Retail

Swatch is creating a major disruptive experience through their Instant Stores. The idea behind these unique experiences is one that's founded on the fast paced life our society has become accustomed to. Global product, fashion, and lifestyle trends change daily, so why not make a store that can keep up? Why not create a store that's different from the countless number of chain department stores where everything looks, feels, and sounds the same?

Swatch is using an "innovative shop fitting concept" that allows full-scale retail locations to be installed and then disassembled in about a day. The model that Swatch uses allows them to pop us spontaneously around the world â€" generally in urban areas that boast diverse cultural scenes. The element of surprise is one that captivates customers, leaving them intrigued and wanting more. Swatch also uses Instant Stores to gain access to festivals and fairs that fall in line with their brand ideal of spontaneous authenticity.

Swatch Instant Stores are based on a modular architecture that looks at both interior and exterior features. The furniture the stores use are flexible and can act as anything from a display cabinet to a couch and become yet another innovative part of Swatch's strategy to entice people into a new retail experience. Everything from the design to the promotion of Instant Stores is designed around principles of movement and fun. They've been known to pique curiosity using attractions like Mexican wrestlers, kung fu artists, mariachi bands, DJs, and chili (yes, the kind you eat) that work together in a bizarre performance art / guerilla marketing campaign.

Since 1938 REI has been anything but a typical retail store. Started by a group of 23 mountaineers REI has always been driven by an exciting hands-on atmosphere and welcome outdoor enthusiasts of every level. Their 78 stores across the nation are best known as "adventure sights," equipped with facilities like bike test trails, climbing pinnacles and camp stove demonstration tables. When you walk into an REI store, it's evident that you've come to the right place if you're looking for an education about your particular fancy. REI offers first-time customers the opportunity to become a part of the REI organization by becoming a "Cooperative Member" for a small fee of $15. Not only does being a co-op member mean getting special deals and refunds on certain products, but you also receive a portion of the cooperative's profits each year. In addition, members can vote for REI's board of directors, something that really makes customers feel involved. REI's business is getting personal with their entire customer base, having built the largest consumer cooperative in their field. Founded by people who actually use the stuff they sell, REI continues to offer incentives for their employees by letting them take their equipment out of the store and into the realm of real life use. With a staff fully invested in their product, REI provides the exciting atmosphere necessary to succeed in the world of retail.

In addition to the experience-oriented store adventure, REI recognizes the importance of community involvement in outdoor activities, and sees the physical and emotional benefit in encouraging active lives. From frequent in-store clinics to REI sponsored events with local outdoor organizations, REI strives to teach both the young and old about outdoor adventures. According to a recent Leisure Trends Group national survey, taking an adventure vacation topped the list of things sought most by Americans if money was no object. Survey respondents chose adventure travel among several other popular leisure-time activities, including a beach and mountain vacation. (Source: LeisureTRAK® Report, vol. 4, iss. 3, September 2005.) "REI Adventures" has been meeting this increasing need offering small group tours which avoid standard tourist routes and emphasize outdoor activity. They include packages such as: Tour du Mont Blanc in France, Italy, and Switzerland; Tuscan Hiking in Italy; The Inca Trail in Peru; Classic Antarctica; and much more.

Finally, REI exemplifies a commitment to community and the environment by emphasizing by offering grants to employee-sponsored programs. Store employees at REI personally handed checks and gear in June and July of 2005 to 160 conservation groups and outdoor recreation clubs nationwide. The grants, which range from $2,000 to $10,000, go to organizations nominated by employees, with a total awarded amount of $780,000. In 2005, REI gave over $2.5 million back to the communities, helping with an assortment of projects from trail building to river conservation and wild land awareness. Each store promotes a local environmental project that's focused on preserving the ecosystem within that community. Youth are also involved through REI's PEAK program (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids), a program that develops outdoor ethics through fun, interactive programs. REI is one of our favorite examples of a meaningful company thanks to their promotion of a healthier life and more meaningful shopping.

Kip Tindell, Garrett Boone, and John Mullen opened The Container Store in 1978 with the sole purpose of helping people simplify their lives. The Container Store was the first in the now booming retail category of storage and organization. Tindell, Boone, and Mullen took their start up investment of $35,000.00 and purchased some unlikely inventory. In 1978, most of the products The Container Store sold came from commercial or industrial manufacturers, and had never been sold in a retail environment. Their venture was so successful that within the first year, their store outgrew its space. Today the average Container Store is around 25,000 square feet, and includes thousands of products and ideas geared towards making your life easier. The Container Store splits departments into "lifestyle sections" such as Closet, Kitchen, Office, and Laundry in an effort to keep customers from getting frustrated. And no matter where you are in the store, there's always a Container Store employee (look for a blue apron) waiting to help.

