Displays & Signs

Retailers who fail to promote back-to-college offers and savings this year do so at their own peril.   

Gen Z shoppers are gearing up to hit the stores for back-to-school purchases — and their top destination is Walmart.    Thirty-six percent of boys and girls cite Walmart as their first choice for back-to-school shopping, more than double that of any other retailer, according to a survey conducted by strategic retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory.    

On the heels of opening its first location in Arizona, West Elm is entering a new state.   The home furnishings retailer, a division of Williams-Sonoma, will open its first store in Maine, in the historic Old Port district of Portland. The 12,000 sq. ft. location will open its doors on Thursday, July 27.   

Adidas has upped its game with a store that celebrates the heritage and vibe of its Venice Beach, California, locale.     The company has opened a 5,900-sq.-ft. store on Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice Beach, dedicated to its Originals brand. The store combines such classic lines as Stan Smith with new ones such as NMD. The space will also house immersive events and installations on a regular basis in order to encourage localized experiences, create community among streetwear lovers and connect with local culture enthusiasts.

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Design Store continues to expand its footprint with the opening of a store in Kyoto, Japan.   The 1,076-sq.-ft. space offers an edited version of MoMA’s signature selection of tabletop, workspace and personal accessories, lighting and tech products, art reproductions and stationery. It also features items designed and produced in Japan.  

J.C. Penney isn't playing around when it comes to toys.  

Amazon may be pulling out the stops to lure customers to participate in Prime Day, but competitors are taking steps to grab their own online sales.    The online giant’s third annual Prime Day global shopping extravaganza officially kicked off on Monday, July 10, at 6 pm PST, and will run until the wee hours of morning on July 12. Eager to take advantage of early bird shoppers, Amazon began rolling out sneak previews — and sales opportunities — as early as last week.   

Organic Garage has opened an urban-inspired flagship that takes its design cues from the industrial surroundings and city streetscapes of its locale. Located in Toronto’s west-end Junction neighborhood, the 15,000-sq.-ft. grocery store incorporates murals and graffiti, street signs, pavement markings, guardrails, street lights, and building signs. To add to the authenticity, a local graffiti artist painted over brick walls giving a vibrant and urban feel to the space.