Jessica Mills, MDes’ Post

Instead of praising Starbucks for creating a new inclusive store format with more accessibility for customers and employees, maybe we should be saying: What took them so long? As Starbucks said, "An estimated one in four adults in the United States has a disability." Many people with disabilities want to work. Disabilities range from bad backs to mobility issues tied to various disorders like MS. We all know people like this, who want to work but can't find a suitable job. This is long overdue in the industry. Still, if anyone is going to lead the industry in this manner, my money will always be on Starbucks. I'm glad this is not a beta test. The chain said, "Moving forward, all newly built and renovated Starbucks company-operated stores in the U.S. will begin to incorporate the framework, a key milestone in ensuring Starbucks continues to expand accessibility and inclusion. The framework will also be open sourced and further developed to help expand accessibility across the retail industry." Read more about the company's Inclusive Spaces Framework here: https://lnkd.in/gkQzMewH

A common concern I hear from my designer friends when we discuss ensuring accessibility is accounted for throughout the experience lifecycle, including in design, is that it will take away some of their creative direction or will result in a reduced customer experience. I understand the concerns, so it's good to see examples of when the intersection of design and accessibility is done in a way that benefits us all. This article outlines all the enhancements Starbucks is bringing to their stores (I love that they're starting in DC!), as an example of how to do it without compromising what I think many will agree is the aesthetically pleasing design and functionality of their stores. It can work! #inclusivedesign #accessibilitymatters #starbucks https://lnkd.in/eUArZAMa

'“This whole journey of launching Bloomie’s and opening Bloomie’s has really been about innovation and learning, and frankly listening to [customers].”' Really interesting article about how Macy's is developing a scaled-down, contemporary, Bloomingdale's format (Bloomie's) to bring a curated version of the department store experience to more customers. It quotes analyst Jessica Ramírez as saying that 'department stores have struggled to understand shoppers and what they want in recent years.' Meanwhile discounters have been increasing their market share. So by really studying local markets, understanding customer needs and wants, and creating a memorable, differentiated, edited brand experience, the new format has shown itself to be more productive than its traditional parent. A great demonstration of how even the perceived 'dinosaurs' of physical retail can tap into the human need for social interaction, by listening to customers (!) and creating physical stores that deliver an experience that can't be replaced by online, and is worth the effort of getting there. #futureofretail #ambience #highstreet #customerexperience

2024 Experience pendulum shifts. I have been advocating for what I refer to as "Hospitality Retail" since 2020. The culture shift in retail, experiences and consumer behavior has been very evident in retail, and hospitality for over a decade. The past 3 years has only expedited what was happening or what was inevitable in my POV. It is about quality, community, hospitality, experiences designed for human social engagement and discovery (solo or in groups). Loyalty is not born from a temporary 'wow' moment. When we created and launched the 9x Award-Winning Brand Closet Showroom Socials (BCSS) "3-City Escapes" with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants at the height of the Pandemic, it was intended to deep dive into the new new mindset and spatial implications of travel+hospitality+retail experiential. Elizabeth Segran, Ph.D. and I are on the same page when it comes to the new culture of retail, shopping and the importance of designing places which inspire relaxation, loyalty and genuine pleasure. http://f-st.co/xjxNJqx #retail #experiencedesign #consumerbehavior #experiential #futureofretail 

Interesting read on Starbucks and their new inclusive design framework for all new builds and renovations in the US. I hope it comes to the UK and worldwide too! Quite a comprehensive list of accessible touch points for Starbucks staff and customers: from POS, access, and communication. One aspect which caught my attention was acoustic dampening - reducing noise and helping those with hearing loss. #InclusiveDesign #accessibility

