Gilt targets men for it's first full-price website

June 11, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
park and bond
Gilt Man
 
Luxury e-tailer Gilt Groupe has announced that its full-price men's retail site will be named PARK & BOND and will launch in late summer.

"Moving into the full-price retail space is the natural next step following the runaway success of Gilt Man," said John Auerbach, who currently serves as General Manager of Gilt Man, and will also be President of Park & Bond. "Men shop differently than women, and PARK & BOND is designed with their needs in mind. Men are increasingly taking charge of their own wardrobe decisions and we aim to give them the tools to continue that trend—to outfit themselves without going 'shopping'." And unlike the Gilt MAN flash-sales mode, merchandise on PARK & BOND will live according to seasonality, enabling consumers to shop any brand at any time.
 
Taking a note from Net-A-Porter's Mr. Porter & J.Crew’s Jack Knows Best, whom we profiled in the post Don't forget Men$wear, the Gilt Groupe spin off will offer advice on how men can incorporate items into their daily life with confidence and style.
 
PARK & BOND will have 80 brands at launch including Alexander McQueen, Isaia, Etro, Paul Smith, N. Hoolywood, A.P.C., Neil Barrett, Thomas Pink, Todd Snyder, Vince, Theory, Common Projects, Brooks Brothers, and Florsheim by Duckie Brown. "Today's man does not dress in one brand from head to toe. He picks his favorite pieces and assembles a look that represents him—PARK & BOND will encourage and enable customers to easily do just that," said Brooke Cundiff, who is in charge of merchandising for the new site.
 
Once an afterthought in retailing, male customers now make up a $51 billion shopping industry and 75% of men shop for their own clothing compared with just 52% in 1995, according to market research firm NPD Group.
 
It's about time retailers take notice.
Tags: menswear, fashion, eCommerce, trends

welcome, again.

June 2, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly

Your eyes are not deceiving you... things do look a little different around here.

We know that a website is one of the best tools to communicate a company's brand and, after six years, our website was not clearly meeting our expectations (and we were too focused on our amazing clients to change platforms). Rest assured that all of the great cultural insights, consulting services and social media accessibility is still at your fingertips. In fact, we've even added new offerings to help reshape your company.

So today, thanks to the fine folks at Medium, we bid that old Flash website a fond farewell as we jump into a platform that is mobile friendly, SEO accessable, and socially integrated. Goodbye Yugo; hello BMW.

Tags: design, website, eCommerce, trends

take a break from vanilla

April 6, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Feeling tired of buyers consistently purchasing the same labels? So is Jil Wensauser, former senior manager for Condé Nast New Markets.

Merging curation with eCommerce, Wensauser is launching WATCH-THAT-LABEL.COM to serve as a sales platform for young, up-and-coming designers around the world this spring.

"As someone with a passion for fashion and having worked in the industry for some time, I have always had my eye on new fashion labels as I travelled the globe. I have discovered so many amazing talents, which we simply have no access to in Europe. The idea for WATCH-THAT-LABEL.COM came when it became apparent that there is no outlet out there dedicated to providing a platform for emerging talent and discovering the 'rare gems'."

The first pass of emerging global designers include: Josh Goot, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Tsumori Chisato, Kaviar Gauche, Pedro Lourenco and Emilio de la Morena. Many of the pieces will be sold exclusively at Watch-That-Label.com.

{photo: Felipe Oliveira Baptista via AutoMode Tumblr}

We love how concepts like WATCH-THAT-LABEL & Moda Operandi are developing innovative platforms to bring products to hungry shoppers and in contrast to fashion buyers inability to look beyond "best sellers", "name brands" and "safe collections". Shades of vanilla might be attractive to the masses but even the most frugal Recessionista needs some sparkle and fresh blood.

 
Tags: luxury products, department store, shopping, innovation, trends, fashion, curate, merchandising, eCommerce, retail, coming soon

news bites 3.18.11

March 18, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
A new twist on our not-so-weekly news bites. The trendscaping "giving" category represents innovative campaigns to help Japan. Get clicking.

GIVING

 

{photo: Tatcha}

- All profits from the TATCHA's Kiri Gift Set of aburatorigami (Japanese blotting papers) through March 31st will go to support relief efforts in Japan. You can purchase one, or many, here.
- ShelterBox USA provides emergency supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and essential equipment to the worst hit areas of Japan. Best of all, you can track your box to know it's going to good use. Donate now.
- For each $5 donation on LivingSocial, they will match funds and donate to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. Limited time so click now.

FASHION
- Pamela Love X Topshop "Spirit of America" collaboration set to hit stores this April.
- United Nude debuts pop-up installation at London's Selfridges featuring spring/summer collection.

 

- A closer look at Maison Martin Margiela bottle lamps by AnOther's Lovers.

RETAIL
- New report from Experian shows that up to 90% of store purchases are now influenced by online research according to Retail Week.
- Pop-ups will never replace permanent stores, but they can & should become complement to a retailer’s brand strategy.

