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Retail-ol-ogy…Emotive Marketing, Is It For You?

Marcia Blake — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:23:23 +0000

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, a very prominent retailer, Tiffany & Co., is using emotive marketing to spark feelings for loved ones on mobile sites, applications, banner ads and SMS. Tiffany most likely feels that by employing this game plan, they run a more desirable likelihood of driving transactions. Scott Forshay, Austin, Texas, Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues…Textures & Patterns Alter How You See a Color

Marcia Blake — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:14:25 +0000

When choosing fabrics and finishes for your home, business or retail store, it’s of value to understand that all materials have attributes – textures and pattern- that tweak the way color is perceived. For instance, a high gloss finish on a wall tends to appear brighter. Similar to wetting something with water, a high-gloss sheen Continue reading →

Joe Ruggiero at Miromar Design Center

Mollie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:37:34 +0000

Yesterday our friend Joe Ruggiero spoke at the Miromar Design Center in Naples, FL to a record crowd of over 450 people! The event kicked of the design center’s Distinguished Speakers Series. Joe spoke about designs that inspired him from his trips around the globe. He offered design and color insights from some of the Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues…The Power of Orange

Marcia Blake — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:18:13 +0000

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve no place to go, let it snow! let it snow! let it snow! Let’s recharge our batteries and move forward toward spring with the latest lively reddish orange, Pantone Tangerine Tango color of the year for 2012. “Sophisticated but at Continue reading →

Sunbrella Decorating Videos

Mollie — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:43:20 +0000

Last week the Sunbrella Team finished shooting a series of videos with decorating idea for every room of the house with Joe Ruggiero. Joe will show you how to update the look of your living space with ideas from his Sunbrella Collection. Look for the videos in 2012. To see more photos of the video Continue reading →

Tangerine Tango

Mollie — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:55:13 +0000

Pantone released their Color of the Year for 2012: Tangerine Tango. Pantone says tangerine is “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” We love this new Continue reading →

Retail-ol-ogy…Return to the Simple Things

Marcia Blake — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:33:35 +0000

The greatest thing that we can do, especially with the stresses of everyday living, is to help our customers, as well as our family and friends, is return to the simple things. We must return to nature and allow ourselves and encourage others to take time to breathe. Life gets crazy for all of us. Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues…Autumn Colors

Marcia Blake — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:12:01 +0000

Our well-established experiences, associations, and lifestyle interactions influence how we respond to color. Ordinarily, nearly all of us will react in an identical manner to the same colors, but certain memories can result in a love, or strong dislike, of a particular color. This time of the year is one that brings back some very Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues…The Color Blue

Marcia Blake — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:37:32 +0000

Like your best loved pair of well-used blue jeans, classic blue is predominant in a great many homes today. It expresses tradition and ageless contentment. Despite that classic blue is not simply dark blue and Country French. Modified versions of these hues have increased in scope the assortment available, giving rise to new modernized color Continue reading →

Retail-ol-ogy…What’s Hot in Outdoor Living for 2011?

Marcia Blake — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:45:15 +0000

A review of what has been Hot in Outdoor Living for 2011 shows us that Resort Style outdoor living that conjures up images like romantic balmy summer nights while relaxing in the roomy deep seating, coupled with convenient, coordinating chaises and tables has been high on the horizon. Spa colors such as shades of blues, Continue reading →

Storing your cushions for the winter

Mollie — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:47:38 +0000

Summer is over and the cooler weather is moving in. Once you’ve decided your outdoor furniture season is over, we suggest some tips for storing your Sunbrella cushions for the winter. Clean your cushions according to the instructions found on the Sunbrella Website. Make sure cushions are completely dry before you store them. Be sure Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues… Creating Color Schemes

Marcia Blake — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:22:19 +0000

A Color scheme is a set of colors that produces an agreeable appearance. The most sensible designs use a minimum of two or three colors but no more than six because the greater the amount of colors that you apply, the more complicated it is to attain a cohesive effect. One of the most critical Continue reading →

Joe Ruggiero October Newsletter

Mollie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:45:25 +0000

Check out the latest from Joe Ruggiero with his latest newsletter featuring his Trailblazer award, the new “Total Home” collection, and new case goods.

