Learn how MG2’s Sustainable Materials Evaluation System helps clients, prospects, and staff choose the most environmentally feasible materials for their building projects. Candon Murphy, LEED GA, Assoc. IIDA, Design Lab Manager and Materials & Sustainability Specialist with MG2, speaks with BD+C Executive Editor Rob Cassidy.
Season 1 of New York By Design: Architecture uncovers outstanding projects that exemplify excellence in New York architectural design, showcasing the human story behind some of the most innovative and creative architects and builders in and around New York.
Irvine of Orange County is considered to be a safer place to live than many other alternatives. It is Southern California’s economic center, and it also features some of the best shopping, restaurants and outdoor recreation in the country. Irvine is also home to a number of corporations, particularly in the technology and semiconductor sectors that locate their national or international headquarters in Irvine.
Below are nine of the best restaurant architects in Irvine, California. They were selected for their experience, expertise, and the awards they have received over the years.
The last few years have catapulted consumers of every demographic into embracing and expecting seamless online and mobile commerce in a way we never could have anticipated pre-pandemic. And while adoption sharply increased across the board, the cost for brands to compete also grew exponentially. This industry competition—coupled with factors like inflation, price increases, labor shortages, supply chain delays, and tumultuous international relations—is only growing more fierce.
As populations begin to re-normalize and venture back out into the world to shop, brick-and-mortar stores have the opportunity to continue to prove their value. With concrete data illustrating the “halo effect” and the impact on consumer lifetime value, the approach to the in-store experience has forever changed.
It’s time for brands to think differently. Think about how to make the most of new factors that are motivating consumers to shop in-store. Think about the marriage of physical and digital, while adding in a layer of hospitality, and creating an omnichannel network approach.
In the wake of learning from and conversing with industry experts during this year’s Shoptalk conference, here are three things brands should be thinking about to attract shoppers to physical retail, and how they can keep them coming back for more.
Micro pop-ups, small-format stores, large-format flagships, flex-format, mobile-format, meta-format… these days, there really are no boundaries in how retail can be experienced, and brands are keen to experiment across multiple formats to see what resonates with consumers. However, what retailers need to remember is to be strategic in thinking about the purpose each format serves, and consider the challenges and opportunities that lie within each option.
As we design any store format, the intersection of the customer journey with the package journey needs to seamlessly flex from a point of fulfillment to a point of discovery and immersion. Leveraging digital assets and platforms to inform and fuel both consumer/associate interactions and retail inventory at physical locations is paramount; customers expect this seamlessness as they research, get advice from, and compare brands to the competition.
For example, Foxtrot—a once digitally native marketplace brand—is reinventing the intersection of grocery, retail, and consumer experience through its robust app that powers both delivery and in-store pick-up of goods. They seamlessly flex from quick-serve metrics to consumer-centric hospitality day, harnessing the data captured across both formats to inform their next industry move and better serve their customers. Less friction = more brand loyalty.
Just like what Shopify has done for e-commerce, or what Fabric is doing for headless commerce, physical retail stores need a powerful plug-and-play operating system to empower seamless digital enablement for both staff and shoppers.
Just imagine: Responsive, interactive window shopping. Fitting rooms that use technology like Fit:Match’s to scan your body type and help find your perfect fit. Endless aisle access to inventory powered by innovation from teams like Crave Retail. Frictionless in-person returns that put customer’s money back in their pockets as quickly and as easily as it restores inventory back into the system, just as Navar 要么 Happy Returns does in-store. Customer patterns and staff interactions are measurable, and purchase intent attribution is trackable via companies like Pathr.AI. The store itself acts as a stage from which shoppable live feeds can be cast, a la platforms such as ShopShops.
All of these technological components may exist in some aspect today, but the real trick will be combining them into one standard operating system to control and rule them all. With this enablement, the “store of the future” will make both retail management and in-person shopping as seamless in the real world as they are online.
