Inspiration Magazine

Useful tips and resources prepared by business, industry and design experts to help retailers grow their businesses!

A PICTURE WORTH A FEW HUNDRED WORDS

Have you thought about adding some drama and excitement to your shop? Some surprises? How about some showmanship? Well, how about creating one focal wall in your shop—preferably one visible through your windows or illuminated so that it steps out when a shopper steps in to the store? What would make that focal feature wall so unique and provide that sense of theater that is so…

The P.O.S.H. Approach

Is it an antique shop? No, it isn’t. Is it a tabletop shop? No, it’s not really that either. Is it a gift shop? Perish the thought (even though you’ll find a thousand and more gift ideas here). So what is P.O.S.H.? P.O.S.H. is a remarkable retail store that was born from a marriage of wanderlust and an idea that the shopping experience could be something different than it…

THE C GENERATION

Have you heard of the X and Y Generations? Have you figured out yet who they are, what they are and if they are who your customers are—and if they are, how do you treat them? Well, forget the X and the Y and any other letter in the alphabet except for the letter C. According to some of the retail sages and solons, today’s shoppers are all part of the great new C Generation, and…

Going “GREEN” in Stores

by Martin M. Pegler There is hardly a single home or business publication that one picks up today that doesn’t have an article or two about “greening and sustainability.” Those two words are ubiquitous: seen, heard and talked about everywhere. More U.S. consumers are looking for “green” products and “green” products sold in “green” environments. For store designers, the goal…

From the World of Design And Fashion – Jörgen Eriksson

by Michelle Hespe Jörgen Eriksson has made his name in the retail industry for blending the things he is most passionate about in life – fashion and design – to create strong, successful brands that resonate with shoppers. Eriksson started out running his own business in fashion before moving on to a managerial role in duty-free stores at airports across Sweden. These…

Chicago – Inspiration by Restaurants

by Michelle Hespe Celebrity chefs, world-renowned restaurants, ethnic dining from around the globe. Chicago's dining scene is unparalleled and interesting even from a design and architecture point of view. Appetite for Design is a fantastic initiative created by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, marrying great design and architecture with innovative dishes…

A Picture Worth a Few Hundred Words

by Martin M. Pegler Seeing is believing and seeing what a great display a shadowbox can be is almost un-believable. Grange Interiors in the Aberdeen section of Hong Kong uses simple, four-sided boxes designed by Stefano Tordiglione Design Studio. These boxes are backless and the wall can be seen through them. The backless boxes, which allow the wall to be seen through their…

gia Global Innovation Awards 2014 – Retailers on Top of the World

Every year, the International Housewares Association (IHA) welcomes retailers deemed the best in their home country to Chicago, where they compete on a global stage in the IHA Global Innovation Awards 2014 (gia) program. This year, there were 23 national gia winners from 22 countries, all representing the very top of home and housewares retailing. The gia Global Innovation…

Design Stars – Winners of the 2014 gia Design Awards

Discover Design, the premier design destination at the International Home + Housewares Show, offers a collection of more than 100 companies showcasing the latest designs found in housewares. Exhibitors are based on recommendations from and approval by the retail and design community. Since 2011, exhibitors in Discover Design have been in contention for gia Global Innovation…