idea
inspirational ideas for the retail enviroment
Creative idea - the one to watch
2007 has been another successful year for the Creative idea Group both with existing clients and in winning new business.
We have just finished the first phase of a major programme for TomTom that entailed turning round various permanent displays for Halfords and Currys as well as vac formed display trays for Currys Superstores, Comet, PC World, Staples and Currys Digital. Total billing was around £500,000 and most of the work completed in the 8 weeks prior to Christmas.
Our progress with clients across Europe has been very encouraging, we have been able to compete with major European POP suppliers to win business from Philips for the launch of their Aurea TV which included building Class 0 fire rated displays for Airports locations. Other European projects have been won for both TomTom, Hot Diamonds and Campari. More meetings are planned early in 2008 with other European based clients in Austria, Holland and Germany.
On the home front we have continued to work with clients such as Clarins, Citizen, Sony Ericsson and Redken and have worked extensively with Johnson and Johnson on consumer health care brands formerly owned by Pfizer. New home grown clients include Steadtler and Cadbury's and Callaway Golf.
With lots of new projects already on the horizon we are looking forward to continued success in 2008
What's the big idea?
IDa Creative Link, the well-established and popular POP design agency, has re-structured its business into three divisions that are 'centres of excellence' for their respective creative retail marketing solutions. The move has strengthened the business by allowing its creative retail marketing specialists to better offer tailored solutions to various industry sectors, whilst also being positioned to offer a fully integrated package for clients who require it.
IDa itself has re-branded to become simply 'id*a' (pronounced 'idea'). This division will continue as an expert supplier of innovative design solutions and products to the retail industry and various producs to the retail industry and various product sectors.
The two other businesses are: Pie - an exciting new graphic design agency rapidly establishing itself in the marketplace; and The Works - an impressive assembly plant where all components of a project are put together and the final prototype is quality checked and delivered.
All three businesses are operating under the newly named holding company The Creative idea Group.
The exciting realignment means that The Creative idea Group's businesses can offer strategic retail marketing ideas at product concept and brand design stages right through to in-store promotion and full product merchandising. The new structure also allows a complete integrated solution that gives clients the benefit of a seamless transition from above-the-line to below-the-line activity.
Gerry Hebron, Managing Director of The Creative idea Group says:
"Now is the right time, after 15 years of delivering stunning, effective and award-winning work to some of the world's biggest brands, to redefine ourselves in the industry. Our accumulated industry expertise has allowed us to strategically restructure the company. This move ensures that we better offer a diverse range This move ensures that we better offer a diverse range of creative retail marketing solutions through our various centres of excellence and also present a complete integrated package."
"We have always enjoyed close working relationships with our clients and we appreciate the incessant need to continuously provide thought-provoking ideas, tailored solutions and products that really help brands stand out from the crowd. The new format is also great for medium-sized companied to take a lead over bigger brands."
idea demonstrates POP colour in acrylics expertise to Clarins
idea has a long history of working in the cosmetic and fine fragrance sectors, delivering permanent, prestigious displays to several premium brands. On being approached by Clarins to assist them launch their first big fine-fragrance 'Par Amour', idea was presented with a demanding brief to ensure suitable 'touch points' were exploited within a range of large UK department stores. Clarins emphasised the need for immediate brand recognition by consumers from the units, the feeling of a 'new' product being launched, and the highly accessible format for consumers to test the perfume.
The core Clarins colours of red and white needed to be incorporated into branded acrylic POP displays, freestanding units, wall-mounted and hanging graphic devices. The total project for idea incorporated nearly 3000 different components shared across 17 styles of display.
d*a produced the POP stands to the brief and inline with agreements made with Clarins from strategic site surveys of certain stores. The Clarins red and white colours were integrated with clear acrylic to produce the free standing and counter-top units designed to allow consumer interaction and to securely display the full range of scented merchandise available for Par Amour.
Debenham's were the first to receive the exclusive launch material of displays and stands and were presented with the finished articles, fully installed, within 8 weeks of idea receiving the initial brief.
The project was a resounded success for Par Amour and Clarins, and was summed up by Karen Thompson, Senior Merchandiser for Clarins UK, who had this to say to the idea team:
"We would like to say a big 'thank you' for all your support with the launch of Par Amour. So far it has been a great success and is currently the number one fragrance in Debenhams."