# data[].attributes.body
Pop-up store with a very specific concept. As Millennial's are pro renting this is a great novelty for a challenging year.  Westfield is capitalising on the rental trend at a very superfluous time of year.
They are also offering virtual styling sessions which is something I tied back to my pop-up (although this would be in person).

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Mum's/carers are struggling to keep kids amused due to being stuck at home during Covid. The Christmas tree styling experience can provide an afternoon of interactively with the kids and then also provide further entertainment at home whilst recreating what they have learnt. As discussed in the below article, creativity for kids is beneficial for motor skills, neural development, problem-solving.

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Kids love getting creative with arts, crafts and messy play! Little do they know that it is so good for their development as well!

Here at Families we've teamed up with the award-winning, Creation Station; the market leader for creative and fun educational activities to outline the top five key benefits of getting your little ones involved in creative play.

The Creation Station Founder, Sarah Cressall, explains all...

"Educationalists say that the benefits include fine motor skills, neural development, problem-solving, concentration skills and an effective tool to help the development of key essential learning skills such as reading, writing and understanding their world.

Child Psychologists say the benefits of creative activities can help children to express, process and understand their emotions.

Parents tell us that their children develop self-esteem and that it is an activity that they can also share and be involved in. Toddlers and children tell us they love being creative because it's fun and they are allowed to do it in their own way.

Business owners and leaders tell us creativity is the foundation for innovation and for our communities, economic and countries success. As you can see, there are many wider ranging benefits when you involve your child in creative activities."
We are going to explore the five key benefits to your 1. Creative activities help kids with managing emotions child when they get involved in creative play. 2. Creative activities help kids develop social skills
Expressing how you feel can be difficult for your child; they may experience new feelings and not understand what these feelings are. By allowing your child to express how they feel, you will be helping them make sense and understand these feelings. This also helps to build your child's self-confidence when it comes to managing their feelings and knowing that you are OK when they are learning how to express different emotions.

Activities that can help include; describing different emotions and situations through role-playing, storytelling, dressing up, drawing, modelling and painting.

Understanding that other people are different from us is a very important thing to learn for our children. Creative activities help show children that others can do things differently to us even with the same resources - It also enables a way of showing that it's ok to be different to others.
3. Creative activities help kids with their physical development
Sharing a creative activity is also a great way to help build friendships, and strengthen bonds between you and your child as well as with friends.

Activities including singing, dancing, acting, drawing, creating models, nature trails together are all great ways to help friendship and bonding.

There are a wide range of skills involved when being creative - with dancing, drama and movement, there are many gross motor skills including balance and spatial awareness. Meanwhile, art and crafts help support fine gross motor skills and hand and eye co-ordination.
4. Creative activities help your child's intellectual and cognitive development
With an increasing amount of screen time, children are having fewer opportunities to develop their hand and finger strength. Hand and finger strength helps with many everyday activities such as - dressing oneself, catching a ball, writing, brushing your teeth and many other essential days to day activities.

Spending time playing outdoors, running, walking and swimming helps to develop gross motor skills. Learning and practising how to use scissors and cutting, modelling clay, painting, colouring in can also help to build and develop your children's fine motor skills.

Creative activities help your child to develop many thinking skills. These skills include- problem-solving, developing their imagination, concentration and critical thinking. By exploring different materials and tools, discovering new concepts and techniques, children can develop their ideas and their understanding of the world.
5. Creative activities help your child's wellbeing
Creative activities can also help to develop basic mathematics and science skills. Practising and developing these skills, during your child's early years, will help them transfer these skills to other areas of their life which will benefit them as they grow older.

We all know that children love to ask 'Why?' Creative activities such as drama and arts and crafts will help children think for themselves more and work out answers for themselves.

Our lives are busy, and children's lives can be incredibly busy too. Going from one activity to another can make for frantic days and children can be under increased pressure to try to be good at everything. Taking time out to be led by your child and to be playful and to have fun together, is good for both your child and you. You don't even have to have an end goal in mind. By being in the moment, enjoying the time together and giving your child your attention, can provide a wonderful shared bonding experience. The other great thing about creative activities is that you can get involved with your child and both enjoy some special shared fun times together without any pressure of 'Am I, or are they doing it right?' Enjoy the process of taking an idea and developing it based on where your child's amazing imagination takes the idea.

Find your local Creation Station creative classes, parties and events here.

