Smart Fixtures Designer Karen L

The Little Twig

2010-09-19T21:11:00.000-07:00

I have a new store design that I am extremely excited about. It will be opening this October right here in Chattanooga. It is a high-end organic boutique for mothers, babies and children. Think cloth diapers, organic clothing, bath and body products, nursing wear, safe toys and more. We've furnished it with our signature SmartShelves, Nesting Tables and Apparel Displays. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it opens!

Trade Show Package

2010-06-17T22:13:00.001-07:00

Spa Retail Design

2010-06-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Salon & Spa Display Design

2009-11-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Merchandising for the Holidays

2009-10-26T06:37:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for the holidays? Do you have promotions ready? How do your salon displays look? More about salon merchandising to come...

Commercial can feel Residential

2009-08-31T11:34:00.001-07:00

I designed this lobby and offices to have a relaxed, comfortable setting. It has a residential feel, which is warm and inviting. For a dentist's office, this type of environment is usually unheard of. I think I would like spending time here!

If you are interested in seeing what I can do for your space, please feel free to contact me at 1-888-949-9042 or send an email to kliwanpo@smartfixtures.com.

Salon Layout with Mixed Finishes

2009-08-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

In this design, my client, a returning customer, wanted a store layout for his new salon opening. They requested a mix of pearwood and cherry, which is what was purchased in their previous order. Various views of the final layout, are included. At Smart Fixtures, we offer complimentary design assistance and provide 3D renderings of your space to ensure it fits and to provide you with a visual of your space. We will deliver your displays in about a week!

Smart Fixtures - Maximize Your Retail Space

2009-07-30T20:17:00.001-07:00

Maximizing Floor Space

2009-06-25T13:13:00.001-07:00

Here is a great example of a dilemma many salons have to deal with: A relatively small area (only 6 feet by 6 feet in this instance) dedicated to retail. Fortunately with Smart Fixtures, we have the ability to offer customized options to perfectly fit the look you want and help you maximize your retail space. The end result is an attractive and professional look that enhances not only your products, but your entire salon.

Added bonus: Smart Fixtures are reconfigurable and assemble tool-free.

Salon Fixtures

2009-06-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Based on a floor plan and a description from my client, I was able to help them visualize their space through 3D renderings. I suggested a few options and this was the one they selected. I think the end result came out beautifully.

Customizing SmartShelves

2009-05-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

I recently had the privilege of helping a client custom design shelving around a fireplace, using our signature SmartShelves. We selected the espresso finish and created a tiered look with the tallest shelves standing at 9' and reinforced with brackets. My client loved the versatility of our product - from selecting various depths to being able to creating an elongated, elegant look such as this one. We also chose an entertainment console to match as well as a 4' bookshelf.

Smart Fixtures for Trade Shows - it's that time again

2009-05-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Smart Fixtures are the perfect solution for your trade show display. I feel that these photos speak for themselves. Not only are the products highlighted well, each display is unique and enhances the look of the merchandise and the overall brand of the company.

Contact me at kliwanpo@smartfixtures.com to receive your complimentary, custom design today.

Creative Suite Custom Package featuring Steelcase

2009-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Creative Suite Custom Office Package

With a multitude of options and selections to choose from, you can easily customize any space with home office furniture by Steelcase. With stylish curves and workspace galore, this custom home office package flows with creativity and comfort. Designed and customized using some of my favorite items, this custom home office package includes:

Uno Chair, designed by Charles Perry
Become one with this great chair, featuring hammock-style support for your entire body. Other amenities include swivel mechanism, pneumatic height and standard carpet casters.
Groupwork Desk with Screen Slatwall, by Turnstone from Steelcase
Tour Pile File, by Turnstone from Steelcase
Can't decide on piling up or filing in? Then the Tour Pile File is perfect for your changing needs.

Choose the colors and finishes that work best with your space, or contact me for a free custom home office design that's right for you!

Salon Redesign

2009-04-29T20:01:00.001-07:00

This project is currently in progress. I'm adding new fixtures - a 12' wall and a 10' window display, quoting these right now to include lower storage, a newly furnished waiting area and café tables for the processing area. The budget has not yet been established (which is normally the first step) and this is the first design so I expect some changes.