It may be an old adage, but it remains more true today than ever before. Emotions continue to be tied to which brands customers pledge loyalty to with their wallets, and it’s an opportunity that can be unlocked within brick-and-mortar stores. When curated carefully through ambiance, color, experience, sounds, scents, and more, retail environments are a narrative all their own. Brick-and-mortar acts as a canvas, painting a picture of an attainable, desirable lifestyle with your brand at the center.
Powering the story: knowledgeable store staff. A team that knows the customer, because they themselves are customers, and can tell shoppers what they need before they know it. A team that is empowered with data at their fingertips – data on past purchases, abandoned shopping cart interest, birthdays and special occasions, fit, style, and more. A team that brings the brand to life.
While technology and immersive experiences may be an integral part of the future of store design, human-centered connections and the emotions those interactions elicit will always be critical factors in consumer behaviors and loyalty.
As one of the first 20 employees to join MG2, Smith quickly rose from project manager to CEO and chairman of the board by honing the craft of architecture. He perfectly balances delivery excellence with a design mindset, driving kinetic transformation long into the future.
“You can’t wait for a specific opportunity to arise to develop your staff,” Smith says. “You have to continually invest in and provide opportunities.”
Perpetually guided by our vision to create transformative experiences that elevate everyday life, MG2 celebrated its fifty-year anniversary of delivering award-winning architecture and design projects across the globe.
In 2021, MG2 celebrated five decades of success. And true to our humble nature, we marked the occasion without much public fanfare. With the world still partially in lockdown, it was a challenge to truly celebrate how we’d originally intended. But the lavish parties we’d envisioned soon gave way to a whole host of virtual storytelling and celebratory experiences that were just as heartfelt and inclusive. And, in a way, it was more meaningful than we could have ever expected.
With everyone’s attention focused elsewhere the last year few years, it would have been easy to let this significant milestone pass by unnoticed. Instead, we decided to mark the occasion as much as the virtual nature of 2021 allowed: by documenting the big ideas of our leaders, elevating the perspectives of our diversifying employees, and putting it all out there, rough cuts, raw emotions, and real ideas.
To commemorate, we wanted to provide the firm with something new and unexpected. We curated numerous experiences and opportunities for staff to contribute throughout the year, with those compiled into a final physical and digital “zine” to encapsulate the past 50 years and look forward to the next 50. As a group of skilled visual designers and creative writers, our Creative Services and Marketing teams were uniquely positioned to bring the firm’s story to life through in-depth interviews, thought-provoking prompts, crowd-sourced ideas, and podcast-style conversations. We illuminated our people through photography, video, editorial design, and illustration. We shot for the moon.
It was important to us that this celebration have its own personality. We wanted it to have characteristics inspired by our past, but also have a cool new slant inspired by the future we envision for ourselves. In debating whether we should celebrate our past or nod to the future, we realized, why not both? Thus our 50日 Anniversary theme of “looking both ways” was formed: by looking in the mirror and really asking, “who is MG2?” we can see the vision of our past refract into the future.
We looked past the traditional to pay homage to the innovative trajectory of our firm while honoring the grit and sheer determination our foundation is built on.
On the Creative Services team at MG2 we love round robin design. It’s a true melting pot for everyone to collaborate and put forward their ideas for iteration and improvement. We leveraged the tactic when developing our 50日 Anniversary logo: one of us started with a sketch, then passed it to the next person. They refined and then passed it on again. Rinse and repeat. Over time we started to tease out these amazing ideas that everyone had a hand in. And in the end, there’s no better feeling then when each of us looks at the final product and sees a little sliver of our original idea.
With so much incredible content to gather, we leaned into a physical format to feel like a time capsule and live on past our 50日 Anniversary. Our goal was to immortalize what this anniversary meant to employees from all experiences and perspectives, and bring it to life through something that was unique, artful, and a little rough around the edges. Something cool and fun to display on our coffee tables amongst editions of Rizzoli and Phaidon.
