BHS, London

Louis Vuitton one day BHS the next.....what a contrast...!  We have to confess that BHS (or British Homes Stores, for those of you reading this around the world) is not the first place that we would come  to look for home ware. For those of you in the UK, is it yours?  Possibly not.  However, how incredibly sexy and delicious does this look?  The colours and textures look amazing, we love the wood and the concrete plinths (are they concrete? who knows, but they look it) and the fantastic urban feel of this scheme makes everything look wonderfully desirable.  Get ya'self down to your local store we reckon and check this stuff out.  Job well done we'd say.  (Oh...and we love the reference to Valentines-ish....without a damned bloody awful heart motif in site..!  See, it can be done.)

Louis Vuitton, London

We're always so excited when a new Louis Vuitton scheme is implemented and judging by our stats., on Louis -Vuitton-entry-day, it seems so are you..!  Anyway, here's a couple of snippets for you to whet your appetites.  Of course, there's nothing better than seeing this in the 'flesh' so wherever you are in the world, it may already be at your local store.  Big Balloons and Big Bling......these guys tell everyone else what they should be doing, don't they?

Fenwicks, London

What on earth is happening at Fenwicks?  One minute we couldn't even give them a cursory glance and now we cant wait to see what they do next; and just keep coming back to get our fix.  These guys are looking hotter than ever and we have no idea who's behind it all but we must say guys, you look fantastic.  Someone has breathed new life into this dinosaur-of-a-brand, gripped it by the 'you-know-whats', and fiercely so.  We love it and couldn't wait to share it.  We were going to show you the new Louis Vuitton scheme as they have just recently installed which we want to share but they've had to move down the bench. We will show you what they are doing sometime this week.  Brilliant team Fenwicks. (we haven't shown the whole scheme here so please do go and look for yourself.....we love the optical illusions..!)

London Visual Merchandising Talent Search

If you have been itching for a career in Visual Merchandising then here's a fantastic opportunity for you..!

RedBorder Ltd. are a specialist consultancy and recruitment service to the retail sector and they are launching a London-wide talent search for the most creative and best Visual Merchandisers in London to become part of the UK’s first VM Squad and work with a wide array of retailers on our high streets.

If you live in one of London's boroughs and would like to be one of the lucky 33 selected to become part of the RedBorder VM Squad you have to apply and submit your submission via Facebook.  Nominees from each borough will be shortlisted and the most talented, creative submissions will be voted by the public.

Deborah Millington, Director of RedBorder Ltd said, “We are constantly searching for the best Visual Merchandising talent for the future. This talent search allows the best in London to showcase their skills and become one of the elite Visual Merchandisers in the country”.

As a member of the RBVM Squad you will be part of a team that will work with a variety of retailers to execute their Visual Merchandising strategy throughout the year.  

So, to become part of the exclusive RBVM 

Squad, candidates need to:

Submit a copy of your resume

Have 3 accompanying photos of your most recent work

In no more than 100 words state why you should represent their borough as a Visual Merchandiser

Last date for entries is, 5.00pm, 15th March 2013

Public voting will take place between the 23rd  - 29th March

For full terms and conditions, visit https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/311820  If you have any further questions please:  Email: info@redborder.co.uk or Tel: 020 7100 4052 

Selfridges, London

SSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh............!

Moschino, London

Oh you know we can't resist a good old fashioned giggle at this brands expense.  Beyond that, our lips are sealed and we'll let you make up your own minds about what you think.

Juicy Couture, London

There appears to be a nautical theme happening around town......again.  Clearly these are product led schemes; the one at Hilfiger isn't much more exciting.  Anyway, the fashion industry appears to have run out of new ideas as this theme seems to crop every single year and hey presto, dust of the life savers and the scheme is done.  Sigh.  Its all looking so tired right now out there.

Berluti, London

We hadn't realised what a huge brand these guys are until we saw the incredible installation in Harrods windows last year.  It was quite spectacular.  Of course here with their tiny windowed store along Conduit st. they are limited with what they can do, but they always appear to make an effort; thankfully.  This is a fun little scheme using these new vintage-like toy cars to show their products.  These guys clearly know the future trends so even in its simplicity this is one to watch.

Salvatore Ferragamo, London

We're not always gripped by what this brand does as there's never really anything exciting coming from these windows on Bond street here in London.  However, this scheme does provide us with a good example of one of the product handling dynamics which is often hard to reference.  Gravity.  Essentially this refers to product which has been suspended.  Anyway, adding a little something a bit more interesting would have drawn us in sooner although we are desperately dodging in between Sales schemes and the dreaded yet inevitable pending heart motifs which will soon cover most of the West End.  So needs must.