If you don't have a Creation Station In your area, and you or someone you know, would love to find out more about running your own flexible and rewarding Creation Station franchise click here for an info pack.

More news and features

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5 benefits of creative play for your child

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Kids love getting creative with arts, crafts and messy play! Little do they know that it is so good for their development as well! "Educationalists say that the benefits include fine motor skills, neural development, problem-solving, concentration skills and an effective tool to help the development of key essential learning skills such as reading, writing and understanding their world.

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'If you curate a better experience in person, your customers are likely to spend more time both sharing that encounter and buying your products.' (Drapers, 2020)
Experiential retail is now more important than ever. Enticing customers to leave the comfort of their homes and shop in-store is getting harder due to the ease of online shopping and the fear of Covid.
Providing a positive and inspirational experience in-store will ease customers back into bricks and mortar shopping.

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John Lewis would have stores of used fittings/fixtures which could be utilised. Alternatively, used items are constantly for sale. This would be beneficial to the fit out budget.

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For over 30 years Shopfitting Supplies have been selling low cost good quality used shop fittings. We pride ourselves on giving our loyal customers a extensive choice of both new

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Hard wearing, easy to lay and remove. As this is a pop-up store the budget needs to be closely monitored for shop fit out as it will all be removed within a few months.

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Benefits of Karndean luxury vinyl flooring

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Luxury vinyl flooring that handle the demands of everyday life while remaining true to the natural woods and stones that inspired each of our products

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Purchasing main display pieces e.g. tables/pendant lights from a local business shows involvement in the local community and also recycling of furniture. The style of antique furniture also suits the woodland Christmas concept.
** Presentation Feedback ** Signage would be displayed on the items sourced from Antique store so customers know the item is not John Lewis branded or for sale. This can also subtly promote the local antique store.

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Ampthill Antiques Emporium - Ampthill Antiques Emporium

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The desired customer experience of your zone.

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The desired customer experience of your zone.

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As discovered in my research, the wife/mother does the majority of the fashion retail shopping in this area. As such this experience zone can provide a source of inspiration/amusement whilst shopping for their family. It can also be an event to fill up a cold afternoon whilst trying to amuse the kids.

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How the design will attract your target customer and increase footfall/conversion

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How the design will attract your target customer and increase footfall/conversion

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The transition zone will be apparent through the open back windows. A lavish and inviting Christmas store which will entice customers in and then lead them through to other departments e.g. womenswear/menswear. A digital screen in the window will show in-store offers and promotions which will convince passing customers to come inside or make a mental note to come back later.

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Obviously real trees are more environmentally friendly than artificial but are they suitable for a retail store?
I have chosen to use an artificial tree as the tree is getting used each week for the 'styling sessions'. A real tree would have to be replaced at least every 2 weeks to maintain its integrity.
One of the main issues with artificial trees are how they are end up in landfill - a solution to this would be to donate the decorated tree to a family in need on Christmas eve.

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Real vs. Fake-Which Christmas Tree Is Better for the Environment?

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Want a more sustainable holiday? Looking for an eco-friendly Christmas tree? Here's why buying a real Christmas tree this year can help the planet.

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Display tables, bookshelf, mirrors, rug and pendant light to be purchased from the local antique emporium – supporting local businesses whilst recycling furniture.

Slatwall incl. fixtures to be recycled from John Lewis stores.

Most of the decorations and all of the table displays are current stock which is for sale therefore doesn’t need to be made or purchased elsewhere.

Karndean flooring – affordable and easy to be lay, not much prep work to the sub-floor required (levelling resin). Very hard wearing and can create any pattern/colour design.

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Immediate focal point being the central 'shop-able' Christmas display table. Navigation around either side of the table to:

RHS - slatwall of products and circular display tables – both shop-able and 360 degrees.

LHS – Christmas tree for the weekly ‘Christmas tree styling session’ and bookcase/shelving of merchandise.

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Transition zone - Christmas store.

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Search for a relevant VM role advertised now

# data[].attributes.body
MUST condense my CV to two pages only

Condense my personal statement

Put my employment skills into dot points

Merge my qualifications with education

Include 'additional interests'

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I have had over 10 year's professional experience. In this time I have acquired core knowledge in specific skilled areas that involve property management administration and office management. My strengths are planning, strategising and prioritising my workload to maximise my output and productivity.

I excel at solving problems whether it being disputes between clients or financial management matters. I can easily provide effective solutions to resolve issues while accommodating the needs of the client or colleague. I work well independently or as part of a team and when necessary I can direct, manage and oversee the work of other staff members. I am creative and intuitive when it comes to in providing timely solutions to issues and improving processes where I see necessary.

