkenwell Road, with the longest window frontage in Clerkenwell (and there are great windows onto St Johns Square on the other side, too!) Another project where a good client relationship and fast action when an off-market space became available, meant that Warwick Bookman & Associates were able to secure an outstanding showroom space. If you would like us to review the brief for your next showroom and see if we can identify and negotiate space to meet it, do get in touch. #shopwindow #clientsfirst #clerkenwell #commercialfurniture

Dover Street Market — known for its daring retail experiences and art installations — is slated to launch in Paris this May. The store, housed in the former Hôtel de Coulanges, will feature Prada, Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, and other up-and-coming designers. Our fashion and lifestyle writer, Claire Stemen, writes "what’s interesting about the venture — its lack of marketing, its mixture of brands on the floor, and its emphasis on the in-person autonomous experience — is that it echoes the old-world way of retail. The constant barrage of retail spaces dedicated to one brand’s concept, of online experiences tweaked to individual tastes, and of the micro-managed way we’re meant to experience stores is, well, exhausting. It’d be nice to wander as you please, be confronted with someone else’s taste on a mannequin or rack, or get a chance to really touch the fabric in a physical store. The outright rejection of newer retail practices at Dover Street Market and some of their return to the 'old ways' feels revolutionary, instead of backward." Read more on The Territorie at the link below.

Miami's Design District, a neighborhood that until recently was dominated by old warehouses, is now booming home to swanky brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès. The once-shabby neighborhood has emerged as one of the world’s most popular luxury hubs, booming while some other High Streets still struggle. Luxury corridors such as New York’s Meatpacking District and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile have experienced double-digit decreases in foot traffic over the past four years through 2023. In the Design District, foot traffic jumped 47% over that period, according to Placer.ai data analyzed by CBREresearch. One of the keys to the neighborhood’s success has been mixing its 30 acres of retail with outdoor sculptures and murals. The flagship luxury stores resemble art galleries. At the Celine store, creative director Hedi Slimane recently designed a mirrored sculpture that is both an art installation and a functional spiral staircase that leads customers to the second floor. Asking rents for retail space in the Miami neighborhood have risen 200% since 2019, according to real-estate firm JLL, by far the steepest increase of any North American prime retail corridor over that time period. For certain brands, Miami is their bestselling city, said Michael Burke, head of LVMH Fashion. “And for others, the Design District is their top store in all of America.” Robins has also been instrumental in expanding Miami’s cultural scene, helping launch the Art Basel Miami Beach fair and ushering in new galleries and museums to the Design District. Outposts of popular New York City restaurants and exclusive membership clubs now define the city as much as the surf and party scene. 

DID YOU KNOW? * U.S. luxury retail sales have been growing since the onset of the pandemic and are believed to have reached a record $75 billion in 2023. An 100 year old mall - Country Club Plaza - located near several affluent Kansas City neighborhoods that draws shoppers from cities as far away as Omaha, Neb.; Tulsa, Okla.; and St. Louis was recently sold to a Texas developer for half of what it sold for in 2016 who aims to upgrade the mall and add multiple mega-brands. (WSJ) * How can you make smaller rooms feel larger? Some designers shared their ideas: 1. Painting a room in a darker, cool-toned matte can make it feel like the walls are receding. 2. Floor-to-ceiling built-ins reduce visual clutter and create a more open, streamlined look. 3. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls draws your eyes up and creates the illusion of higher ceilings. 4. A small-scale, simple wallpaper motif can make rooms feel larger. 5. Large scale furniture and rugs are associated with larger spaces and can 'trick' the eye to make a small space feel larger. 6. Breathing room around the perimeter of furnishings, and being able to completely walk around them, will make the space feel roomier. (WSJ) * Last week's personal consumption expenditures figures were really good: they showed that disinflation is continuing and the Fed may actually get around to rate cuts after all. (Barrons) * Florida is accelerating the laws governing removal of squatters by sheriffs, bypassing lengthy and costly legal procedures in other states: The squatter must have unlawfully entered the property, must have already been asked to leave by the homeowner, cannot be a current or former tenant of the home, and cannot be an immediate relative of the homeowner looking to get them off their property. Anyone who causes $1,000 or more in damages while occupying a property can now face a second-degree misdemeanor. (Miami Herald)

Breaking Stereotypes with Our #Bespoke #Mannequins In the realm of retail display, assumptions often prevail. But today, we're rewriting the script. You didn't think we made bespoke mannequins? Think again. At IDWDISPLAY innovation isn't just a buzzword; it's our ethos. We thrive on pushing boundaries, defying expectations, and exceeding imaginations. And our bespoke mannequin craftsmanship is no exception. Crafted with #precision, #creativity, and a touch of daring, our bespoke mannequins redefine the very essence of retail display. Each piece tells a unique story, reflecting the essence of brands and the vision of designers in ways never imagined. From sleek minimalism to extravagant, our bespoke mannequins embody versatility, sophistication, and a commitment to excellence. Whether the #windows of #luxury boutiques, chain stores or gallerias, they command attention and inspire admiration. Our bespoke mannequins invite collaboration, encouraging brands and #designers to dream bigger, think bolder, and explore new realms of possibility. Together, we'll reshape the future of #retail #display, one bespoke creation at a time. So, to those who doubted, to those who hesitated, to those who thought they knew us – think again. #windowdisplay #mannequins #100percentrecyclable

