SFD, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright SFD

We're big fans of this retail supplier and how fantastic to view their amazing showroom.  With the recent launch of their new ranges, SFD have also just produced this incredible new scheme; the Art of Retail.  The scheme features four of their White mannequins with cans of different coloured inks placed above them and slowly dripping down onto the mannequins heads.  As is the unpredictable nature of the drips each figure looks completely different and over a series of weeks the cans will be refilled slowly building up layers to create four uniquely covered mannequins.  Why cant we see more of these things happening out there on the rest of the high street?

Hackett, London

Oh those clever boys at Hackett have done it again.  How different is this scheme to their previous ones eh?  And we are loving this direction.  We're guessing this refers to a particular part of their collections and what a fun narrative.  Perhaps slight references to the 'Avengers'? (the 1960's British Version).  Oh who knows,  but fantastic guys, keep 'em coming; you are rocking the high street....! 

Retail and Visual Merchandising Calendar, 2014

As the nature of the Visual Merchandising business demands that we work often many months in advance and key trends Spring / Summer 2014 already out there in the public domain, what better way to help you plan ahead than your very own 2014 Calendar?  This one produced by the ever creative Red Border highlights not only the key events but reminders well in advance of them happening in order to help you prepare.  Whether you are a small retailer or a global player this fantastic tool really helps to keep things organised.  Launched today, go and check out the Red Border site and order your very own http://www.redborder.co.uk 

Issey Miyake, London

We haven't included this brand in absolutely ages, probably as they don't do very much visually but the merchandise is always so incredible.  This light box installation hasn't changed in a few years but now and again when the brand launch a new special product we see at least little excitement happening.  Here we have a promotion for the Pleats Please perfume which we are guessing has just been launched.

On the streets, London

We just loved this sign at the beginning of Carnaby street that we just had to share it with you.  We regularly look at what is happening on the streets as well as within the windows and this key element to the journey to Sale looks particularly cool, don't you think?

Prada, London

This an interesting scheme at Prada with their use of both horizontal and vertical lines.  The merchandise has changed slightly since we took this image a few days ago but we prefer this version ourselves.  With their almost concrete-like background Prada is cool particularly cool.  So many of the luxe brands of course are beginning to show their A/W collections but in this particularly freakishly hot weather here in London, fur jackets and heavy coats are look rather odd.  Are they actually selling much of it?  Who knows?

Brooks Brothers, London

In this sweltering London heat, Brooks Brothers have hit 'it' right on the nail with this scheme.  A tropical paradise and the holiday season is summed up in this scheme.  If you are in London right now, a big cooler box filled with cold drinks is just what you will need.  This vintage coke one is super cool.

Cos, London

Is it us or does there appear to be some kind of abstract arty theatrical production, possibly in a local theatre going on here at Cos?  Can you imagine the scene?  Man meets lover when wife walks in?  Or is it, man confronts wife's new female lover?  Man has dinner with new lover while wife (possibly dead by now?) hovers ghost-like in the background?  While the scheme actually does look incredibly slick in reality (although dust bunnies galore on the floors as always), looking at it from a greater distance there does appear to be some kind of an ever so slightly sinister narrative going on here, don't you think? 

Esprit, London

Finding schemes which are not in 'Sale' is like trying to hunt for Unicorns.  Few and far between if they exist at all?  Anyway, thankfully at least Esprit is emerging from the curse that is Sale time if only in just one half of their run of windows.  If you have ever been into one of the larger LV stores or 'Maisons' then you would have seen trunks like these in various combinations of luxuriousness. Here of course this prop is not in the finest leather money can buy but in the finest cardboard.  Still, a simple and clean scheme which is much appreciated in the sea of Red that is London's west end right now.

Liberty, London

There's something very pop about Liberty right now.  What a fun way to show Accessories, home and all the the bits this brand sells don't you think?  We've seen similar schemes in our time of course but we do love the quality that this brand projects to incredibly well.

Gucci, London

Its always so difficult to to photograph the windows at this brands store along Bond street as everyone is so security conscious, however their Sloane street store is bigger and better anyway, and Gucci is sporting these blinging swings which present the merchandise.  All luxuriously produced to perfection of course.

L.K.Bennett, London

This is such an interesting scheme don't you think?  We weren't quite sure when we first saw it and how we felt about it but we do love the pixels and slightly blurred window.  The merchandise in the below image could have been presented rather more effectively of course as it does look quite value retailer, but an interesting scheme nonetheless?

Roberto Cavalli, London

We were a little surprised that we haven't included this brand before now.  Bizarre, eh?  This may possibly be due to the fact that the brand rarely do anything interesting.  But look at this little gem.  We've always seen this brand in the same light as Cardin; i.e. over done and not very interesting, although the original work from both brands was incredibly exciting.  Anyway, we screeched to a halt when we saw this scheme.  We are not massive fans of the easy solution large format graphic but we love this one.  Just look at this colour Red, just stunning and the merchandise is to die for; delicious.