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Erica Williams - Office Manager - Fitzgerald Multi Service Contractors | LinkedIn

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I have had over 10 year's professional experience. In this time I have acquired core knowledge in specific skilled areas that involve property management administration and office management. My strengths are planning, strategising and prioritising my workload to maximise my output and productivity.

# data[].attributes.body
Hidden messages/meanings in imagery.

# data[].attributes.body
Businesses/industries developing international influence.

# data[].attributes.body
Items designed, sourced, produced and provided with the intention to be used and circulate responsibly and effectively in society for as long as possible.

# data[].attributes.body
Designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity.

# data[].attributes.body
Inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trends.

# data[].attributes.body
Claiming that products are environmentally friendly, when often they are not.

# data[].attributes.body
Internal

# data[].attributes.body
External

# data[].attributes.body
Interaction using sight, smell, touch, hear, movement

# data[].attributes.body
Using lighting interactively/mechanically

# data[].attributes.body
Creating atmosphere

# data[].attributes.body
Half open/closed. Minor sight line into store.

# data[].attributes.body
Can see into store through window.

# data[].attributes.body
Cannot see into store.

# data[].attributes.body
Multiplying the same object, can utilise height

# data[].attributes.body
Triangular formation of items

# data[].attributes.body
Grouping of three items together

# data[].attributes.body
Colour - Font - Shape - Size - Spacing
Simple, Memorable, Timeless, Versatile, Appropriate

# data[].attributes.body
Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal, Ethical

# data[].attributes.body
Strength (internal factors)
Weaknesses (internal factors)
Opportunities (external factors)
Threats (external factors)

# data[].attributes.body
How you want your brand to be perceived through text and images.
Character - friendly, playful etc
Tone - humble, honest etc
Language - simple, serious etc
Purpose - sell, entertain, eduacate etc

# data[].attributes.body
Negative long term memory for a customer relating to a brand.

# data[].attributes.body
Concerns the environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Concerns the people.

# data[].attributes.body
Comprises four dimensions:
Sensory, Affective, Intellectual, Behavioural.

# data[].attributes.body
Anything you can touch or feel.

# data[].attributes.body
The story and visuals.

# data[].attributes.body
Buying and selling of goods or services using the internet.

# data[].attributes.body
Buying and selling of goods and services through wireless handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets.

# data[].attributes.body
Physical retail stores. e.g. on the high street.

# data[].attributes.body
Consistent branding across all channels with the same message and experience.

# data[].attributes.body
An approach to sales and marketing that provides customers with a fully-integrated shopping experience, from physical to online.

# data[].attributes.body
Involving an experience whilst shopping.

# data[].attributes.body
Combining digital shopping into the retail space

# data[].attributes.body
Creating a white space for the product to stand out

# data[].attributes.body
Involves the idea of creating a set of unique attributes that set a company apart from its competitors.

# data[].attributes.body
Conscious and subconscious decisions customers make based on first impressions.

# data[].attributes.body
A form of Visual Communication, which stimulates the senses and entices customers to buy

# data[].attributes.body
Areas to improve:
Need to tidy up my CV
Create networks to aid job searching
Research which VM career path I want

# data[].attributes.body
“Recent data show that we have vaulted five years forward in consumer and business digital adoption in a matter of around eight weeks,”

The world won’t go back to a pre-pandemic state but not all lockdown behaviours will persist.

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Italian grannies have discovered online shopping

WELCOME TO THE future-not 2021, as you might have been expecting, but 2025, or even 2030, depending on whom you ask. The adoption of new technological behaviours in response to the pandemic, from video-conferencing to online shopping, means usage has already reached levels that were not expected for many more years.

"Recent data show that we have vaulted five years forward in consumer and business digital adoption in a matter of around eight weeks," declared McKinsey, a consultancy, in May 2020. And for online shopping in America, progress was even more rapid: "ten years' growth in three months". Netcomm, an Italian retail consortium, says shopping in that country, a laggard in e-commerce, has witnessed a "ten-year evolutionary leap" towards digital. In banking, experts canvassed by The Economist reckon that the share of cashless transactions worldwide has jumped to levels they had expected to see in two to five years' time. In medicine, a British doctor told the New York Times that the National Health Service had undergone a decade of change within a week, as doctors switched to remote consultations.

