Okay, so it’s confession time. I’m pretty sure the week in Vegas for GlobalShop 2012 did this to me, but in any event, confess I must. Here goes.

I have a thing for celebrities. And…reality TV.

I know, I know – it’s wrong. Why would I enjoy anything that involves celebrities (who aren’t even real people for god’s sake!) and “reality” television, which is now so scripted it’s ludicrous to even call it “reality.”

Well, before you come at me with your judgment – I have plenty of my own – hear me out.

It involves retail this time.

Interested? I thought so. Continue reading →

There’s a lot happening in the world of retail these days. Coming off of our best GlobalShop yet (what we’re now calling GS 2012), we’re already looking ahead to the future. And it’s taking us – well one of us anyway – to Paris.

Executive Editor of DDI Magazine, Alison Embrey Medina, will join the 3^rd annual Global Department Store Summit May 10-11, 2012, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The title of the summit is “Staying Relevant for Growth,” and it will feature 19 department store CEOs. View the full list of CEO speakers here.

Attendees – in addition to our own fabulous editor – will include an international mix of top retail management executives, suppliers and vendors, and retail stakeholders, such as service, finance and real estate industry executives. Continue reading →

GlobalShop 2012 has been a mind-blowing experience filled with educational seminars, product demonstrations, fabulous booth displays and tremendous connections. And with thousands of people all around, there are certain conversations you can't help but overhear.

Amuneal Manufacturing is a case in point.

In a recent interview with a retailer from Express, I was told, "You must see their booth." Walking down the show floor, I kept hearing individuals ask one another, "Have you seen Amuneal's booth?"

Never one who likes to be left out, I decided that I had to see it – even if it was a trek to get to booth 4255 (the show floor is huge!). Continue reading →

Walking the show floor at GlobalShop has been so much fun. It constantly reminds me what a creative bunch we are and how much the retail world is constantly shifting.

I was stopped dead in my tracks today when I came across Media Graph's larger than life displays. The woman's crystalized purple lips on one side, followed by sparkling blue lips on the other caught me off guard. I was even more surprised when Orit Toledano with Media Graph shared that the displays were made completely of fabric. In fact, that's what they specialize in – large format fabric displays. Continue reading →

When I met Andrew Holliday and Daniel Brown from Harvest Creative, I was on the hunt. I was on the hunt for something fresh, something different, something creative – essentially a booth that would grab me and not let go.

Their "I Got Fresh in Vegas" green t-shirt flanked by Coca-Cola red and white graphics did exactly that.

Because, people, if we can't be witty and creative, then why bother?

Harvest Creative seems to understand this best, and works with retailers to develop their brands through research, design, production and fulfillment.

Their own branding follows a theme of "fresh" ideas cleverly aligned with the offer for customers to "get fresh with us." While Andrew dons a "Refreshing" tee, decked out in the Harvest color and look, Daniel wears his "Now Serving Fresh Ideas" companion tee. Continue reading →