NEW PRICING ?

This is a new one - Connor menswear store, East Gardens and Broadway.  Unsure how customers would interpret this ......

IN THE CLOUDS

Kikki.k Broadway - new windows - look colourful, and reflect changing seasons.  Easy on the eye, but with some impact.

DUSK TO DAWN ?

Very tidy looking dusk store in great location, Chermside, Brisbane.  However, many of the dusk stores I have seen have had no customers despite mall traffic conditions - which raises some questions in the current trading environment - will the dusk chain see the dawn of the retail revival ?

SMIGGLE'S YUMMY MUMMIES

Smiggle's Chermside store - focused on Yummy Mummies for Mother's Day - very targeted and focused.

CAN HARRIS SCARFE SURVIVE ?

Can the Harris Scarfe business survive ? As these pictures from their Chermside store demonstrate, their latest catalogue (just out) is showing discounts across the board:  30% - 60% off all homewares and manchester, 20% - 40% (effectively 30% on the core ranges) off all womenswear, menswear, sleepwear and footwear - which account for large proportions of sales, stock and floor space.  They are effectively in 'sale' mode in early May (usually June for the department store sector).

As is evident, the store, trading off expensive mall space, is cluttered, and has poor in-store signage and branding. Customer service is non-existent.  The chain's competitors - Target, especially - all leave it standing.  One wonders if this chain will survive.....

EVERY WOMAN'S MAY

Borders book store, Chermside, take on Mother's Day reflects the diverse nature of its customer base including single women, while simulatneously celebrating what it is to be a woman.  Very clever.

 

SPACE THAT SELLS

JB Hi-Fi store in Chermside Brisbane - many JB stores are pretty cramped and jam-packed with product.  This store, however, is more spacious without feeling empty, and I believe should translate into longer browsing times and more sales.  

TREE OF LIFE

Very colourful and attractive store, Chermside, Brisbane.

NOT SO SPECIAL ?

30% off everything in store ?  The Specialty Fashion Group's biggest chains are Katies and Miller's Fashion Club.  It is evident that Katies is experiencing pain (refer previous post:  http://shoppologist.blogspot.com/2009/05/katies-hurting.html).  It appears that now Millers is having similar trouble. Apparel retailers - especially those in malls - simply cannot sustain storewide markdowns of 30% for an extended period.  The prognosis does not look that good for this large retailer. (Chermside, Brisbane)

ICE COLD

New product arrivals are fundamental to engaging customers' interest and yet sometimes retailers don't consider how to present new product in an interesting way.  This store, Ice in Chermside,  has done a particuarly poor job of displaying its new arrivals - see if you can spot the sign (clue: look for yellow), its' very small and tucked away.  In addition, the new product simply looks limp on the rack, and really needed to be displayed some other  way.  Even the mannequin looks tired and disinterested. Perhaps heading straight for the markdown rack ?

ONE FOR THE BOYS

Good use of plasma screen to add interest to Myer menswear department - perhaps a bit tucked away ?  Chermside, Brisbane.

POOR LIGHTING KILLS INTEREST

Have a look at this Games Workshop store, Chermside mall, Brisbane. The product is quite interesting, but the lighting levels are so consistently poor (less than 400 lux ?) that the store looks dowdy and shabby. Customers need to be really committed to stick it out in this environment.  Not to mention the high cost of occupancy in one of Australia's busiest malls. Admittedly the customer profile is predominantly male, but even blokes like to see what they are buying.....

HOW MANY TAKERS ?

Sometimes retailers do all the right things but consumers just don't take the bait.  This is Angus & Robertson in Chermside mall.  The table is laid out with specials for Mother's Day - displays look great and the store's presentation standards are very high.  Have a look at the video clip, taken Wednesday lunch time - lots of customers in the mall, but how many takers ?  Tough times. Perhaps not aggressive enough ?

MUM'S THE WORD

These retailers seem to have forgotten what Mother's day (this Sunday in Australia) is all about - or perhaps they know something about their target market that we don't.  The City Beach chain (top pic) sells surf and skatewear - and has a very young and mostly male profile.  The second  retailer, Fellas, sells mainly to Fellas and has very little merchandise that would appeal to Mums.  A waste of marketing spend ? or an opportunity to take a  different twist on it like Diva below. (See: http://shoppologist.blogspot.com/2009/05/diva-does-windows.html)Chermside, Brisbane.

T FOR 2

Great T2 teashop Chermside mall Brisbane.  Good use of colour, clever brand identity, ambient, experiential lighting.  Taps into growing demand for tea - see entry below. (see http://shoppologist.blogspot.com/2009/04/price-of-tea-in-china.html)

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Specialty shops close to go online Paddington Brisbane.  Likely to be widespread as retailers sturggle with declining sales.  On this trip alone (usually fully tenanted), there about 5-6 vacancies. 

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

Baci Paddington Brisbane stylish cafe and book concept.    Interesting 'booth' seating gives intimacy, and adds to retail theatre.  Relatively busy compared to rest of strip (Wed lunch time).  It would be interesting to know what book sales are like.  I suspect the store is cafe first, and the book sales a distant second.  The range of stock was relatively niche, arty, definitely not mass appeal, which probably suits the Paddington target market.   Some serious competition up the road at Mary Ryan.  Overall, a good effort, and worth a visit.

DIVA DOES WINDOWS

A couple of Diva stores have recently started using their windows to more aggressively position their brand.  This one, in Redbank Plaza, Qld, shows a certain attitude about Mothers' Day - a unique take that fits with the brand 'voice'.  The style of this poster does seem to be a knock-off of some work I saw at Stewart Dawson's (jeweller) in New Zealand a couple of years back. Imitation is the best form of flattery and all that.

REFERRALS UPFRONT

Angus & Robertson, Redbank Plaza, Qld.  Good use of the table out front with staff recommendations and referrals for Mothers' Day gifts. On-brand and timely, and a good way to chase full margin sales.

STRIKE THREE STRIPES

Adidas store in Queen St mall,  Brisbane - very striking.  However, the cost of delivering this impact is a store which is very dark due to the black, and lacks presentation flexibility.  More recent iterations of the Adidas stores do, however, show a return to the blue Adidas moniker, with much more even and flexible lighting.