Sunday, April 17, 2011
Justification?
However, as of late, all the old ghosts have come back to haunt me. I have thought, and think even more so now, that encouraging folk to buy things they don't really want or need is wrong. Over consumption will be our undoing and I've for a long time disdained marketing and advertising, retail display is merely part of that process and I've run out of ways to justify it otherwise. (My re-entry to retail was as a buyer, and I foolishly thought I could do some good, encourage a bit of enterprise, or something. It was also interesting. ) At some stage I'll take the gap and abandon it, for good this time - well as far as retail goes, anyway. It is, however, the trade I've worked in for over 30 years and will be hard to not utilise skills learned in other projects - one I remember fondly from a year or so ago was for a museum exhibit.
I think, for fun, I'll keep this blog going though and perhaps use it to show the excesses we go to to sell some piece of tat, some piece of glittery gadgetry with its built in obsolescence, some ridiculous fashion statement tacked together to last a season - barely. Perhaps I'll try shine some light on the opposites of that as well.
Goodnight.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Made in South Africa
I’ve spent the last week slogging it out at my place of permanent employ getting our new venture off the ground and open. The store was finally handed over to us on Tuesday and with a supreme load of effort from all concerned we managed to open for Saturday morning trade.
The idea behind ‘Made in South Africa’ is to feature and encourage local talent to go a bit beyond the craft stage in the production of goods.
The store can be found at the International Departures section of Oliver Tambo Airport on the landside – so locals can shop there as well.
Featuring housewares, clothing, costume jewellery and home decor items from all over South Africa.
A few more Truworth pics
As promised, last blog, I nipped past Eastgate to get a bigger perspective on Truworth's winter window presentations, there being more window frontage here than at Cresta.
A better shot of the whole panel than the Cresta pic due to the fact that at Cresta I had the Saturday morning shopping swarm to contend with but at Eastgate it was first thing in the morning.
Another window, what strikes me is better mannequin placement than I've seen for a while at Truworths.
I also had the opportunity to snap some of Truworth's speciality line windows:
Inwear
Those pod people again at
LTD.
In fact, the more I look at the mannequin’s expressions, the more I understand Donald Sutherland’s concern…
Daniel Hechter
A bit severe, methinks, icy metallic, er, faceless?
Truworth’s Man
Oddly enough , I didn’t get what was going on here till I saw the photo, I didn’t see the optical illusion thing with my own two eyes.
At least the speedbumps have gone…
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Into the new season
Truworths
And would you believe it, I like it. Not in yer face, but subtle, seasonal colours and textures, nicely (in my mind) transforming the window from a blank shoebox shape into something with corners and depth. A city scape feel with clever lighting tricks, I'll nip into Eastgate this week to check those windows out (bigger, more room to play.)
A quick glance at the window shows no sign of facehugger activity from the open pod, though the mannequin at the right looks a bit apprehensive...
No, yes, I realise they are flower pods and I think that they're actually quite good - I have an overactive imagination - and look at that lighting effect (sorry I likes a good lighting effect)..
I like it, initially, but I wonder if it's somehow the finished thing I'm looking at. Further delving is required, there's almost too much prop.
Valentines Day
Nope,I shall not post any pictures here about this overblown, guts ripped out of it, money grubbing charade this particular promotional activity has descended into.
For a comprehensive review/crit of participants I recommend Ingrid's page.
For a once pagan holiday based around wolves and hunting and stuff, bleugh. The constant "If you 'love' someone spend oodles and oodles on a pile of utter kitsch" really gets my anti-retail muscle twitching...
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sale Time
By now your customer should have an idea of the kind of merchandise that you have and what to expect.If your image looks professional and crisp then the expectation that a good bargain is to be had will be maintained.
Yah, I couldn't resist, (Truworth bashing again?) It was first thing in the morning and the signage had fallen down overnight, revealing a rather bemused looking mannequin to the early morning mallers seeking that pre working/shopping day caffeinated rush. I do like the idea of the model clad in sale-wrap - effective, to the point and with a touch of humour.
Sale Time
By now your customer should have an idea of the kind of merchandise that you have and what to expect.If your image looks professional and crisp then the expectation that a good bargain is to be had will be maintained.
Yah, I couldn't resist, (Truworth bashing again?) It was first thing in the morning and the signage had fallen down overnight, revealing a rather bemused looking mannequin to the early morning mallers seeking that pre working/shopping day caffeinated rush. I do like the idea of the model clad in sale-wrap - effective, to the point and with a touch of humour.