FOOD
- Fast Company names the 10 Most Innovative Companies in Food. Is it just us or does your definition of "innovation" differ?

 
Tags: london, housewares, giving, beauty, shoes, popup retail, innovation, design, eCommerce, japan

retailing trend: click & collect

March 16, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
click and collect
After years of trying to drive customers to their e-commerce sites, retailers like Sears, Nordstrom and Wal-Mart have all instituted programs that let you order an item online and then pick it up at a brick-and-mortar location.
 

 
This strategy to get shoppers to set foot in their stores and breaches the divide between e-commerce and real world sales as competition grows from Amazon and other online retailers. The convenience, for both consumers and retailers assists in streamlining inventory because many stores had previously offered different selections online than in store. In a world where shoppers are becoming accustomed to browsing digitally, it just makes sense to sync the Web and in-store experience.

Examples include:

  • Wal-Mart announced last week that it would expand an old program with a new one called “Pick Up Today" from 2,000 items in less than a quarter of its stores to 40,000 items (by the fourth quarter), including baby items, toys, electronics, video games and appliances in an initiative expected to reach nationwide (3,600 stores) by June. When the order is ready, customers will receive a text message or e-mail alerting them when their orders are ready.
  • Wal-Mart will now let consumers refill prescriptions and order photos via its mobile website.
  • Nordstrom recently combined its inventory so that if the online stockroom is out of an item, a store that has it can ship it to the Web customer as part of their "Buy Online, Pick Up In Store" service offering.
  • Best Buy, Ace Hardware, JC Penney and Sears are among the others offering “ship to store” programs.
 

By motivating customers to visit brick-and-mortar, the retailer increases the chances that they’ll pick up another item or two on the way to the checkout - increasing retailers UPT (units per transaction). "Click and Collect" services can also decrease labor costs, in addition to shipping, if employers tap in-store employees during down sales hours.
 
Tags: convenience, department store, website, eCommerce, consumer behavior, inventory, SmartCommerce

news bites: 1.24.11

January 24, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Forward thinking and futuristic finds...

FASHION
- New virtual mirror application enables customers to try on potential purchases via website.
- Hipster or health hazard? Maintaining "raw" denim look by not washing jeans for 15 months is OK health-wise.
- Even luxury brands now create their own online media & content bypassing magazines.
- Virtual fitting room use shape-shifting "fashion robots" to model clothes before you buy.

+
FOOD
- Nowness reveals winner of Fantastic Food competition chosen by industry experts.
- Time to Rethink Your Message: Now the Grocery Cart Belongs to Daddy.
- Chef Ferran Adria unveils new downmarket eatery, 41 Degrees, in Barcelona.

Tags: luxury products, branding, produce, tech, website, innovation, trends, fashion, eCommerce, consumer behavior, food

membership has its privileges, Mr Porter

January 12, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Today Net-A-Porter took another step toward the launch of Mr Porter with a rather formal letter on its website announcing it will soon be an "online retail destination for men's style, offering over 80 of the world's leading brands" and offering customers "the unique chance to become a Founding Member." Perks for Founding Members include exclusive access to the site before it launches to the public, previews, personal shopping and shipping discounts.

We're digging the formality and classic approach. Quite on trend with our post about men$wear needing to connect with authenticity and a narrative storytelling experience, not just just apparel.

Tags: luxury products, menswear, fashion, eCommerce

don't forget men$wear

January 3, 2011 | By Shannon Kelly
Once an afterthought in retailing, male customers now make up a $51 billion shopping industry. According to market research firm NPD Group, 75% of men shop for their own clothing compared with just 52% in 1995.

The influx of blogs and magazines delivering styling expertise expand brand awareness and aesthetic detail. Taking a note from the Sartorialist, J.Crew’s Jack Knows Best offers advice on dry cleaning, three piece suits, and how to wear pants properly. Net-A-Porter’s Menswear site Mr. Porter, set to launch in 2011, will carry over 60 brands with editorial content, advice and same-day deliveries in London and New York City.


The new male consumer responds to many of the same emotional triggers, such as heritage and authenticity, as their female counterparts. And retail shops with rotating miscellanea, art and differentiated offerings provide a place for discovery.

Successful retailers are building constructed masculine experiences in multi-purpose environments. Examples include:

  • Classic fashion stalwart, Ralph Lauren, transformed its Rhinelander Mansion location into a men's store.
 
{image via thedapperdude.com}

  • J.Crew's first ever men’s store took over an old neighborhood watering hole in 2009, and the brand as since opened three additional dedicated men shops in New York and Boston.
 
Photobucket

  • Jack Spade offers an interior that mimics a gentleman’s study with copies of vintage books next to finely woven shirts and an old library card catalog containing always changing bric-a-brac.
 
{Image via selectism.com}
 
  • Niche menswear boutiques like Tres Bien Shop in Sweden, Scotch & Soda in Amsterdam, BlackBlue in Minneapolis, Jackstraw in Seattle, and Duncan Quinn (with locations in NYC, LA and Miami) provide not only for clothes, but for objects to connect to such as rugged collectibles, antique shaving kits and sturdy furniture.
 
