Retail
We’re also seeing a generational shift in how people view shopping and buying. Why is this happening? Because the older generations were accumulators and the younger generations, well, not so much. we have a generation of accumulators shedding their belongings and not restocking. And we have younger generations who are less interested in shopping as sport and more worried about the environmental impact of their purchases. Oh, and they have relatively fewer financial resources than some previous generations at the same point in their lives.
For designers entertaining the idea of opening their own store, Christopher Kennedy offers some sage advice. “Running a design firm, sometimes you are your own best customer,” he said. “Owning a retail store is really useful when you need to pick up some accessories last minute to art a photoshoot. You really need the same level of dedication to both [your firm and store] to maintain a cohesive brand. And you can get burned out trying to do it all.” Kennedy admitted that he was too hands-off with the retail side of the business, focusing heavily on design clients. He took some time to step back and reevaluate how he could best serve his clients and community. The result is a new, tailored showroom, tucked into a business center in downtown Palm Springs. It doesn’t have the same tourist foot traffic as the previous space, but it’s calm, crisp, and feels like home.
With prices rising the past couple of years across virtually every category of goods and services, consumers are tired of paying more and more for the same thing — or, in the case of shrinkflation, paying the same amount for less product.
That makes receiving a small, unexpected gift from a company especially delightful right now.
Shades of Light partners with Chris Loves Julia to create exclusive line of premium lighting designs
Shades of Light partners with Chris Loves Julia to create exclusive line of premium lighting designs.
Multi-line showrooms and design brick and mortar stores are an interesting conduit between the manufacturers whose products they sell and the people who make them look good: interior designers. Showroom and store buyers have a discerning approach to market. So how do manufacturers capture the attention of these very important buyers at market? We caught up with showrooms and stores across the country to understand their priorities when they shop at market.




