Darkroom -- a lovely new store in London I wish I could visit

http://www.darkroomlondon.com/

Shoppers are doing more research, and starting earlier.

This Google research shows that by the end of Aug 2009, almost half of Christmas shoppers had begun shopping and over a third had started purchasing. That's 4 months prior to the holidays. On the other end of the spectrum, just 5 days prior to Christmas, many had yet to begin shopping or purchasing.

This data reveals that the shopping cycle is longer than expected with a large portion of shoppers researching far in advance but remaining more comfortable waiting until the last minute to finish up.

And how much are they researching? on average of 16 days for top researched items Electronics and Home Appliances categories.

Muttropolis.com

http://www.muttropolis.com/products2.cfm/id/9275/name/Humunga-Stache-Durable-Dog-Toy

Great Blog: London Store Fronts

http://www.londonshopfronts.com

Nice 'tagline' on this example - BARGAINS GALORE IN THIS WALK AROUND STORE COME IN AND LOOK AROUND EVERY THINGS A POUND

Another great store sign

Sizing Profiles Help With Online Clothes Shopping

www.orgasizer.com

The best-laid plans to give clothing as a gift can be foiled in an instant for lack of the recipient's correct size. Aiming to banish such disappointments once and for all, Belgian OrgaSizer offers an online place to check the sizes and preferences of loved ones and friends.

Users of OrgaSizer begin by registering with their age, location and gender, among other information. They can then enter all their sizes and preferences for a variety of different types of clothing. Along the way, users can decide what information they'd like to share with others, and exactly whom they'd like to share it with. Nothing is ever publicly shared, OrgaSizer stresses. Users can also create wish lists and request reminders about important gift-giving dates. Ultimately, the idea is that shoppers hoping to purchase a gift can then check the site from wherever they happen to be to see what the recipient wants, and in what sizes or variations.

OrgaSizer is still smoothing out the edges on its site, which at present is available only in English. More languages are coming soon, along with advertising support, it's hoped. Clothing brands and retailers around the globe: one to sponsor, partner with or otherwise get involved in?

from http://springwise.com/weekly/2010-03-10.htm#orgasizer

Urban Outfitters Targets Brides

Urban Outfitters is planning to launch a wedding brand after posting a record profit in 2009.

U.O. officials said the company will open a new bridal business in time for Valentine’s Day 2011.

Chief Executive Officer Glen Senk says the Philadelphia-based company’s Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie stores frequently sell to brides and bridal parties, so a foray into the wedding industry makes sense. The new brand is yet to be named.

Company research indicates the average wedding costs about $45,000 and brides spend $4,500 on clothing and accessories.

eBay Goes Green

http://green.ebay.com/

eBay is launching a green shopping site and ad campaign. For the first 250,000 users who pledge to reuse on eBay, the company will preserve one acre of rainforest.

The mantra of the campaign's site says that purchasing used is as beneficial to the environment – and as helpful – as recycling or conservation. Director of eBays 'Green Team' Amy Skoczlas Cole, comments, “Most people think you have to make a product in a certain way with a certain set of ingredients for it to be green. What we’re saying is you don’t have to make this new product at all."

Environmental experts agree that reusing products does have benefits. Not entirely altruistic, eBay has suffered from shrinking market share and a push for ecologically minded shoppers is a strategic move.

Items qualified as green by eBay might be pre-owned or recylced in some manner. The ad campaign will feature a five-page insert appearing in 15 Hearts magazines starting in April – to coincide with Earth Day. It showcases sustainable products in room displays. A sample tag: “Choosing a previously owned espresso machine saves 90% of the CO2 needed to produce a new one. So you get the jolt you need without compromising mankind."

Gap Upside Down Store

http://design-fetish.blogspot.com/2010/03/gap-upside-down-store.html

"Shopping turned on its head" isn't just a meaningless tagline for GAP. They literally mean it. To promote their new loyalty program, Sprize, the GAP in Vancouver, BC turned its entire store upside-down. All of the mannequins, displays and even the sign were flipped, as well as some cars and a hotdog stand outside of the store.