With most new products, you are always stepping into the unknown a little, until you find your feet ~ confidence or not. IRL feedback is the only thing that counts, and sign ups are what we need. With iONE360 and the HomeDecoHub I *know* that our list of onboard furniture manufacturers will change within no time~ in fact, the list has already done so in the time I have taken to make this slide! If you are a manufacturer of Furniture or Home Furnishings and Accessories, you need to get onboard and see how being involved in 3d sales can grow your business massively. For further details, please do get in touch with Bluebird Agents & Consultancy #furnituremanufacturer #furnituresupplier #furnitureretail #furnituretech #retaildesign #retailmanagement #retail #retailtech #retailtechnology

MORE AUSTIN, TX NEWS: Weitzman said examples of backfilled retail spaces this year include: Floor & Décor, which in the third quarter of 2024 is set to open its first Georgetown location in a 67,000-square-foot former H-E-B grocery store off Interstate 35. H-E-B moved to a new 121,000-square-foot store in Georgetown in 2023. HOBBY LOBBY which is taking a 58,000-square-foot former Randalls grocery store space at 10900 Research Boulevard after that Randalls closed this year. Five Below, which is taking part of the former Stein Mart space at Round Rock Crossing. A fitness concept plans to take the rest of the vacant space. Crunch Fitness, which plans a midyear 2024 opening for a new 40,000-square-foot location in 1890 Ranch in Cedar Park. The location was formerly a Gold’s Gym. Austin Pickle Ranch, a pickleball concept, which backfilled a 50,000-square-foot former Golfsmith space on Braker Lane. Nike Training Studio, a new fitness concept from Nike that is opening in about 3,000 square feet of space in the Triangle at North Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street. Desi Brothers, a specialty grocery store, plans to open next year in about 48,000 square feet of space in Round Rock Crossing at the southeastern corner of Texas 45 and Interstate 35. Copenhagen Imports, a contemporary furniture retailer, plans to open in about 31,000 square feet formerly occupied by an office supplies superstore in Braker Lane Crossing, a retail center at 4607 W. Braker Lane. Tesla will open a car showroom later this year or early next in a redeveloped 65,000-square-foot former H-E-B anchor space in the Center of the Hills near the "Y" at Oak Hill. H Mart, a grocery chain offering Asian specialties, is due to open next year in 23,0000 square feet at a former Savers Thrift store at 5222 Burnet Road. IKEA opened its first small-format location in June in the mixed-use Domain development in North Austin. Painted Tree Boutiques opened this spring in a 42,000-square-foot former Bed Bath & Beyond space on Brodie Lane Marketfair in Sunset Valley. Daiso, the Japan-based dollar store concept, backfilled the 10,000-square-foot David’s Bridal vacancy at Sunset Valley Marketfair and the 8,500-square-foot former Kirkland’s vacancy at Stone Hill Town Center in Pflugerville.

Steps to Successful Store Planning - 3. The initial layout - determining the foot print, mall entrances and exterior entrances. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers getting us through Milton! Here’s a little known fact, the movie Mannequin produced in 1987 was filmed on location at Boscov’s in Camphill, PA. & John Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia, PA. The up and coming young new fun retailer competing against the experienced iconic veteran retailer. AutoCAD was in its infancy and we were still drawing by hand. We used 42” rolls of vellum that could be up to 84” long to fit the store on the sheet properly. Back then drawing set up had to be planned in advance for cutting the vellum to the correct size with the title block. We always used 1/8” drawing scale for our floor plans otherwise, they would never fit on the vellum. When drawings were considered complete, Mylar prints were produced for completing HVAC ductwork, wiring schematics and plumbing drawings. When receiving the information to start planning the latest store there was crucial information needed. What is the footprint of the building? Where is/are the mall entrances located? Where are the parking lot fields located and at what elevation? What are the size of the parking fields? If a multi-level mall, which floor was our competitors soft lines on? (Basic rule was that our fashion floor always was on the other anchors fashion floor). Boscov’s was unique in the sense that jewelry was always located at the store front main entrance, I mention this due to most department stores like to put their jewelry at the mall entrance back in the day. Our center core column spacing from the main entrance had to be 60’-0” on center to fit the desired jewelry case configuration. The center core from the mall entrance was usually 48’-0” depending on which department we were placing there. From the main entrance the theme was always Jewelry, Handbags, Accessories, Cosmetics and then Shoes. From the mall the layout would be different, if it was a 1 level store we started with gifts, if 2 story store the fashion floor was usually lingerie and the hard lines floor was gifts. These basic principles determined where the main and secondary exterior entrances would be located.