Material Investigation [case study]

In taking part in this case study, I narrowed down my selection of brands to the stores that allowed photography. A brand influences our daily selection of clothes, food, etc. I studied these five retail stores to get behind the scenes of how we are controlled in our decision. My first case study was Toys & Co. Located in Friendly Center of Greensboro, this colorful shop is nestled in and waiting for customers to occupy it's fun environment. The bright yellow and red hues are continued onto the inside of this magical toy shop. As soon as I walked in I felt like a kid because of the height of the ceiling, the walls towered over you with toys and stuffed animals. My eyes shifted from wall to wall of color. Lights flooded the space along with objects hanging from the ceiling. The floor was carpeted and easy to sit down and enjoy your self. Every texture was covered in toys showcased and ready to buy. This brand is set for a child's imagination to run wild, and for a parent to enjoy and relive their childhood experiences of a great toy store.






Next onto one of my favorite stores Pier 1 Imports. The blue and white sign was calling my name as I crossed the parking lot. I'm sure many can relate with so much on display it is hard to walk out with empty hands. Pier 1 enables you to select different styles of objects because of it's layout. You first walk in and smell pumpkin spices mixed with vanilla and see everything. The lighting isn't focused on single objects it is evenly spaced among the ceiling allowing you to focus your attention and what catches your eye. Wooden shelves complement the many pieces of furniture. That is one thing I do enjoy the furniture on display becomes the showcasing stacked with chairs, vases, and embellished pillows.


image found at : www.giftcertificates.com/shop/item.aspx?item_..





Up next was The Limited. The huge glass windows displayed the mannequins dressed sophisticated. When I envision The Limited I always think of the black encased doors and marble flooring. A polished look for a sleek brand. What I observed within this store was the attention to detail and making the clothes come to life. Like the new fall display of the colorful scarves pouring out of a paint can. New items were highlighted with spot lighting and displayed separately. The walls were white leaving the color to be filled by the apparel. I love the organization of this store everything neatly folded and hung on wooden surfaces complementing the marble floor. This brand is serious and enables a customer to trust the product and people will take them serious by the way they dress.

Onto the next store Claire's. This store is filled with goods overflowing from the walls onto the floor. Teenage girls envy this store and I know I could spend over an hour browsing over all the products. When I first entered the store a huge neon sign saying ear piercing caught my attention. So besides the many choices of chap sticks and jewelry you can also get your ears pierced. One thing about the store is everything is accessible, earrings spin on displays in the middle of the store and everything is all at arms reach. Lighting highlights the walls bringing attention to sales and products among the sides. Carpet is the floors surface which is smart being that many of the items can break if dropped on a hard surface. This space is youth friendly and enjoyable.








Lastly was Chuck E. Cheese's. Immediately the atmosphere changed as soon as the doors opened. The sound of chaos came blaring from the game section. Children ran past me with balloons and crowns. This brand slogan is "Where a kid can be a kid" what I experienced didn't fall short from that. Every surface was covered in lights and color. Towards the back the lighting dimmed and the walls were painted black. From what I observed that is where you reserve your birthday space. The face of Chuck E. Cheese's was posted everywhere from the walls to the games even a life size standing rat which was motion censored. In this case branding came with the experience of the space because the atmosphere was just as animated as the children within it.






photos taken by Diana Stanisic