Retro Re-runs

Ever had one of those experiences where the same type of thing keeps popping up constantly in a short period of time? Well this weekend I had 24 hrs of that.

It started with a very indulgent, but rare girls' afternoon out for lunch and then 2 hrs of shoe shopping...Mmmm bliss! On our travels we came across this very eye catching make up stand in David Jones for The Balm brand of cosmetics. I fell in love with the Retro graphics on the stand.

The whole packaging for the label is very clever.

Then we browsed at the Fossil store which has just released this cool range of Retro inspired watch boxes and had this mass displayed in a prominent position. The boxes are to celebrate Fossil's 30th birthday.

Does this make you think of Biggles?

This reminded me of my totally cool Ultra Lounge cd that I've had for many years with genuine faux fur fabric on the case and music perfect for a Retro martini.

After all this in one afternoon I called in to visit a client the next day. He'd just finished adding a collection of Retro prints in his shop. He now has Marilyn and Jayne and all their friends lining the walls.

Then I stopped in at the Unique Fabrics showroom and their gorgeous cushions added to my Retro experience of 24 hrs.

Cheers to Retro!

Kitchen Dreams

A recent family BBQ saw talk turn to kitchens. My cousin has a new kitchen on her wish list and I know she's not alone. Kitchens top the list for any type of house renovation.

Let me show you a few of my fav's stored in my own design files from years of trawling through design magazines.

I can happily say that a new kitchen is not on my list as I'm fortunate to have recently put in my own new dream kitchen when I did my own house extension. 

I love this one and you'll probably pick a common theme. My own tastes lean towards darker finishes, which is exactly the direction of my own kitchen.

Then there are the kitchens that just ooze wit character.

And another I love for the way the inside outside environments interact and the amazing green marble feature wall.

When I think of kitchen design I remember back to my uni days a bit over 20 yrs ago. I was severely reprimanded by a fairly young and I thought progressive lecturer for submitting a domestic design with an open plan kitchen. She told me that it wasn't how people lived and you never wanted guests to come in and see you cooking or preparing meals. I guess that she's eaten her words in the years since and like the rest of us is now accustomed to socializing in an open plan kitchen and even helping the host cook.

After all the kitchen truly is the heart of the house.

Happy Valentine's

Today is for the romantics. Here's my "mood board" for what I consider a romantic Valentine's. It's filled with fairy lights and flowers.

Enjoy!

Eyelure

If you've been watching the Bailey Retail Design Facebook page you would have seen this teaser for a photo shoot we did last week. Here are the final photos. 

The store is Eyelure Beauty Parlour at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village in Brisbane.

Last year I had the pleasure of working with Kerri Irving and her parents to create this store. Kerri's specialty is brow shaping and she'd spent 7 years managing another brow chain and is now using her skill to create her own empire.

The store opened just before Christmas. This was how it started with a quick sketch to show the general look.

Then the finished shop.

Whilst the salon specializes in brows they are offering the normal full range of beauty salon treatments.

Kerri is stocking all quality brands including OPI for her manicure range.

The salon has 6 brow stations with 2 that offer full privacy to cater to the large Muslim community.

Kerri has a strong preference for Retro and her custom designed lovely lady features on all her branding and media. The pinwheel wallpaper was also a custom paper from Sparkk Home Decor. The soft blue walls are painted in the lovely Porters Paint and the sheer curtains are a Warwick fabric.

Eyelure has developed their own brand of make up used and sold in the salon.

It was a pleasure working with the Irvings and to see a business blossoming under a skilled owner.

www.eyelure.com.au

Pop Up

I'm sure you've heard the catch phrase "Pop Up shop". It's huge at the moment and as a retail designer I love the endless avenues this type of "store" offers.

There's a few different stories of where they originated whether Europe or the US, but you could probably argue they have been around for centuries from the days of the Souk markets or earlier. 

I've heard some stories of very clever pop up stores targeted to the men's barber market. One company that is now a highly successful men's barber product brand started off by taking the authentic barber chairs into department stores and other larger shops and doing men's cuts and grooming live and demonstrating  their products. 

Another barbering company set up a canvass army tent within a larger shop and decked it out in the way of a traditional war time field barber shop and did their cuts inside.

Pop up is so open to interpretation, whether it's a home party plan business like Tupperware or some of the gorgeous stationery and lingerie brands that also party plan.

The big players are on board too, realizing that markets are changing and they need to evolve to meet their markets.

Pop ups may only last a short time and then re-open at that same venue later on, or move onto another venue altogether. Some may stay for longer depending upon the capital outlay to get there initially.

It's a fantastic way to test the waters with a new product, or a great way to "get into retailing" without the huge cost of fitouts, leases etc.

It's also an easy way to create a physical presence to an online shop.

With some of the clever pop ups the "theatre" aspect alone is worth it's weight in marketing memories.

I love the opportunities with cross promotion between retailers and complimentary brands. 

Around Brisbane I love seeing the people who have embraced this fun and exciting method of retailing. As I recently blogged the Eat Street Markets are one of the best examples on a larger scale, then there is the smaller scale suitcase pop up at the Powerhouse Plaza. 

and a final note..

Happy Chinese New Year!