The zine is comprised of three chapters, each depicting a certain time period of the firm. Each chapter features a distinct design personality; from color palette and typography to creative writing and voice, we wanted each element to feel like it belonged.
When you read the first chapter, “Reflections,” you’ll feel the pride that our founder Doug Mulvanny felt when he started the firm from a small rented desk and a phone line. You’ll also observe the confident leadership transition to Jerry Lee and the impact he created on the firm and in the community. This chapter’s visual language consists of a magenta palette with coral accents and straightforward sans serif typography to pay homage to “what was.”
“Looking Both Ways” gives a more in depth look at MG2 today, and how CEO Mitch Smith found his way to the firm, climbed the ranks, and intends to lead us into the next 50 years. Among stories from employees across the firm, President Russ Hazzard talks about his “take the bull by the horns” approach. This chapter’s color palette takes influence from our focus on sustainability with pops of teal and a rich grass green. Typography comes to life through our standard typefaces, but with a twist of something new.
Finally, you end in an experimental play land, “Refractions.” As our female leadership takes center stage with CCO MJ Munsell and COO Celeste Lenon, electric colors of blue and coral erupt from the page as our typography twists and turns energetically, refracting the possibilities for our future.
The small touches really allow the zine to shine. We’ve integrated our audio and video experiences via QR codes that launch you to our “Conversations” series podcasts and video interviews with our executive team. Photo spreads are punctuated with die cut paper pieces that pace your experience and add a touch of whimsy. Gate fold timelines expand our history past, present, and untold future to create something truly interactive. Even the paper choices have been carefully selected to evolve and shift with the eras of stories they tell. And finally the zine is wrapped in one final iteration of our logo, this time dissecting it with notes and key drawings reminiscent of architectural plans.
Compiling this zine was truly a passion project for us. A predominantly virtual world made for a complex challenge to solve in celebrating MG2’s 50日 Anniversary. But our people and their stories made it worthwhile. We’re excited to bring this anthology along with us as 2022 ushers in year one of “the Next 50.” Cheers to a notable past, inspiring present, and very bright future for MG2.
Walls that move. Display racks and tables that can be reconfigured. How agility is becoming critical in store design today.
本文最初由以下机构制作并发表 比斯诺.
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有越来越多的人呼吁改变美国社区的设计方式，更加注重居民的福祉。这些新社区的核心在于：便捷通达。
有时被称为 15分钟城市， 这些社区的设计目标是，人们所需的一切生活必需品——从食品杂货到医疗服务——都能在步行或骑自行车15分钟内到达家。根据2019年一份题为“ 前方有行人 据 Smart Growth America 称，这些类型的步行开发项目可以提高社会流动性、促进经济增长，并改善居民生活的其他几个方面。
西雅图建筑、设计、战略和品牌公司的团队 MG2 他们坚信步行开发项目的潜力，因此他们专注于设计所谓的 健康社区.
