Fewer concepts have received more press, attention and lip service in the past two years than the "going green" movement, and no industry has worked harder or more attentively at lowering its eco-footprint than retail.
Some of the biggest ideas and innovations in green retailing were on display at the Green Pavilion at the NRF 98th Annual Convention and Expo — and central to that pavilion was the Seeing Green Concept Store, a stylish and functional example of what truly green retailing might look like.
VIDEO: Take a walk through the Seeing Green Concept Store
Built on the idea of an eco-friendly indoor and outdoor market, the periphery of the Concept Store was lined with produce, stocked underneath digital displays; the walls behind were draped in fabrics from Roll-A-Shade, which were made from 100 percent post-industrial waste and 100 percent recyclable. A digital presentation from Novar guided patrons further in, where they encountered an exit poll device from Cleva Technologies that uses a single watt of energy to collect customer feedback.
In a far corner, Intel demonstrated a proof-of-concept POS system built on a low-voltage Core 2 Duo processor; nearby, allEtronic "dispensed" paperless receipts. Viewnique provided the backdrop for most of the experiences, with its RECORE recycled wall product.
The floor of the store was made from woven, renewable fiber materials from Merida Meridian, and lit by low-energy-consumption lighting from Lighting Science.
And through it all, two technologies were working hard to capture the attention of senses that can often be neglected, hearing and smell. Panphonics Sound Showers directed speakers were used to carefully deliver audio in targeted portions of the store, while ScentAir's patented scent marketing system created an olfactory experience that was a crucial part of the whole.