Call it tech-celeration. In all these cases, and in many others, the pandemic has accelerated existing trends of technological adoption. Shopping was steadily moving online; payments were slowly going digital; online learning was slowly becoming more prevalent; more people were working from home, at least some of the time. Now people in many countries have been abruptly propelled into a future where all of these behaviours are far more widespread.

This sudden shift has been painful. Many bricks-and-mortar retailers, already in difficulty, have been forced into bankruptcy, including household names such as J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus. With bank branches closed, elderly people unfamiliar with online banking have been targeted by scammers. The switch to online learning highlighted inequality in broadband access and computer ownership among students.

But the transition has also sparked rapid transformation in fields, notably health and education, that are historically resistant to change. The enforced experiment of mass lockdowns has also destigmatised online learning and remote working, by demonstrating that with the right equipment and support, they really can work at scale. That is good news.

The big question for 2021 is: how much will things snap back? Clearly the world is not going to return to its pre-pandemic state. Many department stores have closed. Italian grannies have discovered the joys of online shopping. Home-workers are in no rush to return to commuting five days a week. But nor will all the lockdown behaviours of 2020 persist. Students and teachers are keen to return to in-person tuition. Workers miss the camaraderie of the office. So some new behaviours will stick, but not all, and the result will be somewhere in the middle. Exactly where will have enormous implications: for transport patterns, property prices and the layout of cities, among other things.

McKinsey reports that, by 2022, 15% of executives who took part in an international poll expect to allow a tenth of their employees to work remotely for two or more days a week, and 7% were willing to stretch this to three days a week. But those global averages conceal wide variations. In Britain and Germany, 20% of respondents were happy for at least one in ten workers to work remotely two or more days a week; in China, the figure was just 4%. And among technology executives the proportion stood at 34%, up from 22% before the pandemic. Companies in technology and financial services can function more easily without workers on site. But even in industries where fully remote working is possible, the most likely outcome is a hybrid future that mixes remote and in-person working.

The future is now
Some firms-like those that provide services in the cloud, or devices that support remote working-will get stronger. Others, like bricks-and-mortar retailers, will suffer. Many will fail altogether. But once again there is a silver lining, as these changes open up new arenas for innovation. Already companies big and small are devising fresh tools to improve the experience of remote working, collaboration and learning; to support new kinds of contactless and appointment-based retailing; and to provide new sorts of online social experiences, from virtual conferences to virtual tourism. There is no going back to the past that existed before the pandemic. Instead, covid-19 has propelled the world into a very different future.

Tom Standage: editor, The World in 2021 ■
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition of The World in 2021 under the headline "After the tech-celeration"

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New technological behaviours will outlast the pandemic

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Italian grannies have discovered online shopping WELCOME TO THE future-not 2021, as you might have been expecting, but 2025, or even 2030, depending on whom you ask. The adoption of new technological behaviours in response to the pandemic, from video-conferencing to online shopping, means usage has already reached levels that were not expected for many more years.

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BOF podcast - Neiman Marcus see Stores as vital in Digital growth 

# data[].attributes.subject
BOF podcast - Neiman Marcus see Stores as vital in Digital growth 

# data[].attributes.body
Managing a department store through a pandemic and bankruptcy

It’s a digital business and a relationship business

Created growth by moving more digital

A loyal customer relationship is started in the store and is nurtured in the store.

The relationship business is the core but the avenue for growth is that they are a digital business.

Having the data to personalise interaction and drive more loyalty.

New approach to reaching customers through a THIRD channel ‘Digital Sales Assisted Channel’ a sales associate can sell to a customer when they aren’t in a store.

Can now engage with a customer and be present in their lives at any point in time, not just when they are in a physical store.

Stores are still a corner stone of the future, that’s where the relationship is created.

The relationship is then optimised and powered by digital.