MG2 负责人表示：“我们的重点超越了混合用途开发项目的传统‘生活-工作-娱乐’原则。” 本吉斯 说道。“我们还考虑到我们认为至关重要的‘滋养、运动和学习’原则。我们将整合我们在设计从杂货店到医疗诊所等各个方面的专业知识，打造一个具有凝聚力、适宜步行、健康的社区。”
吉斯特表示，对于 MG2 而言，健康社区的一些关键要素包括便捷的交通，包括便利的杂货店、日托中心、办公空间、医疗设施、公园和混合收入住房。过去几年，该公司一直致力于利用其建筑师在设计各种零售空间方面的丰富经验，将购物中心等未得到充分利用的零售场所改造成充满活力的社区。
其最新项目之一位于华盛顿州柯克兰，西雅图以东的郊区。MG2 及其合作伙伴 麦迪逊发展集团 已将前购物中心的旧址重新设计成一个占地 135 万平方英尺的开发项目，名为 玫瑰山这个新社区紧邻405公路，将包含四栋混合用途的公寓/零售建筑。每栋建筑的设计都充分考虑了不同的人群，内外都散发着独特的个性，但又不失相同的设计语言。
这些建筑除了拥有800多套公寓单元外，还将配备零售设施，包括医疗保健设施和日托中心。此外，还将设有办公空间、户外派对平台以及其他一些向所有居民开放的便利设施。
“我们在整个项目中分布了各种便利设施，吸引居民探索和了解他们居住地以外的建筑，”吉斯特说。“我们努力在整个场地营造一种社区感、好奇心和活力。”
小区内，居民可以找到一家4万平方英尺的全方位服务杂货店，以及一家位于小区对面的Costco超市。这尤其合适，因为 MG2 已在全球设计了数百家 Costco为了进一步打造步行社区，谷歌于 11 月敲定了附近 Lee Johnson 汽车经销店的购买协议，计划利用该地块设立新的实体办公室，扩大其在西雅图的业务范围。
吉斯特表示，在此之前，大多数美国社区的设计都以车辆为中心。相比之下，玫瑰山社区则专注于打造通行便利、光线充足、景观优美的步行道，方便居民轻松步行前往社区内的任何建筑。就连主停车场也种植了绿植，并通过类似天窗的开口引入自然采光，引导居民和访客直接进入杂货店入口。
该开发项目预计将于今年春天开工。
“玫瑰山 “它不仅仅面向那些距离其建筑步行15分钟以内的居民，”吉斯特说道。MG2 的愿景是成为整个柯克兰社区的中心，目前该社区主要由商业街、停车场、低层建筑和独户住宅社区组成。
他补充说，零售业的本质正在发生变化，改变了美国各地购物中心的模式。传统的主力店和小型商店已无法满足消费者当前的需求，并加速了全国各地购物中心的关闭。
“正因如此，我们才采取了全新的零售开发方式，首先要思考‘零售如何才能覆盖整个社区，而不仅仅是零售机会？’”他说道，“这有效地将我们从开发‘购物场所’转变为设计令人向往、宾至如归的目的地。”
联系 Ben Gist 了解更多信息 玫瑰山 以及健康社区设计背后的团队。
This International Women’s Day, WWD’s Fairchild Studio teamed up with Berns Communications Group to spotlight 25 women who represent inspirational leaders in business.
These women have not only overcome challenges and faced the glass ceiling head-on but have fostered space within the fashion, apparel and retail industry for future women leaders to grow — even taking the time to give other women a helping hand.
Here, WWD hears more from these extraordinary women on challenges they see in the industry, the opportunities for young women in business and advice they would give their younger selves.
Irvine, California is well-known for its beautiful parks, friendly residents, low crime rate, and excellent educational system. With its population expected to grow further, this California city is bound to become an even more popular place to live and do business.
If you want to open a retail business in this lovely city, the list below includes the best contractors in the area. The firms were chosen based on history, reviews, and awards.
Hosted by retail strategist Melissa Gonzalez, Retail Refined is designed for retail leaders and retail lovers alike. The Retail Refined podcast explores the in-store technology of the future, challenge the industry’s preconceived notions, and sit down with retail’s biggest names to understand the brand strategies that will define the next decade in retail. Guests to date have included Intel, Salesforce, eShopWorld, Impinj and more.
In the wake of yet another challenging year for our firm, our industry, and our world, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate the incredible accomplishments and achievements of our dedicated team. As we enter 2022—a journey toward both unlimited opportunities and possibilities unknown—we’re thrilled to recognize this dedication, resilience, and passion with the promotion of one hundred MG2 employees across our global offices.
Amongst our leadership, we’re excited to welcome four new Principals—Shannon Suess, Terry Odle, Mai-Lee Lam, and Mat Yeung—four new Associate Principals—Barbara Granados-Saldana, Amy Hart, Cheryl Usnick, and Ta-Ren Chyn—as well as two new Shareholders—Janelle Schneider and Jooyeol Oh.
