If you read Retail Design Diva often enough (and we know you do!), then you know that I regularly encourage, suggest, state and request that retailers use their influence for good (not just for sales).

I’m proud to report that there is a retailer doing exactly that. And it makes me so happy I can hardly stand myself.

Kenneth Cole unveiled its "Where Do You Stand? Campaign," addressing hot topics, such as marriage equality, gun control, a woman’s right to choose and war. Wow, Kenneth – way to stick to the superficial topics! The retailer hits some of the hardest, most debated topics in our nation in this campaign – and does so in a powerful way through the use of video, imagery and language. Continue reading →

Remember back in March 2011 when I said that I hoped Fits.me would come to the United States? Well, dreams do come true (well, kind of). Fits.me virtual fitting room, featuring bio-robotic virtual fitting for online retail websites, is now part of Park & Bond, a U.S. men’s retail site. I am still wishing that Fits.me will create a female bio-robotic virtual fitting room … perhaps that’s next?

In any event, it’s a pretty exciting partnership for Fits.me which launched in 2010 out of Estonia.  The technology uses shape-shifting robots that adjust to “thousands” of body shapes so customers can “try on” online apparel to see how it will fit their body. Continue reading →

“Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love.”

So crooned The Beatles. And they were right. But did you also know that money can’t buy you style either?

Just ask Kmart. The retailer plans to launch its fall advertising campaign in September 2011 titled, “Money Can’t Buy Style.” The purpose of the campaign is to encourage shoppers to leave brand-name fanaticism behind and embrace their individual style.

Now, I’m all for this. Let’s go after what looks hot, not the brand that has the right name. The title of Kmart’s campaign does make me a little nervous though…it’s a bold move. Continue reading →

A Prado wallet is not the same as a Prada, but for $20 instead of $200 some of us are willing to ignore the slight fake. But, that’s just a wallet.

In China, they’re playing a much bigger game.

In Kunming, China, they have a fake Apple store. The entire store “looks” like Apple – the colors, the staff and the products, but Apple does not have a store in Kunming. Confused? Seems like a lot of people are, including the store’s employees.  

In a recent article on MSNBC.com, they found that the employees working at this fake Apple store actually thought they were working for the technology giant. Continue reading →

“God, you are such a girl!” my friend Torri says, rolling her eyes. You see, we’re on a 23-mile bike ride, the wind is blowing against me and I just had to pedal like mad to get away from an angry dog.

So, yes, I am a girl. A girlie, girlie, girl, actually. And while I am too girlie even for one of my girlfriends, my girlie-ness actually makes me a very easy demographic for retailers to market to.

Confused?
You won’t be for long.

DervalResearch has found that a woman’s hormonal makeup drives her taste – in just about everything – although the research team focused in on fabrics and textures. Continue reading →