‘You grow by making yourself available to a customer wherever and however they want’ (31:39:00)

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In an exclusive conversation with BoF's Imran Amed, Geoffroy van Raemdonck expresses optimism for the retailer's bankruptcy process and explains why brick-and-mortar remains integral to its core business.
LONDON, United Kingdom - When facing both a nation-wide retail shutdown and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing, Neiman Marcus Group Chief Executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck found solace in one fact: his most loyal customers, even at stores that have yet to re-open to the public, are shopping more than they did last year.
"Neiman Marcus is a relationships business," Van Raemdonck told BoF Editor-in-Chief Imran Amed in an exclusive interview this week.
Despite the global health crisis - and a dire debt problem that loomed even pre-pandemic - Van Raemdonck sees an opportunity for growth.
As consumers continue to migrate online, Neiman Marcus' 43 stores remain integral to forging lasting connections between shoppers and sales associates. Prior to the coronavirus, every Neiman Marcus store that was open for more than a year was profitable. That's why the retailer is planning on closing fewer than 10 stores, Van Raemdonck said.
Neiman Marcus' primary problem is debt. In 2019, the company generated $415 million in adjusted EBITDA, which represented 9 percent of its sales. The issue is that $365 million of that profit had to go toward paying down its debt. In the bankruptcy process, Neiman Marcus has been able to convince more than 75 percent of its debtholders to exchange what they are owed for equity in the company.
The retailer's objective now is to maximise its existing relationships with customers and meeting them where they are. To do so, it recently unveiled a new clienteling app called Neiman Marcus Connect. The app allows sales associates to connect with their individual customers wherever and however they like to shop.

Related Articles:
Can Neiman Marcus Survive Bankruptcy?
Can the American Department Store Be Saved?
Why Neiman Marcus Is Getting Rid of Its Off-Price Stores

Watch and listen to more #BoFLIVE conversations here. To contact The Business of Fashion with comments, questions, or speaker ideas please e-mail podcast@businessoffashion.com.

Sign up for BoF's Daily Digest newsletter.
Ready to become a BoF Professional? For a limited time, enjoy 25% discount on an annual membership, exclusively for podcast listeners. Simply, click here, select the Annual Package and use code PODCASTPRO at the checkout.
For all sponsorship enquiries, it's: advertising@businessoffashion.com.

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neiman marcus chief executive sees stores as vital for digital growth

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‎The Business of Fashion Podcast: Neiman Marcus Chief Executive Sees Stores As Vital for Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts

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‎In an exclusive conversation with BoF's Imran Amed, Geoffroy van Raemdonck expresses optimism for the retailer's bankruptcy process and explains why brick-and-mortar remains integral to its core business. LONDON, United Kingdom - When facing both a nation-wide retail shutdown and a Chapter 11 bankru...

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BOF podcast - Building smarter, more sustainable supply chains 

# data[].attributes.subject
BOF podcast - Building smarter, more sustainable supply chains 

# data[].attributes.body
From cradle to grave, fashion is rife with consequences for the planet, from the globalisation of supply chains, to the nature of materials used, to the garment manufacturing processes themselves’ (2:10:00)

Driven by finding the lowest cost labour and manufacturing. It has been an inherent trend and is deeply embedded in how the industry operates but is now being confronted.

Textiles was the first globalised industry and is now the most globalised industry. The goal has also been a relentless drive to lower cost, no matter the ethical or sustainable costs.

Will retail companies ever risk increasing costs in the interest of sustainability?

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In Episode 2 of BoF's new podcast series, Doug Stephens investigates how supply chains must evolve to meet the novel challenges faced by both the fashion industry and the planet - with guests John Thorbeck, chairman of Chainge Capital, Nina Marenzi, founder of The Sustainable Angle and Dio Kurazawa, co-founder of The Bear Scouts.
Subscribe now to never miss an episode.
Sign up for BoF's Daily Digest newsletter.
Ready to become a BoF Professional? For a limited time, enjoy 25% discount on an annual membership, exclusively for podcast listeners. Simply, click here, select the Annual Package and use code PODCASTPRO at the checkout.
For all sponsorship enquiries, it's: advertising@businessoffashion.com.

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more sustainable supply chains | retail reborn episode 2

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‎The Business of Fashion Podcast: Building Smarter, More Sustainable Supply Chains | Retail Reborn Episode 2 on Apple Podcasts

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‎In Episode 2 of BoF's new podcast series, Doug Stephens investigates how supply chains must evolve to meet the novel challenges faced by both the fashion industry and the planet - with guests John Thorbeck, chairman of Chainge Capital, Nina Marenzi, founder of The Sustainable Angle and Dio Kurazawa,...

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BOF podcast - Dries Van Noten opening a store during the pandemic 

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BOF podcast - Dries Van Noten opening a store during the pandemic 

# data[].attributes.body
Creating and opening a new store during the pandemic from another country.

Having to create the concept, fit out etc virtually (from Europe to US)

Not creating the standard ‘marble’ store but to create an experiential space

Inviting local artists to paint on the walls

Having an exhibition space for emerging designers

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BoF Editor-at-Large Tim Blanks speaks with the Belgian designer about his new community-centred art hub and why the clothing store could do with a makeover.