See Terry’s promotion announcement in the Los Angeles Business Journal →
Beyond leadership, it is an honor and a privilege to nurture the careers of, recognize, and promote dozens of MG2 associates across every department, market, and level. There are no minor roles here; we would not be the firm we are today without all of our employees’ incredible talent and perseverance. We are grateful to have extraordinary individuals helping define and deliver a boundless future for MG2 and our clients, bringing your best to everything you do, and making our firm such a special place to be.
This post was originally written for & published by The Lionesque Group.
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In late January, our team had the pleasure of attending NRF’s annual Big Show conference in New York, where I had the honor of leading a captivating panel discussion about the future of the industry. With so much changing in retail over the past two years it was a welcome opportunity to connect with brands and experts in person and hear about their innovative approaches toward keeping up with consumer expectations and demands.
Here are our top five takeaways from what’s important for retailers, brands, and designers to keep at the forefront as they bring future generations of digital and physical consumer experiences to life:
As consumers continue to evolve how they shop, blurring the point-of-sale lines across digital and physical spaces, brands need the ability to continually and fluidly advance their offering. Any instance of friction during the payment process can kill the purchase. Unearthing and implementing streamlined methods of putting payment in the hands of consumers and/or in-store associates is essential.
When it comes to in-store layouts, art meets science. We have more access to data and insights today than ever before, highlighting customer patterns, capturing interactions with store associates, and illuminating friction points. This data is vital to informing agile design strategies, which need to morph alongside the customer. Industry partnerships, like the one announced between The Lionesque Group and Pathr.AI, will be key to defining and strengthening the future of consumer/brand relationships.
To truly be successful, store associates require information to be at their fingertips, both for back-of-house and consumer-facing interactions. Instant visibility as to what’s on the floor, what’s in the back, and what’s available at another store’s location isn’t just an expectation of today’s customer, it’s necessary to embolden the prospects of a sale and fortify brand loyalty.
Consistent with The Lionesque Group’s recent industry survey findings, every moment a store associate has real-time visibility into the full scope of their inventory adds up to millions of dollars saved by the retailer. Using technology to empower associates with this knowledge bolsters store efficiency, optimizes productivity, and streamlines delivery performance.
Whether they’re standing in a store, browsing online, interacting with social media, or playing in the metaverse, consumers want and expect a congruent, simplified “click-to-buy” experience that’s seamless across every presence of a brand.
They’re seeking an “all-of-the-above” optionality that is as fluid as they need it to be in the moment, and this agility is critical as we think about designing the store of tomorrow. Digital integration will need to empower both store associates and the consumer to be able to move interchangeably when visiting different brick and mortar locations so they have the options, access, and efficiency they desire.
Consumers speak with their wallets, and more and more their love language is shifting toward an expectation in transparency, sincerity, and sustainable practices from the brands they support. This further includes retailers being net-positive to the environment, as well as striving for social and community equities.
The real onus, however, is on the full ecosystem coming together to truly make a difference consumers can see and resonate with. Brands and retailers need to own and optimize their supply chain, making it more accessible from a cost and candor standpoint for consumers.
One of the lessons shared by Saskia van Gendt of Rothy’s was a profound sense of understanding of the brand’s own role in the process. “If you own the supply chain,” he notes, “you can truly impact things. For example, you can set up for on-demand manufacturing so as not to leave waste.”
The metaverse—the industry’s newest buzzword—holds the promise of and capacity to meld physical retail with mixed reality experiences. However, we’re already years into this convergence of digital and brick-and-mortar, with offerings like virtual endless aisles that consumers can browse for hours, just as they might window shop in-store.
Innovative technology has, and continues to fuel the future of retail data collection and analysis, powering responsive IoT connectivity via RFID, sensors, digital displays, and products that ignite an overlay of immersive media. The digital/physical overlap will only continue to grow.
