Diane Von Furstenberg, London

We're not massive fans of what this brand do here in London but as there is virtually nothing left to show you that is happening right now around town (unless you know otherwise?) therefore our hand is slightly forced.  So here you have it.

On the Streets, London

Well, we have to admit that there is so little happening 'out there' visually that we are only able to show you some bits and pieces on the high street around us.  As usual large format graphics are as big as the buildings themselves which actually compared to other cities is not very big at all. Anyway, this is all we have for you today unless you have something you wish to share?

London Telephone Boxes, London

Those of us in London right now cant help but notice these old style telephone boxes doted around the city; 100 in total (interestingly designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed another iconic London landmark that is now the Tate Modern).  Anyway, in celebration of 25 years of Childline various artists and designers have contributed to these incredibly missed boxes that were part of  London streets for so long (although there are still a few around Parliment Square which always have tourists hanging off the doors) and will be auctioned off to raise money for Childline.  A very worthy cause indeed and great to see these much loved telephone boxes once again.

Ralph Lauren, London

We are really struggling to find new and innovative schemes around town right now as everyone seems to have plunged very quickly into Sale.  Fortunately however, Ralph Lauren have just recently implemented their latest scheme which is definitely a breath of fresh air.  How fabulously architectural does this look?  We absolutely love what these guys are doing right now and couldn't wait to show you this scheme.

Guest Post from Michael Koploy: 5 iPad Checkout Tips Retailers Need to Hear

In a 2012 RIS News report, research found that 28% of retailers are in the process of testing tablets in their stores, and an additional 31% said that they would testing tablets this year.

Michael Koploy, ERP Analyst at http://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/ spoke with three retailers that have recently deployed point of sale (POS) solutions on the Apple iPad. They had five suggestions for retailers about to make the same investment:

1. Make a one-for-one exchange of cash registers for iPads. Because of the ease of deployment and access to extra iPads, retailers should only purchase as few tablets as they need. If retailers end up needing more tablets for the point of sale or would like additional tablets, they can easily purchase them online or at most local electronics stores.

2. Invest in Internet and wireless router upgrades. Because these tablets rely on an accurate WiFi connection, retailers should invest in an upgraded bandwidth package from a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP). In addition, retailers should upgrade their wireless router so that the connection can meet Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards and is WPA/WPA2 encrypted.

3. Ask for assistance from resellers and mobile device management experts. These solutions are often very easy to deploy, but it is worthwhile to conduct product resellers to assist with setup and deployment when the time comes. Additionally, if retailers have multiple locations and need to connect/lock-down devices and their data, mobile device management (MDM) firms can be a big help.

4. Use the iPad to improve the customer experience. With a mobile POS solution, retailers can better service customers within the store aisles or eliminate checkout lines entirely. This provides ample up selling and cross-selling opportunity, as the negation of the physical point of purchase reduces the chance that the customer is emotionally “done” shopping.

5. Involve the customer at checkout. The retailers also suggested that others involve the customer at checkout to have customers share the experience with the iPad. One retailer noted that she commonly has customers sign and complete the transaction themselves. After the purchase is complete, customers were asked if they would like to take a picture using the iPad’s camera and share the picture on the customer’s social media channels.

For more tips from retailers, check out: 5 iPad POS Tips For Retailers, From Retailers.

Hackett, London

Oh those boys at Hackett have done it again.  Whether you are a fan of Hitchcock or not, you cant help but love what these guys have produced.  If you are familiar with the 1946 film Notorious which starred Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains; a story of the intertwining of three people's lives during an espionage operation then you will immediately recognise the narrative here.  What our images don't capture is the key which is suspended through the key hole (above) which of course was the iconic symbol for this particular film.  Anyway, while everyone is currently in Sale and we are struggling to find much else interesting, this scheme is certainly the highlight on Regent st. right now so thank goodness for this brand's efforts.

Zara, London

We adore the current scheme at Zara right now at their Bond St. store.  Its such a pleasure to see global brands going 'local' and supporting this creativity.  Mannequins sporting part 'hair' and part 'hundreds and thousands' (or sprinkles if you're reading stateside) and bowler style hats fashioned also from synthetic 'hair' styled to perfection.  Thanks guys at Zara; a great pleasure to view.