Tindell and Boone see growth and success as being the "natural and inevitable result" of good (and by good we mean thoughtful, kind, and smart) business. It's important to them that they stay actively involved with their stores, and can often be found in the aisles visiting with customers and employees alike. Their commitment to Container Store employees has placed them on FORTUNE magazine's annual list of "100 Best Companies To Work For" seven years in a row. Employees are heralded as being the Container Store's most valued asset, and they get lots of extra benefits like above the norm wages, flexible "mom and dad" shifts, and great benefits.

The Container Store is one of those great companies that loves what they do. Their dedication to their original mission is one that has ensured success for almost 30 years. The Container Store is a great example of a business that does the right thing, and is rewarded because of it. Their pledge to their employees creates the atmosphere that they're so well known for, without this they might just be another storage/organization retailer.

Lane Bryant believes that every woman deserves to look great and feel good about herself, regardless of if she's a size 4 or 24, and is striving to meet the needs of plus size women who have long been ignored clothing designers. One of the most recognized names in plus size clothing, Lane Bryant makes clothes that emphasize fashion instead of size alone. With more than 700 stores in malls across the country, Lane Bryant is proving to be a perfect fit for plus size women age 25 to 50.

The ladies who shop at Lane Bryant have plenty of fashion sense and self-confidence. These are women who know that big is beautiful, and that there's no reason for them to be ignored by the fashion industry. At Lane Bryant you'll find current styles, beautiful patterns, and luxurious fabrics just like you would at any other trend setting clothing store. For the last 11 years Lane Bryant has been dedicated to helping plus size women feel good about themselves.

With stores nationwide and more than 7 million well-dressed customers, Lane Bryant has earned a strong brand loyalty. Constantly changing styles and a trendy focus keep this vivacious store neck in neck with other top fashion retailers, and keep beautiful women everywhere coming back for more.

Lululemon Athletica is as dedicated to the minds of their customers as much as they are to the bodies they clothe. This Vancouver active wear company is deeply tied to the Hindu discipline of clearing the mind to help relax the body, a practice that's particularly helpful when engaging in strenuous physical activities like running and mountain climbing. Lululemon's connection to yoga can be seen throughout their company, in addition to selling yoga clothes they also cover the cost for employees to take yoga, and even offer their own classes out of the Lululemon headquarters. It seems that the yoga craze is going strong at Lululemon, and employees are excited about the mental and physical benefits of this ancient activity. Lululemon has more than 30 retail locations in Canada, Australia, the U.S., and Japan. And while in each store you might find the same clothing line, you're sure to have a uniqe customer experience wherever you go. Lululemon employees (known as 'educators') are encouraged to emphasize the unique aspects of their store as it relates to each of the customers they serve.

Maintaining a close relationship to customers is key at Lululemon, and to ensure that their company is on point with what the customers want, executives work on retail sales floors one day every week. Lululemon also works to make sure that their products are appropriately designed, and offer discounts to yoga instructors and personal trainers who act as research and development consultants. Their constant effort to receive accurate, first hand information from customers is just one of the aspects that sets them apart from the rest of the athletic wear industry.

Another part of Lululemons massive success comes from the fact that they know that they're selling more than clothes. They're selling a sensibility, a value system, and a lifestyle through an innovative brand that practices what it preaches. Lululemon is aware that differentiating themselves from competitors is a crucial part of long-term success, and they capitalize on the fact that they make clothes for "low impact activity" that generates total wellness, as opposed to making clothes for singlular sports like basketball or football. Lululemon believes that good things happen to good people, and is happy to put the needs of their customers and communities before their profits. This is a company that thrives on education, awareness, and respect; three elements that create a lasting trust for their brand.

Bicycle messengers are some of the most courageous, and punctual, urban dwellers of our time. Their hectic (and sometimes dangerous) job relies on quality products that just don't quit, like Timbuk2 bags. These bags have been known to last for a decade or more and often outlive jobs, personal relationships, and even pets.” This dedication to indestructibility is just one of the reasons that Timbuk2 has been so successful. Their attention to quality coupled with their trendy designs helped them break out of the bike messenger world and into mainstream society.
Timbuk2 has an incredibly loyal customer base, who sees their products as being more than bags, and more that a brand; "Timbuk2 is a bond." Timbuk2 started in San Francisco in 1989, and has evolved from a bike messenger must-have into a stylish alternative to traditional backpacks and briefcases. But Timbuk2 isn't letting their success go to their heads. They remain faithful to their "working class urban roots," while at the same time expanding city-bred sensibilities to a broader range of products and a wider audience. Although they've added a barrage of styles, colors, and patterns to their bags they continue to put the utmost emphasis on creating tough bags that can last for years.