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Reach out to our team to learn more about how we’re helping define the future of brick-and-mortar retail for brands.
Pathr.ai, the industry’s first and only Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Spatial Intelligence platform, announced today it has partnered with The Lionesque Group, an award-winning experiential retail strategy and design studio, and its parent company, MG2 公司, a global design and architecture firm, to bring real-time analytics to pop-up shops. Using Pathr.ai’s cutting-edge spatial intelligence technology, brands and retailers will now be empowered to utilize their pop-up store to gain actionable insights to drive business outcomes and deliver improved customer experiences.
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 with all our insights is available for download at the bottom of this preview.
As consumers adjust to their hybrid worlds and the merging of digital and physical deepens, we take a look how consumer behaviors, needs, and expectations impact “the role of the store.” In this survey, we investigate the utility technology plays, the inherit value it brings us and how that can inform opportunities for physical retail environments.
Kathy Kuo Home is a boutique home furnishings brand that offers modern and classic home decor for all interior design needs. With a robust and loyal online following, Kathy Kuo Home sought to create its first permanent flagship location with the assistance of MG2 / The Lionesque Group. In addition to curating in an inviting, laid-back, dog-friendly space where customers can immerse themselves in possibilities, Kathy Kuo and her team also wanted to bring their online design center, full digital catalog, and tailored consultation offering to their clients in the heart of Southampton, New York.
The resulting experience is one that perfectly embodies the brand’s high-end offerings, seamlessly weaving together the delight of in-person discovery with the ease of digital retail technology and expert design consultation.
Within just 4,000 SF of retail space, the Kathy Kuo Home flagship uses vignette scenes to feature a hand-selected assortment of the brand’s best-selling products, including indoor and outdoor furniture, décor, and lighting in a range of styles. The store also houses a design resource center for KKH designers to work one-on-one with clients in-person to design their home, and will further serve as a destination for curated events hosted in-store.
Transcending an environment that feels like Kuo’s own Hampton home, it’s an experience that successfully welcomes everyone in the space, encouraging exploration and fueling inspiration.
“Interacting with our customers has always been a top priority for the brand, and there’s no better way to do this than in person.” said Kuo in an interview with Forbes just prior to the store’s grand opening, “We’ve seen continued success through investing in our relationships by providing our high-touch services online and now will have the opportunity for continued growth. Having a physical location will allow us to connect with and serve more customers and clients than ever before, aiding in our brand mission to help as many people as possible love where they live.”
Since opening doors, Kathy Kuo Home’s flagship store has been featured in Architectural Digest, Insider Trends, Modern Luxury, and Business of Home.
It was also awarded the honor of House Beautiful’s 2021 Best Home Stores in America Right Now.
To generate awareness and sales for the first exclusive launch of Packer Shoes x Asics and Mitchell & Ness capsule collections.
Packer Shoes contracted MG2 for their 4th Pop-Up Store in NYC. With the goal of capturing U.S. Open-based media and foot traffic, MG2 secured Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Station and was the lead project management team for the #GAMESETMATCH activation.
Located at the pinnacle of passerby traveling from NYC to Arthur Ashe stadium, the 3-day pop-up captured thousands of visitors daily and was featured in major industry publications including SneakerNews, HypeBeast, Sole Collector, and more.
To promote the release of the second season of Prime Original show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the iconic Carnegie Deli was brought back to life through a pop-up deli experience that transported visitors back to the era of the TV series, with everything from décor, to pricing, to the menu, reflecting 1950’s New York City as depicted in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, making it a fully immersive and highly photographable experience.
Tool of North America hired MG2 as their full-service partner to design and render, as well as source and manage, the production of the immersive environment for the pop-up, with a2zrestaurant as the operational partner.
