More SALE! signs languages broken down.

This was half written way back. I apologise!

Busy with my weddings and a crazy last job, it consumed me totally. But I hope to be back with a  BANG this year! Currently on a new Visual Merchandising job, I must say I am eager and more excited than ever to share more with you guys on the ups and down of VM right here in Singapore as I slowly see more companies putting in more hard work on their display here to win more customers as competitors start to flow in, and sadly some having to close down or shrink due to bad businesses. Please let me know if there are any improvements or suggestions on what you would like to see. A few things for sure:

I would like to feature a wider spread of product categories and brands (especially local ones) whenever possible. 

Writing more regularly as before.

Sharing more VM tips. 

Now enjoy the read! How to make your SALE worth the run!

1.  Cameo-back.
Coach:
Liked: The use of big and small flowers which creates textures that captures attention. The choice of colour that poses a striking tonal contrast to the displayed garment.

Problems: Positioning of SALE wording too low, and can you even read the word above if you're walking in a rush?

Shanghai Tang:

Liked: Honestly, besides that they used green? Erm... Well... maybe the fact they might have requested he mall to add even more greenery to their window with the pot of plant just outside their window? HAHAHAHAHA

Problems: You know how I just mentioned Coach used texturing to their advantage? This is one dizzy mess. And their clothes are hardly visible, and the words... Why?! Their in-store display is probably way better.

Robinsons:

Liked: Good choice of exaggerated white 3D letter blocks behind a display of different species of colorful parrots. And they never fail to add: The sale worth waiting for! I think when you compare to Shanghai Tang's you'll probably feel more excited over this right? 

Issues?: Nah. Except it must taken quite some work to get this done. Definitely WORTH it, though.

2. Do not forget your product!

Havaianas:

Liked: Don't know if someone thought of the placing of this sale poster decal prior to display. But great move! It's like having all the 'slipper' fishes headed towards the madness sale

Levi's

Liked: What better way to remind your customers of your key product than to incoporate it into the backdrop of the sale signage using the patchwork which is oh-so-in trend!

3. Matchy-matchy!  

Kate Spade

Liked: Sometimes sale doesn't have to be that loud; a monochrome look like that of the colour of the text with interesting typography matching that of the sale outfit in the mannequin in this window, works just about fine.

ETAM
Liked: With all that instagram hashtags the craze these days, what better way to promote your sale than to have fans do a social media shoutout while having the time of their lives stealing those deals?

4. Just in case you didn't notice...ALL OVER!
Timberland
Liked: These days, men especially just walk along with their wives while browsing through the mall with their neat tech gadgets glued right to their face. Well, Timberland sure knows that, and isn't willing to let an adventurous male shopper of theirs slip by. Thus, the sale signanges all over - from the window to A1 poster on the window in bold red. I thank Timberland on behalf of these guys!

Desigual
Honestly, I am unsure about this. Very unsure. For one, this might have not been the first time I've seen these signages. Let's see if they are using it again the next time. And secondly, I don't know if it's me or what, but if I visualize the personality of the VM who did this in his/her daily life, somehow it links me to think he/she is either a stalker/pyscho or just overtly seeking attention. The sale signages are EXCESSIVE! On the shirts of mannequins, on pullup posters, decals, videos,  in-store signage...EVERYWHERE. Worse still, they are of different messages: some 50%, some 70%, some reads sale, some mention reductions. Too confusing and messy for the consumer.

But it might have worked. So who knows? Not for me definitely. 

xoxo,
Yuhan

Shhh... s.a.l.e...

It's tough I admit. The higher end the designer brand, the harder it is to maintain that special air of luxury. Especially, especially, when they need to clear their past-season stock. Some I have heard, would rather destroy their products than have them on sale. Others just send theirs to factory outlets or villages, that's an extra space rental and manpower cost, mind you!

Here, I've come across 3 brands which I felt have done it with style and yet have not lost their brand prestige. Instead, their sale signage only reinforces their brand identity.

