Global trade has resulted in more products travelling ever-increasing distances from production to final consumption and disposal. While ‘food miles’ simplistically means the distance food travels from farm to consumer, the term implies the impacts underlying the food system, such as energy use and contribution to climate change, dependence on fossil fuels, traffic congestion, as well as social and economic impacts on rural communities and developing countries. New Zealand food products have often been targeted by overseas campaigns for low food miles to illustrate the long distance products travel to export markets such as Europe, North America or Japan. This attention poses a potential risk to New Zealand exports, but often local sourcing is not always the most environmentally sound solution if more emissions are generated at other stages of the product life cycle than during transport.
An interesting take on informing consumers in this space is provided by Lays in the USA - check out their chip tracker: http://www.fritolay.com/lays/chip-tracker.html
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A multi-dimensional experience of art, beauty and fashion
The Department Store opens in New Zealand on Auckland's Takapuna this October, bringing a multi-dimensional experience of art, beauty and fashion into one chic location.
This is touted as New Zealand’s newest example of international retail thinking, with the new space operating over three levels. The Department Store will showcase a fresh selection of the best creative brands New Zealand has to offer.
Watch this space...
Alternative distribution channels
Recent media has picked up on a trend we predicted in our report, Retail 2020. In essence we say that retailers have to become more savvy and adapt their behaviour to four key areas, or face demise - one article was obviously picked up by an editor, given by the time it went to press, I was quoted as saying retail will be dead in 2020...
One of the key areas we discuss is alternatve channels to connect with consumers, and we particulalrly noted the rise in retail vending machines. A recent releace by trendwatching picks up on this and reports a number of interesting developments in this space:
Barcelona company Lof (short for 'Lo Fresco') has developed a range of vending machines that only dispense healthy food, from prepared fruit and ready meals to gazpacho soup.
Redbox specializes in the vending of DVDs via self-service kiosks. Redbox kiosks are located throughout the US in fast food restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores and convenience stores, leasing out DVDs from USD 1 per night.
Launched earlier this year, US based U*tique bills itself as the world's first interactive, automated luxury store for "life's little emergencies and indulgences". Debuting at Los Angeles retailer Fred Segal, U*tique lets consumers learn about selected luxury and personal-care products and have them dispensed with a swipe of their credit card. Only 50 products are available at any given time, and all have been handpicked by product specialists with backgrounds in global beauty, trend-hunting and innovation. The technology features a touch-screen interface, interactive LED lighting design, and a behind-the-scenes robot that delivers products from secure storage into consumers' hands.
German farm 'Peter-und-Paul-Hof' has begun selling its fresh produce in vending machines. The specially designed Regiomat machines sell milk, eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns and communities.
The Standard Hotel chain in the US has introduced a retail concept by placing vending machines stocked with designer swimming trunks in their hotels. Quiksilver and André Balazs' have partnered to fill the vending machines in the New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Miami hotels.
Bike manufacturer Trek set up a prototype Trek Stop Cycling Convenience Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Located outside (and operated by) bike shop Machinery Row, the Trek Stop is a convenience center for cyclists. The vending machine is stocked with bicycle products such as spare tubes, patches, tire levers and more, along with food and cold drinks.
InstyMeds have developed vending machines to dispense medication. The machines are designed to be placed in doctors’ offices, clinics, emergency rooms and other healthcare facilities. Each holds 100 of some of the most often used medications, ranging from pills to drops to creams and so forth.
Two British companies now sell their version of portable ballet flats in vending machines at nightclubs: Rollasoles sell for about GBP 5 and come in four colors: Hi Ho Silver, Gold Digger, Back to Black and Pink. Afterheels are similar rollable ballet flats which have the added feature of being recyclable.
Last year, US Electronics retailer Best Buy installed vending machines at 14 major US airports as part of a successful pilot program for the company's new Best Buy express kiosks. The kiosks are large vending machines that carry cell phone and computer accessories, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, gaming devices, travel adapters, and other items that are likely to appeal to customers on the go.
Kosher Vending Industries in the US operates "Hot Nosh" vending machines that deliver hot kosher meals in 90 seconds. The company originally launched with more than 50 locations in New York City and has expanded nationwide through partnering agreements and regional licensing.
One of the key areas we discuss is alternatve channels to connect with consumers, and we particulalrly noted the rise in retail vending machines. A recent releace by trendwatching picks up on this and reports a number of interesting developments in this space:
Barcelona company Lof (short for 'Lo Fresco') has developed a range of vending machines that only dispense healthy food, from prepared fruit and ready meals to gazpacho soup.