The pop-up deli experience was an extraordinary success, it served 11,000 people and had a waiting list of 8,000. The pop-up garnered 280 pieces of press coverage including Buzzfeed, Forbes, Vogue, Eater, USA Today, and 10 broadcast segments, with a social media reach of 45 million.
2019 One Show Awards Finalist for Experiential Design and Indoor Spaces
Brand Awareness and education for ManiMatch the app that lets you virtually paint on nail polish. (Using augmented reality technology, the app allows you to digitally test drive over 200 different Sally Hansen shades!)
MG2 was tapped by Sally Hansen’s digital agency, CULT LDN, to be the partner production agency for the pop-up nail bar. We partnered to source the location, design 3D renderings, oversee production build, and source store staff.
Over the 3-day pop-up had over 2,500 visitors, drove over 19 million social media impressions, and was cited as a “Genius App” by Teen Vogue and “Best Way to Shop” by Mashable.
Evaluating and identifying the turnkey operational strategy in relation to data driven technology and brand curation while further solidifying goals of the overarching retail experience at the property.
MG2 worked closely with the Steiner + Associates team to ensure the turn-key program would be a success. MG2 provided guidance on needed IT infrastructure to support technology integration(s) and evaluated and ensured the design technology investments aligned with Easton Town Center customer DNA as well as met the needs of target brands and retailers. MG2 also strategized a comprehensive staffing and operational plan and consulted on the pricing structure and needed tenant amenities to establish a positive NOI.
ShopLAB is a lower risk solution for the retailers, allowing them to test their performance at Easton Town Center while they measure customer capture potential and the online halo effect of the brick-and-mortar location. The program places a strong emphasis on local Ohio brands, unique gifts and concepts, experiential retailers looking to test out the Columbus market as a future long-term investment.
When Tempo—an industry leader in the burgeoning world of home fitness—sought to expand its connection with consumers by branching out into the physical retail market, they partnered with MG2 / The Lionesque Group on a holistic approach toward the strategy, design, and build-out of new stand-alone stores.
Applying the data and learning from its partnership retail spaces, Tempo sought a retail offering that goes beyond demoing its products and services. A unique customer journey steeped in education and daily possibilities as part of the Tempo community was carefully curated, showcasing the potential for a healthier, fuller lifestyle, fueled by the strength derived from the brand’s offering. Featuring inspiration from coaches and the company’s founder himself, Tempo’s brick-and-mortar story helps consumers envision a marriage of activities in the real world—rock climbing, surfing, hiking, and more—and your wellness partner at home.
In addition to a comprehensive approach toward strategy, design, and build-out of stores, designers partnered with Tempo on an alignment of KPIs for its new retail spaces. A series of market studies helped the teams determine the right square footage and cities for pilot stores, while simultaneously partnering on and driving everything from concept development, retail strategy plan, and budget assessments, to design fit and project management.
With doors opening in Manhattan and Bellevue, Washington on time for the holiday season, Tempo is primed to properly analyze and optimize its brick-and-mortar retail strategies, while fully immersing home fitness enthusiasts in what’s possible as part of their unique community.
Ranked 5th in the top 100 best companies to work for in Washington state.
MG2s mantra is people make place. The 50-year-old firm has a robust DEI initiative with a five-year timeline that involves all staffers. It emphasizes sustainable design practices and invests in staff development through leadership training, coaching programs and free LinkedIn Learning courses. Staff events include happy hours, movie nights, ping-pong tournaments and Mariners games.
The U.S. has seen several retailers across the country forced to close their brick-and-mortar stores amid the rise of e-commerce over the past few years. However, we are in the midst of a brick-and-mortar boom, with retailers expected to open more stores this year than they close, for the first time since 2017, according to an analysis of more than 900 chains by IHL Group, a research and advisory company. At the same time, the e-commerce businesses of retailers have become more dependent on physical stores to fulfill orders, especially during the holiday shopping season. Lionesque Group CEO Melissa Gonzalez joins Cheddar News’ Closing Bell to discuss.
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