Puma, London

With a sea of Red placed everywhere around town right now it was refreshing to see something Red that isn't Sale.  OK, well, Puma are in Sale but look at the fascia here.  Using images of the old iconic London Red Telephone box in a repetition format, parts of the telephone boxes are in relief.  It really is great to see brands coming out of their window spaces and doing something albeit on a very small scale that we are so used to seeing in NYC and to a certain extent in Paris.

 

Accessorize, London

We are just about managing to squeeze out a little bit of Sunshine here in London in between the miserable rain showers, however, in the meantime these giant / out sized lollipops at Accessorize brought a huge smile to our faces.  Normally this brand have product stacked to the rafters so this is quite a refreshing change and as the stores are never large and therefore neither are the window spaces, the schemes are normally composed of something in cardboard technology.  While this is not necessarily a bad strategy, viewing these props is a very refreshing change

Fenwicks, London

We've been waiting for the new Victoria's Secret store to open along Bond street just to see what they will do with the old Pringle site.  We're sure it will be quite spectacular.  In the meantime, opposite Fenwicks drew us in; not because of the scheme - they don't do anything sadly - but the merchandise is quite incredible indeed.  Giant fruit and out sized exotic flowers are just some of the spectacle to be seen here.  For a series of windows that have no scheme, this proved to be quite a draw......well until Victoria's Secret opens opposite and then we'll just keep passing Fenwicks until they do something interesting again.

Selfridges, London

Wow, have been up to the new roof experience at Selfridges yet?  Crazy golf on the roof......bonkers..!   The roof top, Big top, afternoon tea party with London landmarks; the Gherkin, Tower Bridge and of course Big Ben in pastel hue's really do make this an incredibly fun scheme.  If you want to stay a little longer and have lunch, the food here is just incredible too.

Esprit, London

Well Hello Esprit..!  Have you seen the incredible new look store recently?  We've only just noticed that they have re-opened as we weren't included by their PR dept. announcing the re-opening; but that's another story.  In the meantime we are rather wowed with their first scheme here at their Regent street store and what a transformation.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that the schemes at this brand will continue to entertain us and draw us in, but in the meantime, fantastic.

Topshop, London

This scheme at Topshop's flagship store in Oxford Circus nearly escaped our VM radar and we probably just managed to capture this in time.  Everyone has suddenly jumped into Sale, right after the Jubilee week and we guess cashing in before the next launch; the Olympics.  This period is a little like that post Christmas but Pre-New Year feel about it, but anyway, the international flags are up on Regent st. with promotions galore gathering at a furious pace.

Cos, London

The schemes at Cos just get better and better, don't you think?  For such a big brand we love that they are tapping into references to the Bauhaus Exhibition at the Barbican in their recent installation.  This is an interesting move toward localised creativity and delivering to a local  market (OK, well this store is on Regent st. and so the market is, we guess, the tourist one) however as we become more and more visually fatigued looking at the same schemes at the same brands in countless cities across the world, surly this can only be a good thing?

Loft, London

Unfortunately we don't know anything about 'Loft' on Great Dover street, but we were drawn in to take a closer look by the Meccano Eiffel tower in the window.  The overall scheme is not the most inspiring but we do like this bit.

Asprey, London

We saw the guys (well the company they employed) installing this concept and we are loving this scheme.  This scheme crosses the boundaries between the Jubilee and beyond with references to royalty through the colour being projected and yet being generic enough to give this scheme longevity.  Now that's clever and we do like this thinking.

Tiffany, London

We're not entirely sure what to make of the new scheme at Tiffany right now.  Its not that we don't like it (and does that matter anyway?....no not at all).  However, what we do have is a very abstract concept in very reflective materials; actually a very architectural-looking scheme.  In fact it was very difficult not to capture ourselves in the reflection of this installation with its highly glossy and reflective surfaces.  We are guessing that this has gone global so it would be interesting to hear what you guys 'out there', 'elsewhere' or at least 'somewhere' think also?

Diesel, London

Further to the 'shanty' trend happening around town right now, we've recently spotted this great scheme at Diesel.  A little reminiscent of Amy Winehouse tattoos we thought and we rather like this look.  We were never huge fans of Winehouse ourselves however and actually left one of her first concerts in 2004 after just one song as it was so dreadful and never really understood the attraction to her music, however the scheme here just looks so good and we love it.

