Blog

interior design
03
Jan

Designer vs. Decorator – there is a difference

There’s no doubt that during the pandemic people have been rethinking how they use their space whether it be at their workplace, their home interior, or a workspace inside their home. If you are one of these people and need a professional to help reshape your interior, who are you going to call: an interior...
Read More
neocon 2021
08
Oct

NeoCon 2021: Pastels, Relaxation, and Nature

Heather, Amy and Suzanne attended NeoCon this year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL. They racked up over 10,000 steps each, while seeing all of the trends, color reports, and new product launches that filled the 10 floors of the Mart. Once again, the line between residential and commercial design has blurred, and a...
Read More
HDExpo and Vegas Market Trends 2021
08
Sep

HDExpo and Vegas Market Trends 2021

Holley attended both the Vegas Market (mainly residential design) and HDExpo (mainly hospitality design) in Las Vegas August 22 through 25, cramming in as much inspiration and trend-spotting as possible. At Vegas Market, she attended two talks: First Look 2021 Onward and the Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast, “Mood.” Both of these talks touched on similar themes,...
Read More
rendleman orchards
16
Aug

Farm Fresh Merchandising: Rendleman Orchards

There is a beautiful stretch of highway in southern Illinois as you head out of Carbondale. Highway 127 takes you through the lush rolling hills of Shawnee National Forest, dotted with exits to bike paths and scenic views, eggs for sale signs and a passing Amish buggy or two. Watch out for tortoise crossing, especially...
Read More
blue bunny
16
Aug

Here’s the Scoop: Blue Bunny

When chocolate volcanos, psychedelic cereal sundaes and cold-brew donut shakes are offered as a job perk, who could resist? Such is the life of a visual merchandiser in the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa. Wells Enterprises, the largest family-owned and managed ice cream and frozen treat manufacturer in the United States,...
Read More
Georgia on our Mind: Atlanta Market
28
Jul

Georgia on our Mind: Atlanta Market

Three of our display artists and visual merchandisers flew south for a week of showroom hopping and trend spotting at Atlanta Market, one of the retail and design industry’s premier gift, décor and lifestyle markets. It featured more than 8,000 brands across multiple categories including home décor, gift, and hand-made as well as holiday decorations. ...
Read More
tile trends
11
Jun

2021 Tile Trends

Tiles—whether they are ceramic, porcelain or terracotta, on the walls, on the floors or in the bathroom—can provide a tremendous impact on the look and feel of a space. Coverings, the largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference in North America, shared the following tile trends: Flecked effect. This is the terrazzo look. With...
Read More
Slatwall kitchen store
12
May

Display Versatility: Slatwall

With customers starting to make their way back into bricks and mortar stores, it’s a good idea to change displays on a monthly basis in order to keep things fresh and enticing. With its versatility and wide assortment of styles, Slatwall is an excellent product to use to help you accomplish this. Slatwall panels are...
Read More
LED neon
28
Apr

Lighting Up with LED “neon”

When you think of a neon light, you think of a light that has a bright, colorful glow. Developed in the early 1900s, these electric signs are produced with neon gases, but did you know that neon signs can also be created from LEDs? The rise in popularity of LED “neon” is due to its...
Read More
acrylic check out
29
May

Time to Buy Stock in Acrylic

In my 35 years of being in the retail/design industries, I’ve never seen so much acrylic. Acrylic face shields, sneeze guards and space separators, on countertops, showcases and checkouts. Of course, they are important and necessary, but please think carefully before you swiftly click, “buy and ship”. What will these do to your brand and...
Read More
1 2 3 4 5
interior design
03
Jan

Designer vs. Decorator – there is a difference

There’s no doubt that during the pandemic people have been rethinking how they use their space whether it be at their workplace, their home interior, or a workspace inside their home. If you are one of these people and need a professional to help reshape your interior, who are you going to call: an interior...
Read More
neocon 2021
08
Oct

NeoCon 2021: Pastels, Relaxation, and Nature

Heather, Amy and Suzanne attended NeoCon this year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL. They racked up over 10,000 steps each, while seeing all of the trends, color reports, and new product launches that filled the 10 floors of the Mart. Once again, the line between residential and commercial design has blurred, and a...
Read More
HDExpo and Vegas Market Trends 2021
08
Sep

HDExpo and Vegas Market Trends 2021

Holley attended both the Vegas Market (mainly residential design) and HDExpo (mainly hospitality design) in Las Vegas August 22 through 25, cramming in as much inspiration and trend-spotting as possible. At Vegas Market, she attended two talks: First Look 2021 Onward and the Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast, “Mood.” Both of these talks touched on similar themes,...
Read More
rendleman orchards
16
Aug

Farm Fresh Merchandising: Rendleman Orchards

There is a beautiful stretch of highway in southern Illinois as you head out of Carbondale. Highway 127 takes you through the lush rolling hills of Shawnee National Forest, dotted with exits to bike paths and scenic views, eggs for sale signs and a passing Amish buggy or two. Watch out for tortoise crossing, especially...
Read More
blue bunny
16
Aug

Here’s the Scoop: Blue Bunny

When chocolate volcanos, psychedelic cereal sundaes and cold-brew donut shakes are offered as a job perk, who could resist? Such is the life of a visual merchandiser in the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa. Wells Enterprises, the largest family-owned and managed ice cream and frozen treat manufacturer in the United States,...
Read More
Georgia on our Mind: Atlanta Market
28
Jul

Georgia on our Mind: Atlanta Market

Three of our display artists and visual merchandisers flew south for a week of showroom hopping and trend spotting at Atlanta Market, one of the retail and design industry’s premier gift, décor and lifestyle markets. It featured more than 8,000 brands across multiple categories including home décor, gift, and hand-made as well as holiday decorations. ...
Read More
tile trends
11
Jun

2021 Tile Trends

Tiles—whether they are ceramic, porcelain or terracotta, on the walls, on the floors or in the bathroom—can provide a tremendous impact on the look and feel of a space. Coverings, the largest international tile and stone exhibition and conference in North America, shared the following tile trends: Flecked effect. This is the terrazzo look. With...
Read More
Slatwall kitchen store
12
May

Display Versatility: Slatwall

With customers starting to make their way back into bricks and mortar stores, it’s a good idea to change displays on a monthly basis in order to keep things fresh and enticing. With its versatility and wide assortment of styles, Slatwall is an excellent product to use to help you accomplish this. Slatwall panels are...
Read More
LED neon
28
Apr

Lighting Up with LED “neon”

When you think of a neon light, you think of a light that has a bright, colorful glow. Developed in the early 1900s, these electric signs are produced with neon gases, but did you know that neon signs can also be created from LEDs? The rise in popularity of LED “neon” is due to its...
Read More
acrylic check out
29
May

Time to Buy Stock in Acrylic

In my 35 years of being in the retail/design industries, I’ve never seen so much acrylic. Acrylic face shields, sneeze guards and space separators, on countertops, showcases and checkouts. Of course, they are important and necessary, but please think carefully before you swiftly click, “buy and ship”. What will these do to your brand and...
Read More
1 2 3 4 5