Belstaff, London

As everything becomes digital around us it is so interesting to see schemes such as this one at Belstaff referencing what is quite a nostalgic technique.  Its not quite an animatronic scheme but there is clearly a motor placed inside this window in order to drive this huge propeller   We haven't seen this technique for quite some time so it is quite refreshing.  We're not sure whether everything will revert back to 'oscillations and indexing' or even retailers adopting those turntables from retail of yesteryear, but then stranger things have happened.

Hermes, London

We are beginning to see the emergence of one of the key trends this year; Horses.  Rocking, hobby, possibly stuffed? but they are coming.  How stunning does Hermes look in all its simplicity?  The colours are incredible, we already know that the product is exceptional beyond belief and all presented in this short narrative scheme.  The narrative of course is whatever we want it to be.  

Clarks, London

Its freezing cold here in London and even though there's snow and ice on the ground we've been out there looking at what you have all be up to.  Well, would ya look at Clarks, eh?  Thankfully new schemes are gradually filtering through and in such blinding colour too (well here anyway).  If ever there was a need to bring something exciting that doesn't refer to Valentine's then its now.  We have seen a few gems out there which we will be sharing with you all week.

Tiffany, London

We recorded this scheme at Tiffany so soon after it was installed that the jewellery was actually still swinging. That's not something we see often.  Anyway, we do love the colour used here and these gorgeous wire structures;  they are a little reminiscent of the kind of thing that those guys in tourist areas make that spell out your name and who is also usually stood next to the guy that sells spray painted space images or the garishly coloured rubber men that these traders throw at the nearest window while we all stand amazed at it making its sticky way, hands, feet, hands, feet down the glazing or maybe the guys who sells the 'real' leather belts who run a lighter up and down it to prove it to you just in case you were in doubt.  Naturally this is rather more sophisticated.

Godiva, London

Gawd, is it nearly that time of year yet again.  Just as we get over that Christmas malaise and the bonkers clearance period, off we go heading full speed to the next major retail event.  The evil that is Valentines Day. Its not that we are against love between people, its just this bloody awful heart motif makes our skin crawl.  Why oh why cant the retail industry think of something a little more interesting and something less ordinary?  We are scouting around trying to find something a little more innovative but there really is no hope, is there?  

Levis, London

Now this is an interesting installation at Levi's.  Sale schemes are always so difficult to make interesting but thankfully the guys here have come up with a simple yet effective solution that gets it all so right.  We love these banners made up of multiple pieces of denim with just that brand signage blocked in the Levi's Red and so powerful and so recognised that it doesn't even need the brand name on it.  

Burberry, London

Oh those savvy guys at Burberry have hit it absolutely on the mark with this campaign.  You clever things.  Our first reaction was, Oh gawd, not a mini-me-becks and we were rather clenching our buttocks as we passed by.  Do we really need yet another vacuous celebrity?  That said, of course, we know this is 'genius' and they have got it all so right (but do we really have to suffer another one?, really?).  The images and scheme of course look great but gawd that family are so bloody irritating.

Can YOU help? Jessops, UK

Image Copyright Lanza Martineta

When the going gets tough, the tough are left out in the cold.  Another sad story of clearly hard working staff hung out to dry.  80 years of brand heritage gone.  Through the power of the window, these guys have offered their services to the world out there.  We know you 'the world' read this site as we check our stats and goodness knows it reads like a who's who of brands globally from luxe to value to independent.  So come on, do something worthwhile other than peddle your wares to us and lets get these guys back in the retail 'saddle'.  If we say nothing, who will?  Follow the story here:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262801/Relief-Jessops-employees-stuck-pictures-shop-window-stunt-leads-job-offers-firm-orders-display.html  We will no doubt be in trouble for this, but then if you read out 10 Commandments of Visual Merchandising 2013.....its just the mid-life crisis kicking in.

Myla, London

This brand oozes luxury and shines like a beacon of hope.  We love what they do, we crave each installation and we love the experience of finding the next next one.  Oh no wait.  No, not love.  The other one.  Harrowing.  Copper mesh bra's, oh dear.  They may be shiny but this scheme is not saying luxury to us and there is no hope.  Get yourself a copy of the book Brahaus and lets see some fun here, eh?

