Visual Merchandising Awards, 2011, London

Images Copyright Melvyn Vincent

Were you at the Visual Merchandising Awards 2011 last Friday?  If not then you really did miss an incredible evening.  In the company of film and televisions giggly Christopher Biggins  who hosted the evening, it really was a corker.  Out with the Drag Queens and crappy entertainment and in with a very sophisticated and very well planned night guided through what seemed like a fast paced night of awards - simply because it was such fun but so dignified.  And didn't it fly by, hey?  OK, well we picked up one of these lil' pups ourselves which made our evening rather more euphoric than usual, although what was particularly interesting was how some of the usually unsung hero's of the UK's Visual Merchandising industry were rewarded for their hard work over the the big-boys-with-big-budgets-and-big-egos-to-match who always seemed to flood the awards with their albeit, often well deserved schemes,  but give some else the opportunity too, right?  Anyway, the spread of awards was absolutely right and to see some of the smaller budgeted groups pick up an award was absolutely brilliant and encouraging - afterall, we dont want to kill our industry, do we?  The Visual Merchandising schemes entered for the 2011 Awards were viewed and judged by some of the industries finest and impartial.  The ante has been upped enormously this year and looking forward we can only wonder how things will develop from these robust foundations?  Better and better, we feel.
All images were kindly supplied by Melvyn Vincent at http://web.me.com/melvincent/VMAwards11/Photos.html

Hermes, London

We had a large dose of Deja vu recently when we saw the current scheme at Hermes.  Of course we love the Hermes scheme, although we had already spotted the 'same' scheme within the windows of an independent interiors store along Wigmore street last July (actually 22nd July, images below).   Oh dear, someone is so busted.  We've been debating whether to put this on-line and save someones blushes but decided that since we have to work so hard to develop new ideas and new concepts ourselves which involves enormous amounts of time researching and developing, as do so many others within the Visual Merchandising industry, then why should anyone else not?  Right?  Schemes within Luxury brands don't come cheap and research and development time would have certainly been factored into the cost to the brand.  Whether the same company produced both is irrelevant, this is something we just don't do as  these kind of situations can begin to undermine the brand.  We're just telling it like it is.

Monaco, France, On the streets

Images Copyright MEB

The delicious MEB has been trawling the glamorous Monaco in the the South of France for us today to gather inspiration and information in order to inform those store window concepts.  Looking at Art and Design in the environment is an incredibly important part of concept development and we always look to these things for our own collection of inspirational scrapbooks and sketchbooks which we record and keep religiously.  Don't you? 

Nice, France



Images Copyright MEB

Over the past week we've sent out our roving researcher (MEB - she doesn't like to be named) to have a look at the markets in Nice, south of France.  Interestingly, Pewter, Religious Iconography and the usual  clocks are big trends right now any way and we have seen a lot of this stuff cropping up all over London in conjunction with all of the various other trends that we've mentioned here.

Hong Kong

Images Copyright Angel Ko

Our wonderful contact Angel Ko, has very kindly sent us images of the latest luxury brand schemes installed at their Hong Kong stores.  It really is fascinating how these brands implement the same schemes around the world and yet quite sad that there is no apparent differentiation.  Why leave home any more?  These brands do what they do so incredibly well of course and we are very fortunate that we are able to view what is happening elsewhere although we cant help feeling that shopping journeys would be so much more interesting if localised creative approaches were considered, dont you think? 

Miu Miu, London

We came across this scheme at Miu Miu a few weeks ago, but only now just had the opportinuty to include it here.  This is probably one of the best schemes that this brand has implemented here at this store in London by far, and pure simplicity.  With its Blackened backdrop of semi-flashing images (which can only really be appreciated in reality) we have some great ingredients here for an interesting scheme. 

Moschino, London

Wow, Winter really must be on its way when we view schemes like this.  We have to admit, that we haven't always been fans of what this brand does, although it does have a certain style to it.  With its cartoon-like Penguins and faux rocks ('that they got') it does at the very least light up a drab part of Conduit st.

Prada, London

We really love the references to the nostalgic trend currently at the Prada store.  With its life-sized section of an aeroplane in a Gold finish, how could we not love this?  Of course, if we look back to New York in the 1970's we can find very similar examples of aeroplanes being used in window schemes. Or at least plane crashes.  One example that we have come across recently was at a particular NYC store that also used an actress in the window of the staged aeroplane crash who intermittently would run up and down the aisle screaming in panic (as part of the performance).  Of course this had its limitations due to the stamina or lack off the particular actress used.  Why does no-one do these kinds of things any longer?

Max Mara, London

We do have to mention, that whatever this brand do, it is almost always done with incredible sophistication, don't you think?  We often look at this particular store along Bond St. and while its not always the most creative place to look, it is always very well produced.  We seem to remember that this scheme (above) was implemented during Vogue Fashion's night out a few weeks ago, so maybe its time for a nudge to the next scheme?

Mathew Williamson, London

We haven't included this brand for quite some time although we have been willing them to do something rather more exciting than they have for while.  OK, well of course the merchandise is stunning and the most wonderful colours, but the schemes are, well, just rather dull, don't you think?  The same mannequins in virtually the same positions are used over and over again.  Cu'mon guys, lets see some effort and entertain us, pretty please?

McQueen, London

We haven't ventured all the way down to this end of Bond st. for some weeks now, only really because so much else has been happening every where else on the high street.  However, as usual this brand remains one of our top favourites and this scheme of course oozes the usual sophistication that we have come to expect from this brand.  With its delicate lighting, floor to ceiling mirrors and apparently free-standing mannequins,  these are incredibly difficult window spaces to use because of the illuminated glass  floor, however it looks like the Uber talented Laurent @McQueen has tamed the beast once again and produced yet another incredible scheme.  Windows spaces like this are very difficult to use, and yet look how beautifully they have been produced. 

Etro, London

We haven't always been kind about this brands' schemes, however, this one is a little winner.  What is interesting about this scheme for us, is, how the graphic picks up on the colour from the merchandise (or vice versa?).  We also do love these kinds of illustrative architectural drawings.  What is not quite clear is why this store is still open when they have moved almost directly across the street to a new site? We're sure there must be method in the madness somewhere.

Chanel, London

Oh VM God help us, please?  Strangely this is probably the best scheme we have seen in many, many, many years from this brand.  While the concept is actually really good fun and could have been oh-so-good, the execution leaves a lot to be desired, don't you think?  We know what you are thinking.....'oh the guys from retailstorewindows are ranting again about this brand'......although, you know of course, that we like to tell it like it is and.....well, how wrong does this brand get it?  Enough ranting, we'll let you make your own minds up about what you are looking at here.  Although, we are, as ever, very surprised that a luxury brand allows this to happen.