Hobbs, London

 

We rarely include the brand Hobbs on this site and this is a shame.  We really  want this brand to look good but we always struggle to say something nice about them.  The lighting here is cheap, yet expensive to run and bleaches everything; the scheme we've also already seen at Prada, Banana and Primark approximately two years ago.   Sigh.  Clearly the brand are spending the least possible on their Visual Merchandising even on their flagship store along Regent Street.  Some re-alignment of funds would do this brand a massive favour.

  

Hackett, London

 

We do love what Hackett produce as there is a certain quality here that we don't often see in menswear presentations.  The tiniest details are always considered, beautiful product presentation and all round good fun.  Menswear is so difficult to get right.  Borderline camp and flamboyant and it alienates a majority of customers, too straight-laced and we're all bored to tears.  Striking just in between takes a lot of thought and these guys just do it so well, don't you think?

 

Kangan Institute, Australia

Its not often that we include entries from our friends in Australia.  We want to celebrate what our fantastic colleagues and in particular, their students are doing on the other side of the world from us and we are enormously grateful to our wonderful friend Ron Watkins for sharing this. 

Just to set the scene.......and Ron wont thank me for saying this.......but both he and I have waxed lyrical for many hours over far too many beverages (possibly tea and coffee) in countries alien to us both while putting the Visual Merchandising world to rights........and then forgetting the whole thing until the next time (but we know you wont tell anyone....will you?).  What is important here is the friendship, the networks being knitted together and the connections being made and this is proving life long; these have stretched across the globe and the years and made it ever smaller and the network ever better.  Why is this kind of journey always frowned upon?  Isn't it so interesting that we in our industry, wherever we are in the world seem to gravitate towards each other and just make things work against all the odds?  Our fantastic and sadly missed friend Professor Knoth from LIM in NYC and us used to laugh, banter and mind storm so many ideas  on a daily basis via e-mail and skype even with the enormous time delay between London and New York that we could never resist saying no to a new idea or concept that he threw our way; we were compelled; it is just a terrible shame that he is no longer with us.  Part of his legacy was giving us the manuscript of his book about the legendary (display artist) Visual Merchandiser Lester Gaba and his constant companion the plaster mannequin Cynthia (who he took to the cinema and theatre and on bus rides around New York, then at the end of the evening wrapped her up in a velvet bag until she......well, the first bit is funny and then it becomes a smidgen bit creepy....however our lips are sealed) 
 

 

 

Anyway, the realisation has just struck us that we may now have to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary about how we came to have the manuscript and then complete it. Possibly narrated by Sue Johnston or Kathy's Burke or Tyson? Or, whats-her-face who used to be in Neighbours? Of course we wouldn't possibly want to put that 'out there' would we? And suggest a lucrative TV contract? Possibly Hollywood?

But, anyway, we need to celebrate the here and now, and in particular the future, so....how cool are these guys? These amazing students from the Kangan Institute in Australia have created this fantastic installation. The time-lapse video is brilliant.......just watch and be amazed at the future Visual Merchandisers from the other side of the world (from us at least) who may be closer to you than you realise very soon......just watch this space.........Australian Visual Merchandising is clearly rocking and we love it...!  Well done guys and thank you for sharing this.  One day we will swing by your institute and share the London Love.....;o) 

Cos, London

We've been following Cos for a while now and we are rather impressed with their gradual creative development.  The reason for this is that this is such a difficult brand to work with as it really didn't have a personality at all.  We don't think that the brand will mind us saying this but if there was a personality going, they would have had it.  Its been like one of those distant cousins from Zara or Desigual.  The cousins have been trawling the West End theatres and poor old Cos has been treading the boards in Suburbia.  However, bit by bit this brand is glowing bigger and brighter and we love where they are coming from.  The big stars have had their day and this one is polishing itself for bigger and better things.  In the meantime.....un-subscribe it you want to because we're just telling it like it is and it costs you nothing - value indeed.

Tods, London

Wow, we love the luxury of the latest Tods scheme.  We don't often find mannequins in their schemes so this is quite unusual and this kind of 'bar' scheme oozes quality, don't you think?  The use of the copper leaf wall and copper finished stools are also just delicious. 