LONDON, United Kingdom - It's been just over two weeks since Dries Van Noten opened his latest store in downtown Los Angeles - a 8,500-square-foot, multi-storey building intended as a hub for art, fashion, music and community. In the latest episode of the BoF Podcast, the Belgian designer speaks with BoF Editor-at-Large Tim Blanks about the inspiration behind his new brick-and-mortar venture and his plans for future fashion weeks.
It may seem counterintuitive to debut a new store during a pandemic, when shops are open one day and forced to close the next, but Van Noten's latest venture is an attempt to reimagine what brick and mortar can be. "Stores become very static. I wanted to have more of a youth club, where people can just come in... and do things," he said. He recently had four local artists come in and repaint the walls in an homage to street art.
One of the rooms in Van Noten's store serves as an archive of unsold garments from the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. It was inspired by the idea to slow down the fashion industry. "We have a room for men and a room for women where you have a selection of pieces from old collections."
When looking to the future, Van Noten reflects on the possibility of combining fashion shows with alternative ways to present collections - like fashion films or lookbooks. "By the time we go back to fashion shows, perhaps the fashion shows will be changed," Van Noten said. "It felt not right to see - in the times we are in - a fashion show."

Related Articles:At Dries Van Noten, New Ways of SeeingDries Van Noten Proposes Reset to Fashion's Deliveries and Discounting CalendarWhat Happened to Rethinking the Fashion System?

Watch and listen to more #BoFLIVE conversations here.

To contact The Business of Fashion with comments, questions or speaker ideas please email podcast@businessoffashion.com.

Sign up for BoF's Daily Digest newsletter.
Ready to become a BoF Professional? For a limited time, enjoy 25% discount on an annual membership, exclusively for podcast listeners. Simply, click here, select the Annual Package and use code PODCASTPRO at the checkout.
For all sponsorship enquiries, it's: advertising@businessoffashion.com.

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dries van noten on opening a store during a pandemic

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‎The Business of Fashion Podcast: Dries Van Noten on Opening a Store During a Pandemic on Apple Podcasts

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‎BoF Editor-at-Large Tim Blanks speaks with the Belgian designer about his new community-centred art hub and why the clothing store could do with a makeover. LONDON, United Kingdom - It's been just over two weeks since Dries Van Noten opened his latest store in downtown Los Angeles - a 8,500-square...

# data[].attributes.headline
Covid-19 is not relevant at the time of this pop-up store.

# data[].attributes.subject
Covid-19 is not relevant at the time of this pop-up store.

# data[].attributes.body
Versatile shape, logo and typography to adapt to larger or smaller size tags as needed

# data[].attributes.body
White abstract mannequins to be used

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

Beautifully styled, white female mannequin poses in a gloss finish, with a hint of facial features. Supreme quality material, lifelike proportions, good muscle definition and detailed features combine to create this exquisite female mannequin. Toughened glass stand included.

Standard Delivery Charges

Orders placed before 4pm will be despatched the same day and should arrive within 2-3 working days.

Orders from £20 to £95 - delivery is just £5.95 per order.
Orders over £95 - FREE Delivery (excluding Heavy Goods).

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Heavy Goods Charge of £60 applies only to certain large items and this is clearly shown on the relevant page on our website.

Please note: All prices quoted are excluding VAT.

This item is fully covered by our 14 Day No Quibble Guarantee. Should it not meet your expectations for any reason, simply call Customer Services on 0330 44 55 666 for a returns number and send back the goods complete, undamaged and in their original packaging within 14 days for a refund. For our full Returns Policy click here.

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Realistic White Female Abstract Mannequins

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Beautifully styled, white female mannequin poses in a gloss finish, with a hint of facial features. Supreme quality material, lifelike proportions, good muscle definition and detailed features combine to create this exquisite female mannequin.

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Acrylic display holders for showing discounts, promotions or referring customer to the website.

