“As the pandemic has waned, downtown Seattle has remained under capacity, with lower-than-planned occupancy,” says Stocker. “Despite that, the latest PCC has become what it intended all along: a hub for groceries and high-quality prepared and specialty foods. Workers and residents willingly climb the steep blocks leading up to 4th Avenue just to go to PCC,” said Principal Peter Stocker.
As the home improvement industry continues to scale in response to growing cross-generational consumer interest, we examine how this newfound focus on premium home fixtures allows for imaginative and innovative retail store design opportunities, wherein consumers can have a deeper sensorial experience that helps demystifies the decision making process and results in long term loyalty.
Our full deck is available for download at the bottom of this preview. Take me there now!
The pandemic shined a spotlight on the joys and comfort that come with being home. As consumers discovered opportunities to enhance their living space, the market for premium home fixtures experienced significant growth. From cooking at home more, to celebrating the ritual of entertaining, to a larger focus on skincare, the upkeep of both the kitchen and bathroom have become core areas of focus when thinking about luxury living.
In this survey, we investigate what motivates consumers when it comes to design inspiration for their homes and through this analysis illuminate opportunities for designing premium home fixture store environments that are not only a destination, but a place that facilitates informative dialogue while fueling one’s imagination.
As consumers continue to enhance their home by layering in luxurious touches throughout, brands and retailers in the premium fixtures industry have the opportunity to surprise and delight consumers by reimagining the store environment. Rather than a transactional experience, luxury consumers are looking for an elevated experience that makes them feel seen, heard and valued.
To identify what delivers value and drives engagement in store, it is important we first understand consumer preferences and motivations, including being both inspired and informed in store, as well as the design elements that spark the imagination. We see this demonstrated through insights around consumer interest related to product testing opportunities, displays that celebrate style and mood and technology that is both experiential and personal, all while maintaining an essence of convenience and ease.
Consumers want to feel confident that they are investing in brands that deliver on aesthetic and performance, and they are looking to brands to maintain an ongoing relationship with them based on their tastes and preferences. Whether a consumer has acquired luxury fixtures in the past or they are dreaming of the day this becomes their reality, consumers are seeking out products for their home that make them feel something special and keep them imagining for years to come.
The Lionesque Group designed Kizik’s Fashion Place store, making it both a store and a memorable billboard. It has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a digital monitor showcasing advertisements, and clear visibility of its entire product assortment.
DTC brand Kizik’s first store turns shoe shopping on its head, encouraging you to try on any shoe first and choose a style second.
Retail TouchPoints and Design: Retail have unveiled the 2023 winners of the annual 40 Under 40 Awards, representing a dynamic and diverse class of executives who have contributed to industry progress. We’re excited to see Joe Schafran, Senior Project Manager, The Lionesque Group, an MG2 Studio named one of the winners.
SMPS Seattle’s annual Reign Awards gala recognizes excellence in marketing communications and outstanding achievements of top marketing professionals.
MG2 won Best Event for “Costco’s 40th Anniversary Event & Exhibit”.
We’re honored to be included in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual list of Corporate Philanthropists.
Product Runway randomly pairs top local architecture & interior design firms with innovative product manufactures, bringing them together to collectively create runway ready garments using an array of commercial interior finish materials. MG2’s design won the People’s Choice award!
In our constant curiosity and investigation of consumer behaviors and expectations, we utilize data insights to help uncover and validate where we can deliver true points of gratification within the customer journey. Here is a snapshot of key takeaways from our latest consumer survey.
Our full deck is available for download at the bottom of this preview. Take me there now!
US-based hands-free footwear innovator Kizik is set to open its first brick-and-mortar store in Salt Lake City, Utah, next week.
The flagship store will be located at Utah’s Fashion Place mall and will open on 19 May.
Hands-free footwear company Kizik will open its first brick-and-mortar store in the heart of its home state next week as it continues to gain market share.