Design Spotlight. 🙌 I'm loving the art direction on this rebranding!✨ The sans-serif font chosen gives off a very modern feel, perfect for attracting young people looking to satisfy their hunger! I especially love this key point: "Synonymous with the brand, Tim Hortons' red is a powerful asset. By broadening the colour palette, we unlocked diverse new potential for the brand across the portfolio — but we were careful to preserve the iconic red’s unmistakable impact on key touchpoints such as coffee cups, in-store graphics and signage." The studio took the existing brand identity color red into play with this rebrand. 🔴 Often times, a rebrand is done just on a whim, with no or little market research involved. One look at the Tropicana rebrand is proof of this. 🍊 It was a very costly rebrand because it didn't resonate with buyers. The rebrand carton looked like orange silly putty instead of the well-recognized staple: the red and white straw inside of an orange, relating back to tasting like a hand-picked orange. Red is a very bold color, often used in restaurant industries. Keeping it was an intentional move! Check out the full case study by Taxi Studio! Reposted with permission. Link in original post. #designstudio #taxistudio #rebrand #artdirection #designspotlight #motiongraphics #timhortons #graphicdesign #brandidentity #brandidentityrefresh

The power of #inclusion #creativity #design can illustrate how the #businesscase for #disability can be actualized. Starbucks can be a model all companies should pay attention too! #DISABILITYECONOMY

The small business we want to highlight today is Earl of East, a lifestyle emporium, coffee shop, and event space that began its journey as a market stall in East London. The independent brand is now running three bricks-and-mortar stores in London, supporting its four pillars; ‘Create, Curate, Collaborate, and Community’ and all of these tenets can be seen in the way they operate their physical retail spaces. Their own sustainably made home fragrance products share shelf space with other independent brands and designers that Earl of East have curated, and their products are stocked in stores around the world. But what we really admire here at Agile Retail is how they utilise their storefronts! To build and connect with the local community their locations go beyond simply selling their wares. Earl of East has integrated a coffee shop into their retail space, and they regularly run Workshops and classes for candle making, terrazzo tiling, terrarium building and bouquet arranging! Their commitment to collaboration and community in particular has led to new and more memorable reasons to visit their stores, and a store that keeps customers coming back. A unique retail experience will impact customers more than you can imagine. By creating community-led activities in the same physical space that houses their products Earl of East achieves two things; they encourage customers to return to their storefront more often for a coffee or a workshop, and they also steer their customer interactions away from the transactional and further toward the experiential. A physical storefront is the most essential tool for building a relationship with your customers. Getting face-to-face with real consumers is irreplaceable especially if you are on home turf in your own retail location. Agile Retail creates unique and purposeful storefronts, quickly! Our expert creative and build team can make your brand’s dream store a reality and we continue to change and develop the store over time to provide the perfect customer experience. Creating a community is an essential pathway into the lives of your customers, going beyond a transactional relationship. With a physical store, this community becomes much more real! To find out how Agile Retail can help make this happen for your brand, get in touch at [email protected]! #NationalSmallBusinessWeek #PhysicalRetail #AgileRetail #EarlofEast #Independent Brand #LifestyleBrand #Fragrance #CandleMaker

Yesterday I was delighted to participate in The Retail Bulletin panel focussing on the role of physical retail on the high street. The question put to me as the founder of Positive Retail 'What do customers want in terms of sustainability and what are they buying?' My answer... ❤️ In a world that currently feels very heavy, very corrupt and a 'high street' with sustainability collections that are a distraction from mass over-production issues customers want HONESTY & CONNECTION. They deserve HONESTY, RESPECT & CONNECTION. ❤️ You need to build something compelling, truthful, attractive and then explain with heart and passion why you exist in order to have a thriving physical space. ❤️ For over 2 years I've been on our shop floors explaining the 'Why' of Positive Retail to our community. 'We exist to help eliminate waste whilst honouring product, value & customer experience.' I find joy & pride every weekend in spreading our brand message and know my staff do too! There is no better way to do this than IRL. Humans need humans, we need connection, we need truth and we need to feel like we are spending our money at places with integrity. And in short.....my customers are all buying good quality stuff at fair prices because I expertly curate it that way! 💪 They're a savvy, fun community and I love them. Thanks for a fab panel and to my fellow panellist. Penny Grivea Tony Brown Rowland Gee, Hannah Wade Rob Savin and the expert panel chair Wizz Selvey #retailinnovation #retailindustry #retaildesign #retailers #newbusiness #sustainability #sustainableclothing #shopping #shops #visualmerchandising #peopleandculture #sustainabilitymatters #retailnews #retailstore