The Retail Duo took a quick trip to New York for what is turning into their annual tradition of a Holiday Re-Set. Amidst the enchantment of the holiday season, inspiration is everywhere but they also took the opportunity to set their intentions for the New Year. Here, they unwrap some of the key moments and takeaways from their festive adventure.
FRESH & NEW:
One essential stop was to visit the newly opened SKIMS brick and mortar location on Fifth Avenue. And, by newly opened - that means brand-spanking new....like smelling plaster and fresh paint new. The store allows customers to move through different floors of product lines and minimalistic displays, which is very true to the SKIMS brand. Tone on tone colours and curves of the space, mimic the brand essence, and it is easy to search and select the merchandise. Seeing the North Face Collaboration in person, was impressive, along with the holiday themed items as well. The variety of mannequins and bust forms used was impressive, and in true SKIMS fashion they represented beauty, body positivity and inclusivity.
DUO takeaway:
Colour and material continues to be hot in retail store design. Taking one main field colour and running with it, really drives home what the brand is all about and along with that it creates drama and impact. The biggest challenge with the use of these light materials will be if it does in fact hold up to the large volume of patrons that will visit, and those slushy NYC winters.
MAGICAL MOMENTS:
No trip to NYC would be complete without a Holiday Window Walk. The obvious stand out to most visitors is always Bergdorf Goodman's. Literally spending hours staring at these gems would not even be enough time to take in the splendour and beauty of each one. Banana Republic's props of golden bananas were whimsical, and Zara's mix of materials and objects in each of their locations had us intrigued.
Tiffany & Co continue to create beautiful windows that highlight products through colour and movement.
DUO Takeaway:
These iconic windows continue to be pillars of NYC, and making sure their value and heritage continues into the future is something that is on our mind. For retailers of any size - continue to plan magical holiday moments that spark joy!
FROM THE OUTSIDE IN:
Facades and exteriors continues to be a primary focus for brands. To see the Louis Vuitton former flagship store's facade wrapped, and so boldly activated, in real life is always a dream but this year it was over the top incredible. Directly across from its new home, this location has literal trunks fabricated and towering over the bustling Fifth Avenue below. In the evening the facade transforms to a mystifying light show with projected images and lighting on its surfaces. When the images of this were first viewed online, everyone questioned if it was AI generated, as it seems impossible to create something of this magnitude. BUT when you look down Fifth Avenue - there she is, in all her glory.
Ulta Beauty also created an eye-catching WICKED Themed facade playing into the vibrant "pink VS green" palette. It stood out and reinforced their current merchandise offering.
DIOR's jaw dropping holiday installation of sea creatures, and soft tones was one brand that really came out as a favourite this year across the globe, proving themes can be a bit unconventional and not always scream "Christmas". Their windows at Hudson Yards also showcased incredible lighting techniques complementing beautiful, delicate fabricated paper objects.
DUO Takeaway:
Consider the store is wowing the customer on the outside. Although one may not have big-brand budgets maybe its time for some new lighting, paint, or an installation in the New Year!
HOLIDAY MATERIALS, COLOURS & TRENDS:
Each year we see some main materials and textures merge as top trends. Tinsel was having its moment for sure and we kind of loved it. Kate Spade created sophisticated, yet simple accents to interject holiday within their Rockefeller location. Guests were loving their tree made of fabricated boxes in their iconic green. 2024 has been the season of the giant bow and Macy's exterior really showcased that.
Strong use of colour, and tones and tints of one colour, while repeating it was also evident in-stores and within window schematics. Swarovski's Rockefeller location was a dream of green and it was not only magical for the Holidays but evoked wonder with the tiny boxes and tone on tone colour throughout. Worth noting was a rise in the use of the traditional REDS and GREENS with every hue from brights to Crimson Red and Hunter Green.
DUO Takeaway:
Pick materials and colours early in the year to WOW customers next Holiday Season. Do the research and know the trends, but also make them unique to the brand.
LV NEW Flagship:
Propping and fabricated items in store is really having its moment. A classic example of this are the towers of LV trunks at their new home. Details and interior styling was also eveident through fixture designer and in-store propping. Customization and personalization generally has a home in stores and this location was no exception. Custom LV trunks, luggage, handbags, or journals - you can have it all! The interactive and well themed areas on each floor that served as moments for photos and interaction, making everyone feel that they could bring out their influencer power. (And, NO we did not purchase any chocolates, and NO we did not have a reservation at the cafe - maybe next time!)
DUO Takeaway:
The mix of hospitality and residential is still very much an on-going trend, if not a must in retail store design.
PAVE GALA: Paving the Way for Future Designers:
A pivotal reason for our journey was attending the annual PAVE Gala—an event dedicated to raising funds for over 25 years. PAVE, which stands for the Planning and Visual Education Partnership, plays a vital role in supporting young talent. We were honored to contribute our time by greeting guests and assisting with check-in. It is always amazing to see so many creatives and leaders in one room and we always leave feeling inspired to keep making a difference. We were impressed with the stellar submissions to this year's PAVE Challenge, where Ulta Beauty sponsored a contest for the next generation of designers and merchandisers. Although our own students did not win, we are super proud of them for putting their heart and great ideas into their submissons. If you are a brand or suppler who really wants to support new talent - these competitions should be on your radar.
Thank you as always to Nikki Naar and Dask Negal who worked tirelessly along with the rest of the PAVE board, and many key industry sponsors, to make this night so memorable. We are so thankful for people and organizations like PAVE who support future designers and who value educators.
DUO takeaway:
If it is not in your business plan for the upcoming year: find a cause and find your people.
Cheers and Happy Holidays, Diane and Karen
The Retail Duo Inc. is a retail consulting agency that provides a concierge-style approach to our services. For more information, visit us on Instagram @theretailduo or at www.theretailduo.com.
Comments