1. Hugo Boss. I have to confess, I don't have much knowledge of this brand, except a little of their colognes which were once a favorite of an ex-lover. But that memory of the little round ball, with a highlight of orange, did stay with me for a longer time than he did. In this Christmas window with two of the window facade dedicated to the display, the hanging boxes in black and white with ribbon create a backdrop that is both elegant and serves a reminder of gift shopping. At the knee level is the SALE decal that is in a font not too LOUD nor big (if you can recall, that's more like the work of mass market brands), in their signature orange with a line that is reminiscence of a ribbon "wrapping" the window. The accidental mist adds to the winter mood, doesn't it? That was what attracted me to this window! I like how these days they have the campaign poster in a light box next to windows, relating the style of the season instantly to customers. Pretty low maintenance too.    

2. Paul Smith: While they are known for their quirky and fun wavy prints, this window is no exception to the signature Brit designer style aesthetic: Simulating somewhat like fireworks, confetti or just a magnification of Christmas trees, the eye level SALE word is small but yet most appropriately placed besides the green fluorescent light 'held' by the male mannequin like a jedi holding a light sabre,

This quirkiness or tongue in cheek windows have always been very much enjoyable to look at, especially in comparison to most of the boring, messy, and/or irrelevant windows in our little island. Do take note the next time you pass by Wisma Atria or Mandarin Gallery!
 

GSS is here!

For all those who has been to Singapore, one would know that it's the greatest sale season of the year here! Spanning from end May to Mid July, it's the time where almost 90% of the stores here would be on sale. Someone once told me, if you're not going to put on a sale sign now, you will certainly lose out!

NO.

For me, I think, if you don't put out an SALE sign that is attractive enough, you are going to lose out! Yet, for all that being said, despite the KIASU mentality of Singaporeans, I have yet to spot one sign that was head turning. Perhaps the boutiques here always bang on the fact that shopping is our favorite pastime, and besides there isn't much to do in this little city other than the heaps and heaps of new, and old malls at almost 1 in every 3 MRT stations in Singapore. Not only that, brand conscious and fashion-safe Singaporeans aren't likely to divert their loyalties easily, as seen from my observations. The young favor the high street brands like H&M, Topshop, Bershka, and Forever 21. The rest of the mass population goes for value added brands like UNIQLO and whatever is available in the departmental stores. Of course, that is not to say there are fashionistas here, and lack of local designers here with their outstanding work. I can see some evolution, but again, most of the time it is a copied look from some mannequin, some magazine.

UGH. Talk about my hate for high street these days.

Anyways, I digress. Here are some pretty interesting SALE signs I've spotted while in London.
1. Attention grabbing graphics and uh... numbers

Lyle and Scott: Loved that they decorated the window with a red eagle the same colour with the sale sign topped with a smaller yellow one that looks like a butterfly from afar that would definitely capture your attention!

This was one of my favorite windows in this shopping area on Convent Garden! I like how they used the party flags to guide the viewer eyes to the mannequins and clothing. And the colors used are similar to the garments displayed. The best part is, they carried this theme to the opposite window to decorate their sale window! Can you see how this is so brilliantly displayed if your eyes keep following the flow of the flags to trace their end?

Instead of just putting sale, MANGO uses numbers that are easy to read in a flash, and tells you exactly how much reductions is going on. Works great on a high traffic volume area when people are in a rush.

2. They got it all covered!

For Radley, from the colors of the bags to the paint of the facade (i.e. store front), you can almost identify with its subtle-ness and simple elegance. Yet it spares no shopper from informing them of their sale, as you can see both SALE signs on each side of the mini windows. The only thing I would disagree with here is the use of the red bag display as the backdrop of the diamond sign on the left which 'swallows' up the sign.

You don't need perfect eyesight to know that GAP is having a sale here, despite the dizzying facade they have here!