Their Artists Canvas Bags are one of the more innovative bag ideas we've seen recently. These bags are the same as other Timbuk2 Messenger Bags, except that the center panel is untreated canvas. This means that owners can paint, embroider, and draw to their hearts content and have a totally unique, one of a kind bag. Their online artist gallery shows bags from San Fransico to Tokyo, with contributors raging from well-known fine artists to high school students.
This once functionally oriented, industrially intended bag company has created a sense of urban living. They've defined a population through a product that speaks directly to their customer's values. They know that busy people just want dependable stuff that gets the job done. And that's exactly what they do. Timbuk2 has the unique ability to define a lifestyle using nylon and zippers, they've taken the urban mantra.

Unlike other creatures, Minnesotans don't hibernate during the harsh winter months. While they don't sleep the months away, they do require an extra hardy dose of energy (oftentimes found in a blissful night of sound sleep) to brave the adverse conditions presented on a daily basis. Maybe this is why Select Comfort was founded in Minneapolis. While the company had a humble Midwest beginning, it now boasts net sales of $558 million annually, and has 32 U.S.-issued or pending patents. Sleep Number beds are innovative in the sense that they enable couples with very different needs to find a middle ground, without requesting either partner to compromise. Their strategy of making beds that work for each individual can be seen in their commercials that feature two sleeping partners with different needs (a husband and wife, a man and a dog, you get the idea). They also offer several different Sleep Number models to suit a variety of lifestyles and budgets. Select Comfort currently has five different traditional Sleep Number beds, with a variety of pillow top thickness and sizes (including standard Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Expanded Queen, King, California King and Grand King). If your needs are a little more specialized, Select Comfort also has beds that can fit in an RV, or that can adjust at the head and feet (tilt adjust), they also make a sofa bed mattress for those of you who want your house guests to experience only the best. True, these dreamy concoctions are a bit more spendy than traditional spring mattresses, but isn't a good night's sleep worth it? A lot of people think so. Select Comfort stores keep popping up, offering sweet dreams and peaceful mornings to all who dare enter. In addition to the peace of mind you'll find from a good nights sleep, you might also rest better knowing that Sleep Number beds are the official beds of Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide. Select Comfort offers a much-needed rest to weary families by donating more than 3,000 beds to 150 Ronald McDonald Houses since 2001.

It's common knowledge that large populations in limited spaces require efficient planning in housing and resource allocation in order to maintain a high quality of life. Green Fusion Design Center in San Anselmo, California has based their mission on just that; creating spaces that work with high volumes of people and just a little bit of the environment. If heading to GFDC for your next home repair or remodeling project, expect to find "a unique retail store, gallery and education center" all rolled into one. While buying organic or "green" products can cost more upfront (compare a $79 price tag for a gallon of organic paint, versus a $17 gallon for latex), the payoff down the road, for your pocketbook and the environment, is worth it. In addition, sustainable products are becoming more durable, less costly, and easier to find as the Green Trend continues to grow. GFDC's sales alone have doubled since last year, with more success equaling more accessibility for people, their homes, and the environment. So if you're sick of the "everything is disposable" attitude, check out GFDC, they^'ll help you build a lifestyle you can be proud of.

Woolworths has turned grocery and fashion retail into a sophisticated shopping experience that wows shoppers with their attention to quality and goods that tickle the senses. Woolworths is a South African retail chain that has built its brand around a mouthwatering, eye goggling shopping experience that provides the freshest foodstuffs for shoppers. They originally developed their concept around offering tantalizing food in a carefully enforced quality control process. This means that you can get the best food and know that it's been carefully checked and packaged to ensure quality. They've also carefully designed their stores to be attractive, elegant, and super clean. Perishable items stay on the shelf for no longer than two days, and staff can take home anything that passes this period. Why is this important? Because we've all been to dirty, cluttered grocery stores, where items are just piled on top of each other with no care for damaging the food. These are the places where we find off color meat in the deli, and sad, limp vegetables and fruit in the produce section. There's nothing more off putting than getting home and finding out that your groceries are bad. Instead, with Woolworths you get peace of mind knowing that everything is in the best condition, and of the highest quality. Ask any South African where you should go to get groceries, and they'll tell you Woolworths. And even though they're the most expensive grocery store in South Africa, at peak hours the stores are packed and they can't open new stores fast enough. Their biggest growth is in South Africa's quickly expanding black middle class.

