As we come into August, the retail world is actively launching their back-to-school styles and fall fashions. However, just because the fashion has moved towards fall, doesn’t mean Mother Nature is on the same page. In most cases, this leaves stores full of fresh new merchandise that doesn’t sell because shoppers aren’t ready or needing…
POV: Creating Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is a hot buzz word with all levels of government and on social media right now. Especially as we deal with increasing interest rates and high inflation but making affordable housing is a little more complicated than just saying, “we need affordable housing.” Creating affordable housing sounds like a novel idea, one that…
POV: Plastic Bag Law vs Retail Reality
Here in Canada, our Federal Liberal Government has made it illegal to buy, sell and import “single use” plastic bags. You know the ones we have used for decades, the ones that allow you to easily carry your purchase out of the store? In today’s Canada if you are going to go shopping (whether that…
Feeling Cozy in a Concrete Jungle
When you drive or walk around your neighborhood, chances are you will see a lot of new condo buildings going up or maybe a lot of notice of development for future buildings. There is a lot of pressure out there for municipalities to increase home availability in Canada and to do that, they need to…
Merchandising for Your Customer
Customizing your store for the people shopping One of the biggest lessons I learned as a Visual Merchandiser in the fashion retail world was that merchandising (design) is very subjective. One person could walk the store and hate this or that. Then a different person can walk the store and love those very things. Sometimes,…
Making it Work
No Demo Reno For any number of reasons, you might find yourself needing to make a change in your home – Maybe it’s a new home to you but FARRR from a NEW home. Maybe the home is decorated in builder-beige, and your style is more vibrant. Maybe you are going through a big life…
Retail Merchandizing – Grab Their Attention
A few years ago there was a lot of talk around the sustainability of brick and motor stores in retail – will online shopping take over? How will brick and motor stores compete? Will physical stores become obsolete? And then COVID-19 hit forcing most retailers around the world to close their storefront doors for months….
Correcting Room Layouts, Right-Sizing
Reddit has become one of my favorite platforms lately for true community advise, with valid and actionable suggestion. And as a design blogger, it’s interesting to see what questions come up, what questions come up often and what others have done to fix similar situations. I started to see a reoccurring question; one that would…
This Crazy Housing Market : An Opinion
Real estate and the market in general has always fascinated me. I am always floating through realtor.ca to see what is on the market and for how much. Hey, you never know when something interesting will come up. Afterall, that is how I ended up in my place – completely unexpected and ended up being…
Getting Organized with Storage
I hate cleaning the house. H.A.T.E. Hate. I blame my dad for this. He always told me, “do it right the first time so you don’t have to do it again.” Although that works for most things in life – construction, plumbing; work…marriage… – it really does not apply to cleaning your house. No matter…