According to the Utah-based company, it will open a 1,293-sq.-ft. shop inside the Fashion Place Mall in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray on Friday, May 19.
We are honored to be chosen as a finalist for the Interior Design 2023 NYCxDesign Awards! Thank you to Victoria’s Secret for trusting us as their partner in this special project and to all our partners who came with us on this journey.
“The opportunity in retail developments is to deliver an environment that exudes a healthier way of living and repositions one’s mind to new possibilities – an environment that transcends its space,” says Melissa Gonzalez, a Principal at global architecture and design firm MG2 and The Lionesque Group.
According to Melissa Gonzalez, a principal at global architecture and design firm MG2 and The Lionesque Group: “The opportunity in retail development to deliver an environment that exudes a healthier way of living and repositions one’s mind to new possibilities – an environment that transcends its space.”
The Shop! Design Awards celebrate achievements in areas such as new store design, renovations, fixtures, visual presentation projects and in-store communications. Entries are cited for excellence in design, originality in use of space and materials, and quality of concept execution.
“Across the industry today, and historically, designers utilize Pinterest to convention hunt. Sure, there’s a conversation around artistry and the integrity of the art, but everybody is getting inspiration from each other. These prompts do not need to be super literal, like what we’ve seen around the Tiffany and Nike collaboration. They can just be aesthetic inspiration.” — Melissa Gonzalez, Principal, MG2 Design
Companies from Washington and beyond supported the state’s charities throughout 2022 as the economy cooled, inflation rose and as the long tail of Covid-19 lingered in our lives. The Business Journal’s lists of corporate philanthropists rank 75 of those companies for their contributions. The Business Journal will reveal the rankings of the 2023 Corporate Philanthropists rankings at the Corporate Citizenship event May 18 at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.
In our constant curiosity and investigation of consumer behaviors and expectations, we utilize data insights to help uncover and validate where we can deliver true points of gratification within the customer journey. Here is a snapshot of key takeaways from our latest consumer survey.
Our full deck is available for download at the bottom of this preview. Take me there now!
VMSD magazine celebrates the best and brightest young designers in retail design through its annual VMSD Designer Dozen awards. These 12 emerging stars recognized this year come from retail organizations and design firms across the country and internationally, and Alyssa Taylor, Designer at MG2, and The Lionesque Group, an MG2 Studio, was selected.
“Retailers need to carefully consider co-tenants, traffic counts, proximity of amenities, ease of access and real estate costs,” MJ Munsell told Chain Store Age. “It’s no longer a given that going into an inline mall location is the best strategy.”
When Waterford, a 200-year-old luxury crystal brand, aimed to revitalize its image and appeal to a younger, diverse clientele, it partnered with MG2/The Lionesque Group to create its first pop-up store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood: a stunningly immersive experience that showcased the brand’s heritage while embracing modern design to paint a bright future.
Through its experience, Waterford sought to tap into the millennial and Gen-Z market, convey its brand story innovatively, and expand regional awareness. The company’s goal was to lay the groundwork for its transition from an exclusive luxury brand to a contemporary, approachable choice for everyday glassware and décor, resonating with younger generations.
MG2/The Lionesque Group designed a visually engaging pop-up, merging Waterford’s rich history with its progressive future to create a captivating retail experience. Upon entry, visitors were greeted by a striking black-and-white portrait from the latest campaign, setting the tone for a modern, immersive space.
With a strategic layout that encouraged customers to explore and interact with the products, the retail space’s interiors featured a blend of traditional and contemporary materials, including copper accents shrouded in an edgy rock motif. Throughout, projection-mapped imagery immersed shoppers with visual depictions of the brand’s Irish roots.
A carefully curated branded experience that established next-era elegance.
Designers curated high-quality, cost-effective materials that stayed true to Waterford’s vision while skillfully balancing the brand’s desired materiality with practical concerns. Where budgeted for, high-end materials such as real copper added luxury and sophistication. To ensure these finishes remained visually appealing, the team educated store associates on proper maintenance to preserve their integrity.
