Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA’s Post

Great points in nearly every paragraph on designing quality places by Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA, in his new book Irreplaceable. It brings good design back to remembering the art of gathering people. I’m referencing many of these points in our next ULI Local Product Council meeting on Retail in June. Highly recommend! Here’s the link to purchase the book: Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together https://a.co/d/1ihvJ0n

What's Old is New! During my time in Oberlin, an era when brick and mortar bookstores were feeling the pressure from online boooksellers, I did a study on what shoppers wanted in physical stores for our local Coop Bookstore. The finding and recommendation in 1998 were : 1) Shoppers in the particular bookstore did not want to feel rushed - the aisles packed close to each other, bad lighting, fewer sitting areas drove them away. 2) Have price comparison vs online booksellers onshelf to aid purchasing decision at the first moment of truth (shelf) 3) Make it locally relevant - it should exude the uniqueness of Oberlin and all that Northeast Ohio has to offer (the weirdness of OC). Barnes and Noble Book Store story in today's The New York Times highlighted how what's old is New when it comes to shopper insight!

It'll be interesting to see if James Daunt can succeed in this turnaround. The core of the strategy is somewhat buried in the article, but it's effectively: return the B&N bookstores toward a focus on books (vs gifts, tchotskies, discounts, impulse buys at checkout, toys, etc) in a way that book people find engaging. It is amazing how complicated businesses can make their own lives when they lose track of their core value proposition and customer in favour of things which look clever in a quarterly update: category extension, potential new customers, a bigger TAM, product diversification, etc. Good luck B&N! https://lnkd.in/edRd2mtj

I'm humbled and thrilled to share this amazing review of my book, "The Ultimate Digital Marketing Guide for Kitchen & Bath Showrooms." It's incredibly rewarding to know that my work is helping others in the remodeling industry to grow their businesses. Remember, it's not about working harder, but smarter! #kitchenremodel #kitchenshowroom #kitchenremodeling #granitecountertop #quartzcountertops #quartz #quartzite #countertops #bathroomremodel #bathroomremodeling #rtamarketing 

Prior to commencing the development process, particularly for first-time Mall Developers, it is imperative to assess several critical aspects thoroughly. These include in-depth research of the local area, meticulous design planning for the mall, deciding between a lease or a strata sold model, carefully curating the category mix, and various other pertinent considerations. For a comprehensive understanding of these crucial facets of the Mall business, I invite you to explore my book, 'The Mechanics Of Malls’. Within its pages, I impart invaluable insights garnered from over 38 years of experience and involvement in the development and management of more than 100 successful malls. This book is crafted in a language that is both simple and easily comprehensible, empowering you to enrich your understanding and expand your knowledge effortlessly. This Masterclass on Shopping Malls, will stay with you for Life !!!   To grab a copy of this book, just click on https://lnkd.in/dxHKN6g6 #QRcode #scan #download #operations #leasing # fitouts #TextBook #ReferenceBook #knowledge #management #growth #mall #malls #IndianMalls #ShoppingMalls #shoppingCentres #MallDevelopment #AssetManagement #MallManagement #retail #retailers #RetailIndustry #CommercialRealEstate #PropertyManagement #Strategy #BusinessStrategy #Insights #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstate #UrbanPlanning #RetailDesign #Leadership #MallExperience #TenantMix #business #school #design #architect #lease #fitout #susildungarwal #mallmechanic #book #guide #cyclopedia

How can you increase the customer experience by adding demanded products in your store just 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? Floating Bookshelves is a highly demanded product let's go into details in my blog, 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙛 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 Books have continuously been portals to new worlds, and the manner we keep them needs to be honestly as enchanting. Enter the area of Floating Bookshelves, wherein layout meets practicality, and wherein our appreciated books seem to defy gravity. #warehousemanagement #retailmanagement #ecommercegrowth #operationsmanagement #inventorymanagement

“The curious trick has been that if you actually let the local book-selling teams do what they think is best, you suddenly get much better bookstores,” Mr. Daunt said. Then he quickly added a caveat: “About a quarter of them become dramatically better, and a quarter become dramatically worse — but it is much easier to focus on that quarter and improve them.” In branding we get all het about consistency, uniformity and following the brand guidelines. But B&N are eschewing that and have a strategy to quite intentionally go in the opposite direction. They have abandoned consistency in favour of giving local bookstores the power to go their own way. As Joanne Chan of Turner Duckworth says in the article, in order for this to work “they have to walk the walk”. But this strategy empowers each store, giving them back the sense of community and prioritising the social joy of a bookstore. It’s a really interesting approach. As Mr. Daunt says at the end, “The irony is that the less concerned we are with the commercial, the better it works commercially.” A great case study.

In our recent blog, we discuss the benefits of commercial awnings in enhancing storefronts while offering tips for selecting the right awning for business needs. Read more. 🏢👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/ewYcF7cs

In response to the The Wall Street Journal article on the strategic reinvention of Barnes & Noble, the implications for commercial real estate, particularly for our senior #CRE professionals, cannot be understated. One takeaway that stands out is the crucial role that technology and intentional design play in shaping consumer experience.   In this new era of retail, the mere availability of products isn’t enough; how these products are presented, and how customers interact with them, is what truly defines success.   This shift aligns with our philosophy at Layer 10 - that thoughtful integration of technology into physical spaces can not only improve functionality but also enhance the overall customer experience. As Barnes & Noble, Inc. is proving, integrating technology and design is more than a nice-to-have, it’s becoming a must-have, a cornerstone to success in an evolving retail landscape.   The same holds true for other sectors as well. Whether it’s a retail store, an office space, or a residential complex, technology and design can create engaging, dynamic spaces that drive performance and productivity.   This is an opportunity for us to rethink the role of our spaces, to use technology to create more inviting, efficient, and customer-friendly environments. Layer 10 is at the forefront of this transformation, partnering with companies to reimagine their spaces with technological innovation.   If you're interested in exploring how your space could benefit from tech-enabled enhancements, don't hesitate to connect with us. Together, we can create environments that are not just buildings, but experiences. Let's redefine what our spaces can be.   #Layer10 #CRE #proptech https://lnkd.in/geMEshwp

Your workflow is your competitive advantage. In every aspect of life and business. Given the same access to colors & canvases, capital & talent, ingredients & kitchen equipment, data & analysis tools, human networks & ideas, HOW you interact with them compared to other people makes all the difference.