Retail-ol-ogy…Outdoor Gatherings

Marcia Blake — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:54:11 +0000

Ah, the great outdoors! I love entertaining al fresco. As plenty of Americans realize the limitless pleasures of outdoor living, they are inviting friends and family over to join in the enjoyment. Depending on what you prefer to do, the location of your home, and naturally your budget, entertaining outdoors can fall into place in Continue reading →

Retail-ol-ogy…Branding & Visual Merchandising

Marcia Blake — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:38:00 +0000

One of the most important actions that you can undertake in business today is to distinguish yourself from your nearby rivals. Differentiate your company by expressing your core values and culture, and tell a compelling story. One-way to achieve this is through branding and another way is through visual merchandising. It is crucial that you Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues: The Perfect Blend of Color by Marcia Blake

Marcia Blake — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:36:17 +0000

It’s an ideal day, not too cold, not too hot. Mother Nature conspires to keep you outdoors, from the velvety smooth melodies of the birds and the sweet aroma of blooming flowers, to a caressing breeze and the dependable beam of the sun. You become thoughtful. Tranquil…drowsy. These are the moments you yearn for an Continue reading →

Dated Stucco Reinvented With Modern Charm

Sue R — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:25:03 +0000

A beach property owner and her architect in Carpinteria, CA created a miraculous transformation for an outdated, boxy stucco home that was screaming for relief. What you’ll see is almost beyond belief for anyone who hasn’t taken on such a daunting project. But the outcome will surely make you a believer. We’re thrilled they selected Sunbrella Continue reading →

Retail-ol-ogy…Barely Covered

Marcia Blake — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:57:33 +0000

For years I have been at odds with furniture manufacturers who insist on keeping tables bare in their showrooms. I understand that a great deal of thought, time, research and design goes into the development of a table top and its base, however, I have always believed that adding the finishing touches is the key Continue reading →

Joe’s August Newsletter

Sue R — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:34:35 +0000

The latest from Joe Ruggiero in his August newsletter. Congrats on the new showroom, Joe!

Gallery Features Joe Ruggiero-Miles Talbott Collection

Sue R — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:59:33 +0000

Excitement is in the air today as Joe Ruggiero opens the Joe Ruggiero-Miles Talbott PTS Furniture Gallery in Thousand Oaks, CA. The gallery emulates what is customarily shown in the Miles Talbott Showroom in High Point, NC during Furniture Market there. This sophisticated and fashion forward collection is the result of Joe’s collaboration with Sunbrella in designing Continue reading →

Inspiring Hues…Color Is Powerful

Marcia Blake — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:41:20 +0000

See how different a space can look with another set of eyes and a completely different color scheme? This triangular condo outdoor living space was stylized with the power of color. In one photo you can see an orange and white palette and in the other photo the color palette is lime green with shades Continue reading →

Men Like Pink Too

Sue R — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:59:51 +0000

Joe Ruggiero has added a “manly pink” fabric to his Sunbrella collection. One that gives a nod to the warmth of pink, but also directs the aesthetic to a masculine point of view. Check it all out here in Joe’s July newsletter.

Retail-ol-ogy… 4 Tips To Enhance Your Store

Marcia Blake — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:14:54 +0000

Do you want to appeal to the 25 – 45 age crowd? How about 45 – 65 age customer? Knowing who your customer is can be of great importance to you. Do you have both of the previously mentioned segments shopping in your store? If this is the case than you know that creating the Continue reading →

What Should I Do With My Windows?

Sue R — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:13:29 +0000

We often have a love/hate relationship with our windows. What type should we install? How should we dress them? How can we make them more energy efficient with attachments? Why do I have to wash them so often? Well maybe the last question’s answer is obvious, the others are often a homeowner’s dilemma as they Continue reading →

Color in the Eyes of Men & Women

Marcia Blake — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:47:51 +0000

Have you ever given any thought to how men and women see color? Do we all see color exactly the same? Last week I attended a Color Marketing Group, Chroma Zone meeting where I met some very colorful people of both sexes. One of the more colorful new friends that I met, told me about Continue reading →