Trend Spotlight: Parisienne
Trés Chic | Lavish | Sumptuous
Like turn-of-the-century Paris nestled in the Arts district, the Parisienne trend is drenched with glamour and detail. Anchored by nouveau styling like the Mirabella tufted chaise trimmed in gold velvet and classic marble top gallery tables, this trend lends a feminine mystery to every room. Bring the boudoir to the living room with rich details including glass mosaic photo frames and boxes reincarnated from glass bangles. There are winks at women’s fashion in the embellishments including corset-like ribbon lacing on pillows and antiqued printed wall art. Add an air of sophisticated romance with bold jewel tones and Parisienne trend accessories.
Here’s a selction of products from the Parisienne trend. You can view the complete trend by logging in to our Online Catalog.
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Everything Nautical
The right now retail trend in home accessories is everything nautical. I am seeing tons of retail dollars going toward sail cloth inspired bedding, clean bright colored paint and shiny nautical inspired lighting.
Some are a literal translation with everything from artwork to window treatments involving sails and flags, such as the huge full color spread in this month’s Elle Décor. Other interior publications have evolved the trend to include mid-century inspired pieces and found objects with driftwood sculptures, canvas slip-covered furniture and wood louvered shudders, like in this month’s issue of Veranda. No matter how you interpret the trend, it is a spot-on, can’t miss classic direction to go for yourself, your business or your client. The clean lines and minimal color stories are pleasing to virtually every eye.
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The Relationship of Fashion and Interiors
The relationship of fashion and interiors has long been a courtship made in heaven. Dating back to the 1800’s, as ladies’ fashion became more elaborate with side bustling and cages, chairs lost their arms to allow us to actually sit.
Of course, these days the congruency of fashion and interiors has less to do with practicality and more to do with aesthetics. As all of us in the interior and home accessory business scramble to find our proverbial crystal ball and put our psychics to work on predicting and forecasting what will be hot for the next three seasons, it should be noted that virtually all of those decisions might have already been made by a select few on Fashion Avenue in New York.
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One Day Merchandising Makeovers
Does your store need a face lift but you don’t have the budget? No problem. With a few quick solutions, you can transform your store environment from shabby to chic in just one day.
There are ten key elements to consider when doing a one day makeover.
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Why is Retail Merchandising Important?
Recently, I was told that merchandising and display are frivolous extra expenses for the small business owner who is just starting up. The implication was that expenses such as marketing, rent, inventory, utilities, staffing, etc. are ‘serious’ expenses, while merchandising and display are ‘frills’.
I couldn’t disagree more. Merchandising and display are an important part of the marketing plan, and should have a reasonable budget allocated – even for a retailer operating on a shoestring.
In today’s competitive retail environment a retailer cannot afford to consider merchandising as a ‘frill’. Everyone is competing for the customers’ dollar. There are more choices out there for consumers than ever before.
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Successful Displays
The five most important design tools to get people to stop and really look are: color, angles, movement, simplicity and/or repetition and imagination. Use a combination of any two of these and you will have a successful window or interior display.
1. Color is the first element that attracts attention in a store window.The strongest color combinations are black and white with a bright accent, or a monochromatic colorstatement. It is also effective to combine a neutralwith one or two bright colors. All white or all blackwith an accent color is strong as long as the wall or background color is in contrast. If your merchandise is mainly neutral or subdued tones,try using bright backgrounds, props or accessories.
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The Changing Face of Gift
No single word in our industry has changed its definition so much as ‘Gift’ as consumers and retailers alike blur the line between home décor and gifts.
Still a healthy part of the business, The Hallmark store once almost defined the gift shop concept. Now, nearly every kind of store you can name has some sort of gift mix and much of it is home-oriented. Whether a photo frame or a vase, a candlestick or a tray, these items are purchased as gifts as often as they are for the shopper’s own home.
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Dealing With Ceilings
Everyone always talks about the hot zone – the area that sells the most in a gift and accessories store. Between 4′ and 6′ from the floor is eye level for most. Few people have to bend and only a few more have to stretch to comfortably shop within the hot zone. But, what happens above that zone? What if you have really high ceilings or, worse yet, low ones? How do you make your store work with less than ideal ceiling heights?
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Create Retail Displays That Attract Customers
Retail is a competitive business. Even if your product is completely unique, you still have competition. There is always another store down the street - or in the next cyber-mall - that is aiming for your customers’ wallet. Customers have a limited amount of disposable income, but their choices of where to spend it are infinite.
While there are many aspects involved in marketing and gaining customer loyalty, one of the most important is your visual presentation.
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Las Vegas Showroom Prep Videos
Our Merchandising team worked extremely hard to prep the Las Vegas showroom for last week’s market. We received great feedback from customers and I’m excited about starting prep for next month’s High Point market.
I’ve posted Las Vegas before and after videos below.
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