After taking a much needed week’s vacation from blogging to enjoy a little time away from the computer and relaxation at the parents’ place, I’m back to my regular schedule. That’s right, near daily blogging, get excited!
As I was catching up on some of my favourite blog reads, I came across this Craig Ward wall installation typography piece:
Thinking it would be the perfect start to an interior inspiration post, I visited his site, Words are Pictures (a perfect title for his work) in order to learn more about him and his work. Turns out his pieces aren’t particularly interior focused, but more print oriented. But inspiration is inspiration, and I decided that the two tied into each other enough to make it viable. Plus, at this point, I was captivated.
A significant portion of my schooling, the mysterious Fashion Communication program, is geared towards graphic design and typography, and I’ve learned to appreciate good design and view it as both a technical skill and artistic form. Craig Ward is exceptional on both accounts. His use of typography as an art form is beautiful, and the pictures he creates with letterforms and words are thought-provoking. I would hang any one of these pieces on my wall, gladly. Enjoy!
All images: http://www.debutart.com/artist/craig-ward
I still have over a week until classes to start, which will be largely spent working on bicyclette related projects and working out the final kinks in my business plan. I think I’m at least on version 4 at this point. So much work, so time consuming. I have a cousin who’s in accounting who sat down with me on Saturday to go over my financials and work some Excel magic. His help was invaluable, and watching him whiz through charts and formulas and numbers was eye-opening. I have a new found appreciation for Excel, that’s for sure. Suddenly everything seemed to work together and make sense, which is such an amazing feel, as that’s been the thorn in my side throughout this entire process. And the good news is, according to our calculations, I’ll be making money within the first year. Definitely a good sign, and one that I hope will speak to potential investors as well!
Anyways, I’ll leave it at that for now, I’m in a cleaning and packing whirlwind as I prepare to head back to Guelph for bicyclette brainstorming sessions with the parents and then to Waterloo to spend time with the boy’s family.
While I was crunching numbers, any good boxing day/sale finds?
Interior design, decoration and layout is a huge part of a retail store, and in my mind, one of the most important. It’s somewhat permanent (or at least aspects of it are) and therefore requires a certain level of commitment from the beginning. It should communicate a feeling and tell a story, complementing the merchandise and overall brand identity without competing and creating an environment. In my mind, on the most basic level, I place most stores into one of two categories based on their interiors: streamlined and modern, or vintage and organic. I’ve been drawn to both on different occasions, but envision bicyclette in the latter category. I want it to have a vintage-inspired, treasure hunt-inducing quality. I love whitewashed walls, wooden floors, wallpaper and colourful accents. Clean and pretty and somewhat mismatched.
I found these photos of a London home, and have fallen in interior love, imagining them transformed into bicyclette with utter perfection.
Images: Light Locations
One of the things I want to do is take pieces of vintage furniture, such as tables, chairs, dressers, chests, mirrors, etc., and refurnish them. It’s amazing how easily a new coat of paint and a little TLC can breathe new life into a piece. Vintage pieces, both clothing and furniture, appeal to me because of their nostalgic value and ability to tell a story, which is one the things that I want to capture within the bicyclette environment. These pieces would be used as visual display and merchandising props, but also be for sale. This would add to the eclectic look and feel of the store, and ensure that the merchandising is ever-changing, as pieces are sold and new pieces are added.
Images: Decor8 Blog
I’m a sucker for whimsical, fairytale-esque design and pretty details. It’s the little things in life.
For me, the name bicyclette has connotations of urban city life with a whimsical, romantic twist. I like the fact that it’s more abstract, and brings to mind a lifestyle and feeling rather than a literal description of the product or store. It creates curiosity and intrigue. It brings to mind European influences and an artistic flair, and has a certain independence and free-spirit about it.
bicyclette is a retail store that will support local talent and provide innovative designs by promoting new artists and unique designers and provide customers with a stimulating visual environment. The aim is to create a retail space that sells a lifestyle and becomes a destination for one-of-a-kind and exclusive fashions, accessories, home products and giftware, fulfilling the needs of the customer to express their creativity and individuality through fashion and design.
The purpose of the store reaches beyond simply selling products and aims to sell a feeling of community and a lifestyle brand that is distinct and compelling. Creativity is the driving force behind the store, and between the product assortment and visual environment, the goal is to create a connection between the customer and the brand. A significant part of this will be executed through the innovative store design and visual merchandising. An eclectic mix of merchandise will be offered, and clothing and other products will be cross merchandised to construct unique and inspiring product displays that juxtapose clothing with home, gift and decorative items, and new products with reworked vintage pieces in creative vignettes.
How important is store environment and visual merchandising to the shopping experience?
Images: http://www.weheartit.com
Over the course of the next year , I’ll be continuing to develop my store concept, hopefully with the input of others. I have ideas about how I envision it, but I know that it will change continuously as I do more research and creative exploration throughout this process.
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