{Image of Tres Bien Shop via The Malcolm.com}
 
 
Men connect on a narrative level and want to know how a garment came to be and where it came from. In an ever more unsettling world, men respond to clothes that articulate meaning and stand for something.

Bottom line, male consumers want items that tell a story.

 
Tags: Sweden, seattle, retail, miami, menswear, fashion, luxury products, nyc, entertainment, innovation, LA, color trends, eCommerce, apparel, menswear

turn off the lights, the pop-up is over

March 12, 2010 | By Shannon Kelly

Liberty London x Target in NYC - of course.Rumors of empty racks and stripped mannequins turned out to be less hype and a harsh reality for the Liberty London pop-up in Bryant Park which launched on Wednesday, March 10th and closed on Friday due to a lack of inventory.

According to Racked.com, everything was sold out and sales "exceeded all records from previous pop-ups, and more than 11,000 people stopped by over the shop's two short but glorious days of existence."

Not all Target collaborations get a pop-up location but we feel this was a nice opportunity to leverage the collaboration and build buzz. The full collection of florals arrives in stores and on the Target website this Sunday the 14th.

Here are our top picks (including Bike in Pink/White Floral Print $199.99).
Trench Coat in Yellow/Black Floral Print $44.99
Sleeveless Shift Dress in Yellow/Black Floral Print $34.99
Tote in Yellow/Black Floral Print $12.99
3-pc. Tool Set in Pink Floral Print
(includes trowel, cultivator and pruner)
$19.99
&
Ceramic Canisters in Assorted Floral Prints
Large $19.99 Medium $17.99 Small $14.99
Tags: housewares, nyc, retail, popup retail, shopping, fashion, merchandising, eCommerce

Cookware trends: clay pot revival

October 22, 2009 | By Shannon Kelly
Occasionally, trendscaping is about being in the right place at the right time influenced by what you love to do and want to see. We love when worlds (personal, professional, recreational) collide and retail anthropology sings.
 

And that's more or less how we happened upon Bram with our friends (@sagekitchen) in Sonoma as we partook in a little pre-lunch retail therapy. Urged by Jim, we entered the little storefront of clay pots and fell in love with the merchandise.

In all honesty, our motivation was purely focused on adding to a growing collection of cazuelas until the signs started pointed to an emerging trend. Then, all if a sudden, there were rumblings everywhere about clay pot cooking on twitter and Kim O'Donnel (@kimodonnel) posted this great Q&A with Paula Wolfert on trueslant.com.

But there was another side of the story to be told- the retail experience.
 

At Bram, owners Ashrf and Shelly Almasri have assembled an outstanding array of clay pots- complete with halas, skillets, tagines and bowls for the stove top, oven or table from around the world. All of the clay pots at Bram are completely handmade, natural earthenware similar to the cazuelas, cocotes & ollas found at gourmet specialty retailers (La Tienda or Spanish Table). Our purchases (see below) work well on our green egg, stove top or oven.
 
Egyptian Hala
"Hala" is the generic term used in Egypt for a casserole with high sides. These are traditionally used to make meat and vegetable casseroles cooked with spices and a bit of liquid, essentially a stew. Last weekend we used the Hala for poaching pears.

Skillet
This earthenware Skillet is perfect for braises and sauces or roasting in the oven. Reminiscent of the French poêlon, the clay skillet found in Provence with a convenient side handle and pour spout. According to this San Francisco magazine article, this is Paula Wolfert's favorite cazuela (and it's ours too).

 
Round Baker
Its depth allows that ideal ratio of creamy interior to golden, crisp topping. You won't find a better baker than this for fruit cobblers and crisps. It's terrific for reheating or holding food in the oven until serving.
 

We also loved this Tagine (not currently available online- call to Mr, Almasri order: 866.970.2726) but we already have one with a heavy cast iron bottom by Le Creuset. Our favorite way to use the tagine is for cooking lamb or merguez sausage with vegetables, couscous, and harissa from World Spice or Mustaphas.

Why clay, you may ask?
- It's alluring and primitive nature satisfies our desire to briefly escape from the economic day-to-day and discover unknown techniques.
- It's soulful and deep with flavor and tradition.
- The price point is fairly low so the products are available to many.
- Braising and slow-cooking are seasonally appropriate and comfort us in tough times.
- Because it's cool.

In addition to cookware, Bram also stocks an impressive selection of French, Indian, Italian, Middle Eastern and Moroccan cookbooks. On 11/2 Bram will be hosting a book signing & dinner to celebrate Paula Wolfert's new book "Mediterranean Clay Pot Cooking". Details can be found here.

If you don't have friends driving back from Sonoma to transport your earthenware, you can also shop at bramcookware.com.

 
Tags: housewares, retail, inspiration, eCommerce, color trends, food, Sonoma, California, S