Asprey, London

We love the narratives behind the products which have been created here.  We're not huge fans of brand spanking new products as we do like things to have some kind of history behind  them which makes them just that little bit more interesting, don't you think?  Vintage is one of our favourite....would one say angle?  or perspective?  As its not a movement or period?  But anyway,  we do love to surround ourselves with things which are either useful of beautiful and to wonder who owned something previously and what kind of life it may have had before us.  Well, Asprey have created these wonderful one liners around the products which give a fantastic sense of 'story' that we just cant help but want to step in and buy ourselves a little something gorgeous. 

Alexander McQueen, London

We haven't seen masses of creativity oozing from the windows of this brand recently, although the merchandise is so incredibly delicious, why fight with it?  The product of course is always so stunning and we love the details on the mannequins here.  Beautifully sculptural and of course works in perfect harmony with the panelled background and illuminated flooring.  Wonderful.

 

Esprit, London

We really quite like this Sale scheme at Esprit right now with its 'loft apartment' feel about it.  Gone are the usual piles of stuff that no-one wanted but bought anyway simply 'because it was a bargain' and here we have a rather more grown up scheme and rather more sophisticated installation, simply and effectively produced we think, don't you?

Clarks, London

Remember Clarks?  Sensible school shoes that you were never ever going to look cool in?  Well, not anymore.  Someone here has gripped this 'Hush Puppy brand' by the throat and shaken it into the 21st Century and they are looking ever more cool and interesting.  OK, well the Sale scheme is a version of their Christmas one only with 'Sale' added, but we can forgive that one (well almost).  The Gold could have gone a nice shade of Crimson, but we wont mention it.  We cant wait to see what these guys do next in 2013 (but lets not use these trees again, eh?)

Hackett, London

Hackett really were a  fantastic visual brand throughout 2012 for menswear and very brave.  We've loved what they've done.  Entertainment, wonderful humour and slick presentations.  What more could we ask for?  Its very, very unusual for brands to say who works with them, most appear very coy when a scheme appears and usually take all kudos so its great to see that Harlequin Design get some credit and so publicly at their store along Regent street.

Calvin Klein, London

We haven't stopped by this Calvin Klein store along Regent street for a while as they don't always do anything very interesting.  The NYC store of course is rather more conceptual and always draws us in to take a closer look and we often wish that this store would do something along the same lines - but they don't.  But, anyway, we love the repetition of these mannequins wearing the same outfits and this huge big 'Sale' sign which has to be seen as it is actually quite unusual when seen from different angles.  In store, as with everyone else out there, digital is big.  Big screens are everywhere at the moment, so lets hope that they have thought about the content and the cost of changing it frequently in order to keep those regular customers entertained.

Cos, London

We just love the thinking behind this scheme.  So bloody simple it hurts.  Thankfully, this is one brand that have removed their Christmas scheme and not simply kept it in and added a Sale vinyl with lights still-a-blinging in the background; there's nothing worse than Christmas schemes after Christmas. Anyway, we also love the strap line "We're emptying our rails so that you can fill yours".  So much better than the usual 'Can you please buy all the crap we have left that no-one else wants please, in odd sizes that fit no-one so that we can move on to the next batch of stuff we need to shift', don't you think?.....;o).

Desigual, London

After what feels like months away from freezing London we're back....!  Sadly its dreaded Sale time here, and no sooner had the wheels touched the runway from what now feels like an exotic climate we've been out an about to at least find some interesting schemes here to share with you.  Thankfully, Desigual rarely disappoint us and even though it is this hideous no-mans land-of-window-schemes-time-of-year they always make an effort to bring a bit of humor to the high street.  Thank goodness for Desigual, eh?

On the Streets, Marrakech

Marrakech is possibly one of the last cities on earth that doesn't have a Zara, H&M, Gap or countless other brands on every high street and therefore this is an oasis of unique experiences.  OK, well, the visual merchandising is not exactly the best in the world, and neither is the merchandising.  However, it is so refreshing to view and experience good old fashioned retailing.  The bartering aspect takes some time to get used to as do the dramatics of the retailers, but once you get past this, it is quite a spectacle to be a part of.  What is always so interesting about these kinds of places however is why is the same stuff repeated countless times?  There is certainly a fairly limited market here but how many rugs, teapots and Gold coloured decorative trays can one realistically own?  And don't get us started on the mountains of Moroccan slippers.  If only these guys would inject a little more 'design' into what is presented here and thought into how they can differentiate themselves from each other  then it would perhaps appeal to a broader market.  This is of course easier said than done and through our conversations with so many of the retailers here, many of whom admitted that they have no idea how to use a computer it is perhaps understandable and the charm of what they do and how they do it would only be lost forever so in some ways its better not to tinker with it and just enjoy.