Epicenter Collection Design to Support Dynamic Shopping Destination, Unique Retail Vision; Epicenter and WalkerGroup Partner to Implement World-Class Design, Create Innovative Consumer Experience.GREENWICH, Conn. -- Epicenter Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Sheldon Gordon, chairman of Gordon Group Holdings, today announced its partnership with WalkerGroup, an award-winning full-service architecture and interior design firm, to design the Epicenter Collection's flagship location. The design goal mirrors Epicenter's vision to create a first-of-its-kind shopping destination that brings together online, catalog catalog, descriptive list, on cards or in a book, of the contents of a library. Assurbanipal's library at Nineveh was cataloged on shelves of slate. The first known subject catalog was compiled by Callimachus at the Alexandrian Library in the 3d cent. B.C. and in-store retailing. Epicenter and WalkerGroup will work together to create a modern, state-of-the-art, fluid environment that provides a genuinely new consumer experience unlike the traditional mall or department store. The Epicenter Collection was formally announced in May and is expected to open in 2006 at the Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital and the largest city of the American state of Ohio. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. . The Collection will bring new and exciting use for mall anchor locations; expose retailers of all stripes to new growth opportunities; and bring consumers a distinctive shopping experience that combines in-store and online shopping. The design will reflect Epicenter's vision by integrating the physical and virtual experience for the shopper in a unique architectural environment. "In our search for a design partner, we spoke and met with the leading firms in the country," said Tony Lee, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Epicenter. "WalkerGroup offered unique experience and expertise in architectural and specialty retail design, visionary philosophy, and commitment to our belief in the creation of a new retail and architectural model An architectural model is a tangible representation of a structure (typically a scale model) built to communicate design ideas to clients, owners, committees, customers, and the general public. . They can provide us with a comprehensive, fully integrated solution; from branding strategy and corporate identity, to space planning, store design, visual communications and project implementation. The Epicenter vision depends on the seamless integration An addition of a new application, routine or device that works smoothly with the existing system. It implies that the new feature or program can be installed and used without problems. Contrast with "transparent," which implies that there is no discernible change after installation. of all of its elements." Recent research has shown that mall developer and consumer preferences are shifting from traditional shopping environments to hybrid or lifestyle centers -- only eight percent of the major mall projects for 2004-2005 were traditional malls. The Epicenter Collection design fits into this trend and answers the demand for an innovative retailing concept. It creates a novel shopping experience for both the consumer and the merchants involved, introducing a new level of sophistication so·phis·ti·cate v. so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing, so·phis·ti·cates v.tr. 1. To cause to become less natural, especially to make less naive and more worldly. 2. . Just as the consumer shopping technology and value proposition for retailers make the Epicenter Collection unique, the aesthetic and architecture are integral parts of the 'Epicenter experience.' The Epicenter Collection has been designed specifically to make merchants' transition into retail as easy and cost-effective as possible. Each Collection will span 150,000-200,000 square feet of open shopping space and be comprised of branded retail showcases and include sections for demonstrations and exhibitions of new products, product launches and fashion shows. Each showcase layout is designed to maximize flexibility and merchandise display, allowing each merchant to fully brand their area while benefiting from the overall cache of the Collection. Epicenter's open layout encourages shoppers to move easily from one showcase to another. Throughout the common space, consumers will find an array of personal shopping technology for their use -- self-service kiosks The self-service kiosk rose with the development of the ATM and adoption by consumers coupled with advanced technologies such as touch-screens. Self-service kiosks are hardware devices that work in combination with self service software, allowing users to perform any number of and multiple pick-up and drop-off points for their hand-held shopping devices. Inside merchant spaces, they will be able to interact with dynamic information displays and media walls. In addition to the ease-of-shopping and consumer technology innovations, consumers will experience shopping in an entirely new way. WalkerGroup's use of floating planes of translucent translucent slightly penetrable by light rays. materials and illuminated metal mesh throughout will give the shopper the experience of effortlessly ef·fort·less adj. Calling for, requiring, or showing little or no effort. See Synonyms at easy. ef  fort·less·ly adv. walking through dissolving space and light. The soaring,
open circular spaces and high ceilings will break from the straight and
staid staid adj. 1. Characterized by sedate dignity and often a strait-laced sense of propriety; sober. See Synonyms at serious. 2. layouts of present-day department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. , and blue LED lights will be used to create a unified and distinctive backdrop to highlight each individual brand's expression within the Epicenter frame. "We are excited to work with Epicenter in capturing the innovative spirit of the Epicenter Collection," said Jay Valgora, design principal of WalkerGroup. "The Epicenter experience is like walking into a three-dimensional Web site and our approach of creating powerful architectural forms contrasted with memorable graphic design aligns with the Epicenter aesthetic functional and technological vision. The inspiration for the design came from grand old department stores such as Wanamaker's, known for innovation and "firsts" in the world of retail. Epicenter is also about "firsts" with a thoroughly modern sensibility. By creating exciting and constantly changing virtual storefronts, coupled with cutting-edge technology, Epicenter will offer all the advantages of Internet shopping, but with a distinctly human, hands-on feel." About Epicenter The Epicenter Collection brings together, in high-profile anchor locations, a collection of leading catalogers, e-tailers, retailers and well-known brands into a single, architecturally stunning retailing space where each merchant can create their own store environment, yet also benefit from the power and consumer appeal of the entire collection. For consumers, the Epicenter experience will combine the convenience and speed of online and catalog shopping with superb store retailing, creating an innovative consumer experience supported by advanced shopping technology. For more information, visit www.epicenter.net. About WalkerGroup WalkerGroup is a premier full-service architecture and interior design firm, specializing in creating bold and innovative solution-driven concepts for clients around the world. Its award-winning and critically acclaimed work spans a wide range of disciplines, including architecture, interior design, urban master planning, brand identity and graphic design, merchandise and store planning, industrial design, furniture and packaging design as well as multimedia design. With design expertise across several industries, the firm lists among its many clients such worldwide industry leaders as Esprit, Playboy Playboy monthly magazine renowned for nude photographs. [Am. Pop. Cult.: Misc.] See : Eroticism , May Company, Tim Hortons This article is about the restaurant. For the ice hockey player and the chain's co-founder, see Tim Horton. Tim Hortons is a coffee-and-doughnut fast food restaurant chain largely based in Canada. and Pepsi. WalkerGroup is a member of the WPP Group WPP Group plc (LSE: WPP) (NASDAQ: WPPGY), based in London, United Kingdom, is one of the world's largest communications services groups (and one of the big six advertising holding companies, the others being Omnicom, Interpublic, Publicis, Dentsu and Havas) employing of companies, one of the world's largest communications services groups. It is based in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. with an office in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , and affiliate offices on five continents. |
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