# data[].attributes.body
Cinnamon  sticks for scent - multi sensory

# data[].attributes.body
Battery powered fairy lights - multi sensory

# data[].attributes.body
Close up video

# data[].attributes.body
Liberty - display framing the window - clustered gifts - different heights

# data[].attributes.body
Liberty - vinyl decals with a message and reference to their website

# data[].attributes.body
Fortnum & Mason - mechanical window display

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Fortnum & Mason - neon lights flowing out of champagne bottle

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Fortnum & Mason - advent calendar exterior facade

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Fortnum & Mason - Vinyl decals referring to the website

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Fortnum & Mason - interior display

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Fortnum & Mason - interior display

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Fortnum & Mason - rule of 3 with stacking hampers, colour pops with baubles

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John Lewis - clustered gifts on small pedestals - rule of 3

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John Lewis - different heights on pedestals - rule of three - nothing is particularly centred

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John Lewis - digi screen with the Christmas ad and an external speaker

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John Lewis - low level pendants

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John Lewis - clustered gifts

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John Lewis - don't use vinyl decals on the windows but rather printed signage in the windows

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John Lewis - different heights on tables

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John Lewis - different levels on pedestals

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BBC Breakfast discussing the reopening of retail and the importance of becoming a multi channel retailer.
‘Although the brands have heritage, they need to be exciting if they are going to go forward as bricks and mortar’
Very relative to John Lewis as they do have heritage but they can’t just rely on this for customers.

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Sustainable products need to be more central in future marketing campaigns as this is now of high importance to shoppers.

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Sustainability has never been important to shoppers, nor to the fashion industry. This generation cares about the planet; we might have enjoyed February's freakishly warm temperatures, but we know that the reasons behind it are dark. We don't want small animals to be choking on plastics they find in our oceans, nor do we think it's right that Arctic blocks of ice are now mired with sizeable chunks of polystyrene. We think it's inexcusable that 300,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes are binned, not recycled, every year.

The rise of ethical and eco-friendly brands is impossible to ignore, but how do we reconcile a love of fashion and clothes with sustainability? A relatively unknown term is currently being bandied around the industry claiming to be the answer - circular fashion. An off-shoot of the circular economy concept - an economic system aimed at minimising waste and making the most of resources - it challenges fashion's linear production line that ends with clothes being discarded in landfill.

"It is a somewhat broader term that 'sustainable fashion', as circular fashion combines the principles of both sustainability and circularity," says Dr Anna Brismar, who coined the term in 2014, and has worked with luxury resale destination Vestiaire Collective to create a an easy-to-use consumer guide to the subject. "Circular fashion relates to not only fashion per se, but also to sportswear, outdoorwear and everydaywear.

"It can be defined as clothes, shoes or accessories that are designed, sourced, produced and provided with the intention to be used and circulated responsibly and effectively in society for as long as possible in their most valuable form, and hereafter return safely to the biosphere when no longer of human use."

Circular fashion means that every part of the life span of a garment is cyclical - it starts with design of a piece and how much longevity and timelessness it has, then onto the materials and whether or not they are sustainable, before the making of the item - is its production fair and ethical; are workers and animals rights being upheld? Once the piece has become tired, it should be repaired or redesigned, then - rather than being binned - rented, swapped or sold at second-hand. All this means less will be bought and less will left ruining our planet.

"The future of fashion is circular. It has to be," Stella McCartney, sustainability pioneer, told us. "Right now, the equivalent of one dump truck of textiles gets landfilled or burned every second, and by 2025 the clothing waste accumulated between now and then will weigh as much as today's world population. We can't ignore it.

"We are always working on new and interesting ways to be more circular as a company," she added. "It gives us the exciting opportunity to get creative. Currently, the fashion system is linear, so it needs a radical transformation - we need to work together as an industry with huge levels of commitment and innovation and challenge the status quo. We need to evolve from just reducing our impact to making a positive impact, but this can only happen if we all work together."

McCartney isn't alone in her viewpoint. Bethany Williams, rising design star and recipient of the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Prize for Design, has been applauded for her rigorous reinvention of the typical production process by turning it into a virtuous cycle. The London-based designer not only uses sustainable materials to create her streetwear collections, but also works with different charities and takes an active role in helping them, rather than just donating money (although a portion of her collections is given away to the various foundations). She gives jobs to those using a respective charity's services so that they form part of the production line, which bolsters self-worth and self-esteem.

"It's about trying to make a cycle of production rather than just a production line. It's a different way of operating," Williams told us in February this year. Her goal is to set up a UK-based social manufacturing unit. "I'd set it up as a training programme and run it as a social enterprise," she says. "I'd have different structures, so my brand and my wholesale business, then consultancy, lecturing and teaching and exhibit as an artist."