Smart Fixtures are Perfect for Yarn Stores

2009-04-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Smart Fixtures can give you the look of built-ins or custom carpentry at a more affordable price. We offer an array of finishes to match your décor, tool-free assembly, versatile designs and a lifetime warranty. This photograph features Annie & Company's beautiful shop. Perfect for organizing your skeins, Annie & Co. is one of the largest retailers in New York!

Happy Clients Make Us Happy

2009-04-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

"I'm thrilled!" Cubitec Display photo sent from a client

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The Psychology of Color at Retail

2009-04-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Beks From http://www.retailcustomerexperience.com

The one major psychological influence that all retailers can — and do — make use of is color. Color can be everything to a successful store, if the palettes work well across the whole shop and complement other elements such as product displays and lighting. The point, according to retail designers, isn't about creating the most beautiful shop, but one that has coherence.

Color is central to coherence because we react instinctively to it. Red means "stop" and green means "go." Our brains are hot-wired to respond to color and, for modern retailers, the trick to using color is to understand both its physiological and psychological influences.

Color psychology perhaps explains why people are allegedly more relaxed in a green room and why weightlifters perform better in blue gyms. It's certainly the reason why some paint manufacturers now have color cards setting out the therapeutic aspects of each color, and why some cosmetic companies have introduced "color therapy" ranges.

To make things more complicated, the success of a retail store isn't so much influenced by the chosen color scheme but by how their target customers react to it. Is the store aimed at teenagers? Thirty-somethings? Senior citizens? The success of the store depends on how the customer reacts to both the products on display and the sales environment. Younger people like the energy of bold colors; older people prefer more subtle palettes. Get those colors wrong, and a retailer will find that their customers simply won't relate to the brand.

Color association also extends into food retailing. For example, most fast-food restaurants are decorated in vivid reds and oranges. These are colors that encourage us to eat quickly and leave — exactly what the fast-food operator wants us to do. Luxurious brands, on the other hand, favor softer colors that appear more sophisticated. In classier restaurants, those are the colors that encourage us to linger — and to order another drink, another coffee.

Some retailers are now using carpeting to influence patterns of travel around a store — particularly from the crucial zone just inside the shop entrance, often referred to as the compression or transition zone — the place where customers first orientate themselves with what's inside. Here, carpeting is being used to subtly direct shoppers deeper into the store or, by using different colors and patterns, create subconscious walkways that shoppers will tend to follow.

By recognizing how color influences us, retailers are better able to induce feelings of warmth, intimacy or serenity — or, by using more vibrant palettes, to excite or stimulate. It's about understanding target markets, the product lines to appeal to them and the kind of brand the retailer wants to convey. Lastly, it's about conveying that brand though color and design.

Commercial Office Concepts using Steelcase

2009-03-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Merchandising Tip: Choosing Displays

2009-03-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Choosing your displays and fixtures is as important as selecting products. This is an investment that is well worth the price. Often, manufacturers will offer a free display with purchase. Why does this incentivize retailers? Because it makes you feel like you're saving money.

Unfortunately, the free fixture with purchase is not the most beneficial option for you because it becomes a billboard for that manufacturer and removes the focus from your products to the architecture of the display. Investing in consistent displays throughout your retail area is the best way to display products. Your displays are there to enhance product, not detract. Keeping everything clean and uncluttered helps maintain a fresh look.

When we re-merchandised this salon with Smart Fixtures, we tripled his sales. He is now paying his rent with his retail sales. See the before and after photos.

Also, remember to keep your displays full with products! You need to show you're serious about what you do and you believe in the products you're selling.

Merchandising Tip: Nesting Tables

2009-03-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Impulse purchases make up 70% of all purchases. Nesting Tables encourage your customers to interact with products and also help establish promotions and new products. They present products clearly and directly to the client. 67% of people who interact with a product will purchase. Many successful retailers today display their products on nesting and display tables (think Bath and Body, Victoria's Secret, Old Navy, etc.) because they have been proven to boost sales.

Salon Academy - Retail Area

2009-03-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

Store Plan

2009-03-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Gourmet Food Franchise

2009-03-12T09:07:00.001-07:00

Gourmet Food Chain

2009-03-12T09:01:00.001-07:00

Starbucks Kiosk Display

2009-03-12T08:54:00.001-07:00

Retail update with custom displays

2009-03-12T08:51:00.000-07:00