 

Smythson, London

The guys at Smythson are getting it all so right, right now.  We are quite critical of this brand as  we have seen some dreadful schemes, particularly for a brand that sells very expensive, and we are sure worth every penny, merchandise.  But, to entice us in?  Well, it really wasn't happening.  However, someone here has clearly now got their finger on the pulse and tapping into some of the key trends.  We adored the Jubilee scheme and this one with their links to jellyfishlamp.com just looks so good.  We're seeing references to the 'shanty' trend all around town right now; these things are so exciting to follow and to see how everyone is interpreting them is wonderful.  Fantastic guys, another little winner for the high street.

Dover st. Market, London

We completely missed this Jubilee scheme at Dover st. Market.  How clever is this?  We adore the references to the crowns in a wide variety of materials including one in Mecano..!  We also have a fantastic reference to the various beacons lit around the country during the celebrations.  No one else had picked up on this although from our experience stacking wood in store is risky from a health and safety point of view....soooo.....a wonderful two fingers up to the establishment and there is nothing more satisfying than that. Fantastic.

Pull and Bear, London

We love Pull and Bear's new look right now, how cool do these guys look?  This store has been closed for a while for modernisation / refit....or however you wish to describe the process.  Anyway, we did visit here before they closed, simply because their windows were looking so damn good.  Sadly the interior was missing everything that would have made the experience remotely pleasurable and, well, we could have stepped into just about anywhere else on the high st to be frank.  We will pay a visit to the brand again now that this new scheme is in place and see if the interior is as interesting, or will it all be window dressing?  We'll let you know.

Monsoon, London

We've never included Monsoon on this site previously.  Why? Because they don't normally do anything exciting to show you.  However, like an adrenaline rush these guys have suddenly shot to the front with this fantastic Jubilee scheme with the Union flag created from rosettes.  OK, well its not the most innovative scheme we've ever seen, but we don't wish to kill the baby steps towards creativity that this brand are making and instead we will scream and shout encouragement that this is what we want to see.  So, Monsoon, please keep the creativity coming; this is what we want on the high street.....and more and more of it..............please?

Victorinox, London

We were actually genuinely very surprised so see this scheme at Victorinox for the Jubilee celebrations.  This was such a pleasant surprise, considering most brands along Bond st., here in London completely missed the opportunity to reach out to potential customers.  Anyway, these guys have shown us what they really are capable of and we love it.  With their giant cake, sponge finger lettering with the whole scheme complete with tea party, these guys have got it so right.  We are so bored with large format graphics with a few nice mannequins attached and we are keeping our (sponge) fingers crossed that these guys will keep bringing entertainment back to the high street.  Brilliant guys.

Liberty, London

With all of the Jubilee celebrations around town right now, London is looking very cool.  Retailer after retailer got into the spirit and celebrated this once in a lifetime (unless like us, you intend to live forever) occasion.  We always love schemes at Liberty and this one was no exception.  We think, given the choice and in an ideal world all of these windows would have been screaming Jubilee, but sadly only this one.  Still, this is a little taste of how brilliant these guys are and as usual produced with wonderful humour sadly missing everywhere else on the high street.

Alessi, London

We couldn't not stop and capture this scheme at Alessi right now.  We're not sure why we've actually not included them before here, but anyway, we adored the humour of this scheme, which like so many around town right now have absolutely captured the moment.  Their signature bottle openers (there is probably a better name for them) have been dressed as if part of the Royal Regiment.  A wonderfully fun scheme which brought a smile to our faces and drew us in.

BHS, London

After very spectacular Jubilee celebrations here in London, and we guess (?) street parties around the country, the scheme at BHS right now is absolutely spot on in capturing the zeitgeist of their clientele.  We can hardly believe we have included these guys so much recently, although they are doing some amazing stuff and this too should be celebrated.  Thank you guys, you have captured the moment perfectly.

Desigual, London

We absolutely love the Jubilee scheme at Desigual right now.  Superb.  It is a tricky one to capture because the vinyl completely covers the fenestration and therefore blurs the image.  Anyway, it doesn't really matter as the guys here have produced a wonderful scheme which is absolutely suited to the current occasion.  Even though its raining here in London right now this scheme really does lift our spirits and makes us feel all British.  Fantastic guys..!