Daffy's...

Daffy's in New York and the USA was a small, family owned business until today when it still strives on this stance but instead it has become a commercialised retail store in the US. It provides great value to its consumers and tries to keep the 'family run idea' real by creating a close-knit work environment for employees and for customers to enjoy. The brand is creative and fun with exciting promotional aspects such as a Daffy blog, a Daffy twitter and Facebook page as well as a Daffy's club where customers can become a member to enjoy discounts and personalised information. The brand is fresh and colourful and is a perfect example of an exciting and unique store to visit in New York.

Club Monaco.

Club Monaco is a high street apparel retailer based in Northern America. The brand is owned by Polo Ralph Lauren. The retailer is based in the high end market and offers formal and casual styles. They say they offer less formal styles in the Spring and Summer and offer formal styles in the Autumn and Winter. The brand is well known for its traditional and classic black and white styles that occasionally are splashed with a hint of colour.

After reading about this brand and looking through their styles and looks, I have become very intrigued. The styles are classy but fashionable and the look is very ‘now’. After looking through their spring look books I have been inspired. Their cross between a Victorian, English heritage style from a working class background illustrating minimalism, feminism and masculine designs. The clothing is very structured and beautiful with some minor but striking embellishments. The website and the store layout is very in keeping with the brands style and essence and the simplicity makes the brand more exciting and revealing. 

I have gathered some images of the brand and the brands essence.

 Manhattan Store.

Instore layout.





A memorable, exciting experience..

New York compared to any shopping experience in the UK is exciting, adventurous and most importantly an experience you will never forget. The scenery is magnificent, the stores are inviting and eye-catching and the products are endless. Whether you focus on the small boutiques and vintage stores in Soho or the large designer branches on 5th Ave there is always something for everyone. However in the UK, the shopping and retail experience feels slightly downgraded, with busy and hectic streets, manic stores with rushed people constantly getting in your way and shop assistants that are unknowledgeable and helpless. Our experience here is on a different level due to the hectic lives of British shoppers compared to the lives of New Yorkers. I have collated a summary of differences from the UK shopping and retail market compared to the US shopping market.

In the US, brands seem to portray their style and essence through great concepts within the store and through advertising around the major cities. They are exciting and unforgettable compared to anything in the UK. The US brands create something original that makes every shopper excited to be shopping in that particular store. For example I want to show you the difference in UK carrier bags to US carrier bags. The carrier bags from New York  are creative and something you will want to use over and over again. The cardboard and satin handles makes it feel exclusive and exciting and it feels as if the consumer was given a free bag because they are so decorative. However the UK is very different, the plastic and breakable bags are boring, bleak and minimal. They do not express the brands essence nor act as an extra item that is given to the consumer. Here I have illustrated the difference.

US.

UK.

Store environments in the US are also very different to those in the UK. The brands essence in the US are reflected through the in-store decor and visual displays. Also they had many open spaces and seating areas to enhance a pleasant and relaxed shopping experience. However many UK stores feel cramped and uninviting due to the clear mess of clothes, the lack of space around mannequins and clothing rails and the general lack of a welcoming and friendly atmosphere around many stores. Here are some images of the difference from UK stores to stores in NY.

US.

UK.

Some more of my adventure..

Because I have talked alot about the city itself and not incorporated my experience, I thought I would share some more images of friends and I in the concrete jungle (please take into account it was two years ago and my photography was quite bad)!

Ice Skating with a view

During our visit, we visted New Jersey (town oustide New York). I think the picture shows how idylic it is without even describing it!

We ate way too much food in NYC.

Slight action shot as we drive past Macy's in yellow cab

Times Square.

Amazing Trump Tower (hotel).

New York through the bliss of Central Park.

Whilst in New York we went to two sports events in Madison Square Gardens.. NY Knicks basketball.

and the Ice Hockey. Brutal.



Iconic Ground Zero.

Need a cab?

The last few of iconic New York City.

The Department store.

America, in particular New York holds many famous department stores such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Saks 5th Avenue, Barneys etc. These stores are very similar to the department stores in the UK due to the types of products they sell, and the marketing tools used to advertise their products. All the American stores sell housewares, clothing, beauty products etc and sell at the mid market level. The branches I have mentioned above are similar to stores in the UK such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis so on and so on! I thought I would introduce you to these stores with a little bit of information on their brand and identity.

Saks 5th avenue is a luxury department store. They sell designer products, clothing, furniture, jewellery, beauty products and Housewares. The store is very well known for its legendary, personal customer service and top merchandising offers as I experienced whilst visiting New York.

Macy's  is a US chain that sells products such as clothing, footwear, accessories, housewares and cosmetics at a mid to high market price point. The store is one of the best known department stores across the US with over 800 branches.

Barneys is another chain of luxury department stores selling similar to products to Macy's and Saks. The store sells many designer products from names such as Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Fendi, Jill Sander..... Currently Barneys has a variety of sub brands such as Barneys outlet and Barneys COOP. The store is very well known with the rich and famous. SJP, who once said.. ' if you are a nice person and you work hard, you get to shop at Barneys. Its the decent reward.' The store is also very well known for its memorable window displays (as shown below... Queen Elizabeth made out of sponges).

Bloomingdale's, most famously known as the store for the 'Medium Brown Bag' is owned by Macy's. The store holds similar products to Macy's as well as optical products, a salon and a portrait studio. The store leads the way with exclusive merchandise, customized services and alternative shopping venues which tries to set Bloomingdale's away from the rest and ahead of the game.

Only seen in New York.

Visual Merchandising in New York is slightly excessive but brilliant. Every store from Banana Republic and Old Navy to Hollister, Anthropologie and Prada, the window displays, visual clothing displays and general in-store environment makes every store in New York unique, exciting and a shopping experience never to forget. The displays not only invite you into the store but they also create a memorable experience and allow the customers to feel welcomed even if they are unlikely to purchase anything. The magical visual work that is spread across the city makes every shoppers dream become realised, no longer is there the hustle and bustle from the UK high street but instead a tranquil, exquisite and calm shopping experience that every women dreams of. Below I have gathered some images from a variety of homeware, clothing, food and designer stores that show some of the best Visual displays and merchandising found in the city of dreams.

Prada never fails to impress, with their incredible steps of luxury and clothing displays.

Macy's christmas displays.



Naples soap store.

Impressive Anthropologie again.

M&M mmmmmm store.

Louis Vuitton's accessory store is classy yet minimalistic.

Who thought you could make ties look like this?.. Only in NYC!

Barbie's are spread across the 'Barbie' store making every little girls dream come true.

Lacoste.

J-Crew for men shows that every little detail counts with visual displays.

ABC homeware.

My dream at the Lindt store..

The new Dior store is sophisticated and exclusive showing the brands class.

And finally even the New York Topshop has rose to create an exoctic visual display.