Happy Holidays!
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Author Archives: skittel
Muji in PDX
Muji of Japan recently opened a store in a storied retail location. The store is located in the 100 year old Meier & Frank building in downtown Portland returning a “department store” to this respected storefront.
The name is derived from Mujirushi (no-brand) Ryōhin (quality goods), Muji is noted by its design minimalism, emphasis on recycling, avoidance of waste in production and packaging, and no-logo or “no-brand” policy.
Inventory includes men’s and women’s clothing, home furnishings, food and stationary items. Also included in the store is a coffee shop and an alteration center.
Tis the season to hustle
Stopped by my area Dick’s Sporting Goods where I found a deeply discounted shirt that I could not pass up. This is the time of year when stores can be busy and lines can be long. That certainly was the case at Dick’s.
When I arrived at the checkout there were 12 customers in front of me when I glanced at my watch and wondered how long it would take to pay for the shirt. There were only two cashiers working and I debated whether I would wait in line or pass on the shirt. I decided to wait. I progressed through the line and finished paying for my shirt. Glancing at my watch, I realized that only four minutes had passed! That is a clearance rate that Wal-Mart would be proud of.
The cashiers definitely hustled. I was still treated friendly and professionally. They still took the time to check if I was a member of their loyalty club (I am). And they still promoted their fundraising program to fund kid’s sports ( donated $5 on a $25 purchase.
Being quick, friendly and efficient is always important at our registers. At the Holidays, this is particularly important. Well done, Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The Little Things
These were hanging outside of the door of my hotel room in Burns, OR.
Disturbing Sign
I saw this disturbing sign at my local Performance Bike Shop.
It’s in my blood.
Ralph & Rachel Kittel behind the counter
Some of my earliest memories are of retail. Or more specifically, the general store that my grandparents owned in Forest, WI. My grandfather Ralph passed away in 1967 and they had sold the store several years earlier, so my memories are vague at best since I would have been less than 5 years old. It was a cold water building with an outhouse out back but to me it was the most amazing place.
Just not a good idea.
I am not sure what they were thinking or if they were thinking at all, but this way of displaying their product is not a good one.
Yet another doorway brand impression
This time from Baskin-Robbins.
“A little help?”
We have all been there. Walking by a playground, a college campus, a beach or schoolyard, when we hear the call’ “A little help?”
We all know how to respond. We immediately search the area for an errant ball or frisbee that needs to be returned to the person asking for help. Finding the lost item, we toss, throw flip or kick it back to the owner hopefully with some accuracy.
Love those branded door pulls!
Speaking of brand impressions…I spotted these door pulls near the REI I visited in the previous post.
I am very fond of using door pulls to create a brand impression for visitors. Nice job BK!
The Observant Customer 