10 inspirational VM projects
It's all about engaging with your consumer, and over the last 10 years retailers have proved more adept at doing just that, with quirky and original store design. Here's our top 10 VM ideas not to be missed.
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VM flash! Theo Fennell: Show Off!Theo Fennell: Show Off!
This week-long display from jeweller Theo Fennell, held at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, presented his jewellery line in a beautiful and thought-provoking way. Through extraordinary displays using electric chairs, guillotines and crime scenes, Fennell came up with a completely new, experience-heavy way to sell to customers.
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London Christmas windows 200710 years of Christmas windows
Every year, WGSN covers the Christmas and Holiday windows from the best department stores on the planet, and we are constantly amazed at the workmanship and imagination involved. Our favourites include Selfridges and Harvey Nichols in London and Barneys, Saks and Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
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VM view: Dover Street MarketTachiagari at Dover Street Market, London
At the launch of each new season, Rei Kawakubo's London store undergoes tachaigari - closing for three days to completely update its visual merchandising and reflect the new seasonal mood. The mercurial and imaginative presentations make our visual merchandising hearts sing, and inspire us every season.
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Catwalk set trends S/S 09Catwalk set inspiration
It's not just the clothes that catch our eye at the seasonal catwalk shows — the show sets are increasingly interesting as designers try out new visual ideas that often set the stage for marketing campaigns and store windows. Creating sets modelled after English gardens, tribal settlements and abandoned warehouses, designers truly immerse audiences in their creative vision.
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Retail design ideasPop-ups
As retail gets more competitive, engaging with the consumer and standing out from the crowd becomes ever-more challenging. Pop-up stores - temporary retail spaces that often focus on an edited retail offer in a strongly visual setting - allow a flexible space with a "get-it-now-or-not-at-all" basis, to create maximum impact in both marketing and commercial terms. Our favourites include Uniqlo's clever New York campaign and Venue's Vbox in Singapore.
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ABC Carpet & HomeStores with strong personalities
A store with a strong, easy-to-recognise personality distinguishes itself from the rest. These stores, all run by inspiring individuals, are full of personality, while providing edited and beautifully presented product and a clear point of view. WGSN especially loves Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milan, ABC Carpet & Home in New York and Paul Smith internationally.
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London Fashion Week windows February 2008Art attack
The growing symbiotic relationship between fashion and art makes for a memorable store experience. Louis Vuitton used artist Olafur Eliasson to create their Eye See You global windows for Christmas 2006. Matches in London has opened its new Marylebone High Street store with art exhibition space, while b Store, also in London, regularly features artists in its windows.
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Topshop flagship store, Oxford Circus
Despite having very tight budgets and an incredible stock turnover on its floor, Topshop's flagship store consistently pioneers inspiring mannequin styling and arresting in-store presentation, making it the biggest jewel in the Arcadia brand's crown.
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Vintage mannequins at RootsteinAdel Rootstein mannequins
Adel Rootstein leads the field of mannequin design with its stylish interpretation of the body shape of the moment, first started in 1956. Always using live models to sculpt from, the company's new collection launches are inspiringly presented and hotly anticipated for new ideas.
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VM news: April 2007Live windows
Beautiful models in windows attract attention — just look at the fuss over Kate Moss appearing in Topshop's window at the launch of her range, or the dense crowds around Agent Provocateur's live model windows during the Holiday season in New York. Windows are a natural stage and brands are increasingly using them for retail performance.