Moschino, London

There is a certain talent in being able to produce such unashamedly vulgar work, don't you think?  We are always stunned by what the team at Moschino produces and while we love the out sized stuff, the quality is not always here and more often than not we are left quite staggered that a brand would do this to itself.  Still, it clearly works for this brand and they're obviously not going to change any day soon, but we are always left with the feeling of wtf?

http://www.retailstorewindows.com

Pal Zileri, London

We only ever give this brand a cursory glance, but the below did stop us in our tracks.  Shockingly bad manipulation of an ill fitted jacket.  Of course this type of technique (although not this obvious) is typical in this industry particularly with cheap clothing which have to be 'worked'; and this is accepted as the norm.  However, along the luxury mile (ish) of Bond street we wouldn't expect to see this so obviously positioned.  Dreadfully poor presentation.

VM and Display Awards, 2012

If you were at the fantastic awards last week then you may recognise yourself here. What a glamorous night, eh? London's finest from the world of Visual Merchandising and Retail Display in the UK and beyond came to celebrate the awards given to the best in our industry. A wonderful evening had by all

 

 

Please note that if you are receiving this by e-mail you will need to visit www.retailstorewindows.com in order to view this article.

Banana Republic, London

We've ranted just a 'smidge' this week and perhaps we have been just a little bit too grumpy; its probably the weather. So......we've decided to cheer ourselves up and go an take a look at the new installation at Banana Republic.  Out sized props are always good fun so this is a little winner of scheme on that front at their site on Regent street.  The NYC cityscape and a promotion too...;o)  Still, the fabric props are well made and good fun and....just look at this vibrant Yellow. 

Victorinox Brand Damage, London

These poor little guys are being used completely for our entertainment and in order to promote a product.  Plastic, metal and leather (?) in an environment which is so incredibly sensitive to these poor fellas.  We are absolutely appalled.  We photographed this just a few hours ago and want to communicate how obnoxious some brands can be in order to communicate a message.  Victori-obnoxious re-home these little boys and be rather more creative and original?

Bally, London

Bally are taking such an interesting direction and we love this new installation that we spotted a couple of weeks ago.  Laser cut materials are clearly on trend right now as we've seen similar links at places such as Tory Burch.  Anyway, the colours and tones are wonderful, the craftsmanship is incredible, but what is it with this fricking goat again?  Come on guys drop this goat fetish; it looks dreadful, appears to have nothing to do with the brand? (unless you tell us otherwise) and completely jars with this installation.  We're guessing this is the influence of the dead hand of marketing and PR interfering again with the creativity of the Visual Merchandising department just so that they can tick a box.  OK, box ticked, get it out now?

Victorinox, London

It is very rare indeed to see live animals in retail store windows in the 21st Century.  Sure in China this is a common occurrence, but then regulations are rather more archaic and sensitivity to animals' well being is often seriously overlooked.  Thankfully as we are now in the Autumn season, sunlight is rather lacking here in London (window spaces become very hot in sunlight), however this doesn't excuse the use of live exotic fish (which are particularly sensitive) in a tank in a window on Bond street here in London with several metallic watches placed around them.  Down right cruel and unnecessary - no matter what the brand may tell us.  While we anticipate a lil 'ole e-mail explanation from Victorinox's PR and / or marketing departments sometime soon (as we often do from so many brands), the bottom line is guys that you are being cruel to animals in the UK for the sake of a product promotion and this is not acceptable.  This is an easy, obvious and unoriginal solution to demonstrate a products qualities.  If the company were truly creative the use of live exotic fish would not be necessary.
Ultimately, if we say nothing then who will?  No-one.  We also expect to see this scheme removed as a matter of urgency...............we're watching and waiting Victorinox.

Incidentally, the finish is also awful.

Brooks Brothers, London

It must be that back to school time.  We love the humour and the St. Trinians-esq references to those now seemingly halcyon days of yesteryear.  Its a long time since we left school (only to return to it years later..! and yes, we still get that Sunday night feeling)  Anyway, with all the typical references placed here amongst the 'preppy' look that this brand appear to ooze, this is great fun and communicates to a wider audience.  Job done.