Redbox specializes in the vending of DVDs via self-service kiosks. Redbox kiosks are located throughout the US in fast food restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores and convenience stores, leasing out DVDs from USD 1 per night.
Launched earlier this year, US based U*tique bills itself as the world's first interactive, automated luxury store for "life's little emergencies and indulgences". Debuting at Los Angeles retailer Fred Segal, U*tique lets consumers learn about selected luxury and personal-care products and have them dispensed with a swipe of their credit card. Only 50 products are available at any given time, and all have been handpicked by product specialists with backgrounds in global beauty, trend-hunting and innovation. The technology features a touch-screen interface, interactive LED lighting design, and a behind-the-scenes robot that delivers products from secure storage into consumers' hands.
German farm 'Peter-und-Paul-Hof' has begun selling its fresh produce in vending machines. The specially designed Regiomat machines sell milk, eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns and communities.
The Standard Hotel chain in the US has introduced a retail concept by placing vending machines stocked with designer swimming trunks in their hotels. Quiksilver and André Balazs' have partnered to fill the vending machines in the New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Miami hotels.
Bike manufacturer Trek set up a prototype Trek Stop Cycling Convenience Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Located outside (and operated by) bike shop Machinery Row, the Trek Stop is a convenience center for cyclists. The vending machine is stocked with bicycle products such as spare tubes, patches, tire levers and more, along with food and cold drinks.
InstyMeds have developed vending machines to dispense medication. The machines are designed to be placed in doctors’ offices, clinics, emergency rooms and other healthcare facilities. Each holds 100 of some of the most often used medications, ranging from pills to drops to creams and so forth.
Two British companies now sell their version of portable ballet flats in vending machines at nightclubs: Rollasoles sell for about GBP 5 and come in four colors: Hi Ho Silver, Gold Digger, Back to Black and Pink. Afterheels are similar rollable ballet flats which have the added feature of being recyclable.
Last year, US Electronics retailer Best Buy installed vending machines at 14 major US airports as part of a successful pilot program for the company's new Best Buy express kiosks. The kiosks are large vending machines that carry cell phone and computer accessories, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, gaming devices, travel adapters, and other items that are likely to appeal to customers on the go.
Kosher Vending Industries in the US operates "Hot Nosh" vending machines that deliver hot kosher meals in 90 seconds. The company originally launched with more than 50 locations in New York City and has expanded nationwide through partnering agreements and regional licensing.
The House of Aroha
When talking to retailers about consumer trends I frequently refer to consumers' desire to customise and personalise product offerings. And although this is often easy to put into words, it is harder to put into practice... You can imagine my surprise on a recent trip to New Zealand when I stumbled across a small boutique in the regional town of Napier who is leading the way in customisation and persoanlisation.
The House of Aroha is a boutique showcasing what they love, art, music, design, and clothing. Aroha is the Maori word for love, and the love of the in-house design team hits you in the face when you walk into this store. Walls are adorned with local designs, motifs and iconography and each design can be customised in its colour and framed on the spot for customers. But more surprisingly, a large back areas of the store is dedicated to what seems to be a sort of press, which enables any design to take any colour, and be printed onto high quality t-shirts, with environmentally-friendly ink.
In their own words "Made with Aroha specialises in screen printing and producing hand printed T-shirts and art prints using solvent free water based inks that are nice for the environment, printer and wearer. We have an in-house design department where we create our own collections as well as collaborate with artists to produce limited edition T-shirts, art prints and all sorts of printed goodness."
Congratulations to the team at the House of Aroha... you've developed a truely inspirational space which allows customers to co-create their product offerings.
The House of Aroha is a boutique showcasing what they love, art, music, design, and clothing. Aroha is the Maori word for love, and the love of the in-house design team hits you in the face when you walk into this store. Walls are adorned with local designs, motifs and iconography and each design can be customised in its colour and framed on the spot for customers. But more surprisingly, a large back areas of the store is dedicated to what seems to be a sort of press, which enables any design to take any colour, and be printed onto high quality t-shirts, with environmentally-friendly ink.
In their own words "Made with Aroha specialises in screen printing and producing hand printed T-shirts and art prints using solvent free water based inks that are nice for the environment, printer and wearer. We have an in-house design department where we create our own collections as well as collaborate with artists to produce limited edition T-shirts, art prints and all sorts of printed goodness."
Congratulations to the team at the House of Aroha... you've developed a truely inspirational space which allows customers to co-create their product offerings.
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