Shopping at Woolworths is an amazing experience. Everything is carefully laid out and the food looks heavenly. They also prepare baked goods, and delectable meals for rushed families. The smell is so tempting that it's almost impossible not to pick something up. They have a strong health focus, and have strengthened their brand by providing healthy, organic solutions, for concerned, busy moms. They also train their staff to be friendly and helpful, and the cashiers have even been trained to greet you by name.

Woolworths is experiencing phenomenal growth, and has expanded their offering into clothing and furniture, where they have been offering the same high quality shopping experience. What's most commendable about their business is their focus on providing opportunities for black employees from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. These employees are provided with management training and opportunities, and are given the resources needed to study at local universities. The quality of their employees has only helped to build the shopping experience due to their youthful, bright, friendly, and engaging attitudes.

Woolworths is a diamond in the retail rough, showing that customers are looking for more than cheap products, but want peace of mind, a great shopping experience, and good food to boot.

Surely Tiffany's is one of the biggest names in the jewelry business. This high profile jeweler boasts a rich history of extraordinary jewels sold to an extraordinary list of clientele. In order to maintain this clear-cut image, Tiffany's has had to recently spend a lot of time and money insuring their future. In the late 90's, world-wide concern about conflict diamonds and the destruction they reap (including funding armed conflicts in places like Angola and Sierra Leone) put deserved pressure on diamond companies. While Tiffany's never knowingly sold these conflict diamonds, they were now thrown into the hot seat of the debate, and they needed to show their commitment to ethical business practices. Tiffany & Co. has been working to be conflict free ever since. They helped set up a system followed by both trading countries and jewelers to make sure that the legitimacy of the diamond industry was protected. In April, Global Witness applauded Tiffany's for having the best policy against illegally mined diamonds. Tiffany's is now relying more on diamond mines in Canada, a recent and untapped source of high quality stones, to help keep their business safe. While contracting with Canada will cost Tiffany's more in mining wages, the price is worth it to consumers who don't want to feel like their most precious stones come at the cost of blood.

Skip Hop is an on trend company in New York City that's dedicated to designing fashion worthy products for new parents. Skip Hop is 100% devoted to meeting the challenges that hip young parents have when getting used to their new lives. Basically they take all the things parents with babies need like diaper bags, a place to change diapers, and bottle holders, and turn them into something that not only works, but that looks cool too. All of this innovation results in essential goods that people really want to use, and that makes their lives easier. It all started six years ago when Ellen and Michael Diamant had their first baby. After endless searching, they still hadn't come across a well-designed diaper bag that was affordable – so they decided to make their own. Luckily, Ellen is an award-winning designer and was able to come up with the first Skip Hop diaper bag that included a unique strap system that made it easy to attach to the handlebars of any stroller out there. This unisex (that's right dad – you can use it too) bag, known as the Duo diaper bag was an instant hit. From there, the Dash and Expo bags made it to the market and added to their ever-growing family tree.

The Duo diaper bag is a messenger style bag that's designed with both mom and dad's needs in mind. The Duo bag is available in a wide variety of colors and fabrics, boasts numerous compartments, and features the super cool strap system Skip Hop has become so well known for. Then there's the Expo bag that's been heralded by many for its versatility. It has an expanding zipper compartment that grows with your needs, becoming slim and sleek for less arduous travels, and larger for long days out. Or check out the Dash bag that offers urban styling and innovative features. The Dash bag has 10 pockets that offer room for the baby's needs in addition to a private zipper compartment to keep mom and dad's stuff safe and dry. If none of these options sound right, there's always the Pronto – a portable diapering essentials kit that can help keep your baby clean, dry, and most importantly happy.

The Pronto is designed to be dropped into any bag, strapped on to a wrist, or clipped on a stroller. This extra wide changing station wipes clean, and is cushioned at the head with a "pronto pillow." Included in the Pronto is also a translucent wipes case, mesh pocket for holding diapers, and additional front zipper pockets for personal goods.

Skip Hop is proving that new parents can still be hip and stylish - a theory that has previously been regarded as completely untrue. By putting affordable, desirable products into the mainstream, Skip Hop is changing new parent stereotypes one stroller at a time.