MG2/The Lionesque Group’s comprehensive approach covered everything from reviewing branding materials and SKU lists to managing build-out and staffing while addressing practical concerns such as point-of-sale coordination, associate training, and inventory management. With operational coordination in check, the Waterford team was free to focus on attracting a new audience and driving sales.
The immersive retail experience, skillfully blending Waterford’s heritage with modern design elements, successfully redefined the brand’s image and connected with a new generation of consumers. With innovative approaches that helped spark renewed interest in the company’s products as everyday glassware and décor options, the pop-up store’s success reinforced the brand’s timeless appeal and adaptability in the evolving luxury market, positioning it for continued growth.
With the mission of demystifying cosmetic dermatology, Ever/Body is a beauty services provider that offers customized, high-performance treatments to its clientele. Keeping up with the growing demand for the company’s value proposition, Ever/Body sought to expand its service area throughout New York’s Tri-State region.
To make that goal a reality, they partnered with MG2/The Lionesque Group to redesign a refreshed concept that would align with the brand’s repositioning and bring its vision of growth to the next level.
Designers created spaces that were not just stores, but destinations and experiences worth visiting.
Tasked with creating a destination that grows lifetime value, builds awareness, and attracts new clients, MG2/The Lionesque Group strategized, designed, and developed Ever/Body’s new retail concept to align effectively with the brand’s repositioning.
To bring the new retail spaces to life, the team executed a holistic set of services for Ever/Body, including strategic planning and program development, real estate consultation, concept design, 2D test fits and 3D design, design development and construction documentation, and construction administration. Careful and meticulous design details were matched with methodical value engineering to ensure cost-effectiveness while still delivering a chic, cozy, and modern environment.
The partnership resulted in the opening of three new locations that align with the ethos and value proposition of the brand. The elevated, spa-like experiences incorporate natural elements infused with warm earthy colors and modern, sophisticated decor.
With a welcoming ambiance that embodies the brand’s goal of demystifying cosmetic dermatology, Ever/Body’s refreshed retail concept has proven to effectively grow lifetime value, build brand awareness, and attract new clients.
Alpha Industries, known for its iconic military streetwear clothing, partnered with retail experts at MG2/The Lionesque Group to launch its first physical retail experience in the Soho neighborhood of New York City. The brand sought to create a concept that would drive sales and tell the company’s story through key heritage moments.
Together with our team of designers, strategists, and project managers, Alpha Industries launched a dynamic and engaging retail environment that helped elevate brand awareness in local markets.
MG2/The Lionesque Group was challenged to create a retail experience that would effectively raise name recognition, educate consumers on the company’s history, establish brand loyalty, create impactful moments, and test the viability of physical retail for the brand.
To bring Alpha Industries’ story to life, the team developed an immersive and impactful retail experience, complete with a vintage jacket collection, a 14-foot-tall military plane rudder, woodland camo fabric elements, and an impactful ceiling installation that utilized the brand’s iconic “Remove Before Flight” tags.
MG2/The Lionesque Group also designed the space with larger-than-life environmental graphics featuring trademark colors and engaging questions that sparked conversations between guests and associates. During production, designers leveraged 2D layouts and 3D renderings to create a clear picture of the final product. In addition to owning build-out management, staffing set-up and operations support was also provided to ensure a seamless customer experience.
Alpha Industries’ partnership with MG2/The Lionesque Group resulted in an engaging, multi-sensory retail space showcasing products in the aura of its iconic history. The experience successfully raised brand awareness in local markets and digital channels, educated consumers on the company’s legacy, helped establish a loyal customer base, created impactful, Instagram-able moments, and solidified Alpha Industries’ position as a leader in the military streetwear clothing industry. Since opening its doors, the SoHo pop-up has been featured in Women’s Wears Daily, VMSD, and Chainstore Age.
We’re excited to be included in ENR’s 2023 Top 500 Design Firms Preview.
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