Online retailer Yoox agrees that circular fashion is the way forward. "Circularity is one of the many sustainable practices which are possible in fashion and we have recently been exploring it both in our buying," says Yoox and The Outnet president Paolo Mascio. "We've also been exploring the idea within our special projects: the young designers from The Next Green Talents showcase, dedicated to sustainability, each created a unique garment out of prototypes from our private label 8 by Yoox, which was sold on Yooxygen."

Fast fashion has come under the harshest scrutiny since the shift towards more considered, ethically minded shopping. Our hunger for newness, our last-minute desire for a new dress to wear on a Friday night, comes at a price. Garments are being worn much less and discarded quicker than ever before. So, is it possible for high street giants to engage in circular fashion? Yes, says H&M's UK & IE Sustainability Manager, Giorgina Waltier, who said that the brand aim to only use sustainably sourced materials by 2030, and to be climate positive by 2040. It's a bold, well-intentioned goal, but is it realistic?

In the case of H&M, the company is starting with a focus on recyclable materials and designing with longevity in mind, before considering sustainable production processes when it comes to chemical and water management. The brand was also among the first to offer an in-store consumer recycling scheme, whereby shoppers were offered a £5 voucher in return for handing over clothes to be recycled.

"For the H&M group becoming 100 per cent circular means applying a circular approach to every aspect of our value chain," said Waltier. "We are also looking at our operations ranging from our stores, offices and logistics centres, through to our transportation to ensure that the way we run these operations enables us to reach our 2040 Climate Positive goal. In short, a circular approach across our entire value chain will enable us to maximise resources and minimise waste thus reducing our negative impact on the environment and society."

Of course, sustainable clothing comes at a higher price, given the ethical materials and production processes required. Anyone with a conscience can see the benefits of shopping sustainably, but not everyone can stretch to higher price points.

"There are lots of ways you can be sustainable without having a big budget," says McCartney. "I know everyone says it, but the best way is to start by buying investment pieces over fast fashion. You can also reduce your personal impact by giving your old clothes to charity shops, to car-boot sales, to friends and family or by re-selling them, therefore keeping them out of landfill for as long as possible."

This idea of reselling items isn't new, yet it's growing in popularity. Vestiaire Collective attracts 140,000 new members join every month, proving a change in how we now want to shop. The company by nature is part of the circular fashion process, but it still keen to dial up consumer awareness of what the term means with its newly-launched guide available to look at on the site's home page. The business has also dropped its commission rate to encourage more people to try pre-owned through selling and buying, also resulting in lower prices across the site.

"From a style point of view, it seemed much more personal and fashionable to mix vintage and second-hand pieces with newer items, and from an environmental point of view it provided a responsible solution," says Vestiaire Collective co-founder and creative director Sophie Hersan. "We wanted to break the rules. Ten years ago, the second-hand market was misunderstood, and the fashion industry didn't want to recognise it. Today, the market has matured and could take over the demand for affordable and sustainable fashion."

If our future shopping investments are all made with timelessness and longevity in mind, then the concept of fashion trends, which by their essence are transient, seems problematic. Hersan says not so. "Trends still have a place in the fashion industry and the consumer will always love to be part of it," she says. "In a similar way, second-hand also follows current trends, but also offers a wider selection of styles and original designs that have been reedited."

There are two long-standing arguments that challenge circular fashion - the first is that it's just a jumped-up term for recycling and the second is that a decrease in fast fashion will be detrimental for businesses, the idea that if we shop less, sales will slump and jobs will be lost.

The first myth can be debunked quickly - recycling is just one of the many components of the new system; there are a number of criteria that means that a garment is truly circular. As for the second, Dr Anna Brismar says it's up to the industry to adapt, and it needs to do so fast.

"The fashion industry will be forced to come up with new ways of making business in a world that is naturally limited in time and space and in the availability of arable land, freshwater, minerals and raw oil," she said. "As the circular economy framework suggests, we need to focus on creating valuable services instead of short-term products. Instead of continuing to support a short-term profit-biased and ownership-focused economy, the fashion industry needs to contribute to building a long-term prosperous and sharing-oriented global economy."

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Introducing circular fashion: the shopping concept that could save the planet

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Sustainability has never been important to shoppers, nor to the fashion industry. This generation cares about the planet; we might have enjoyed February's freakishly warm temperatures, but we know that the reasons behind it are dark.

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Creating slow fashion items/lines to ensure sustainability.

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Slow fashion is a necessity for sustainability. Fast fashion can never be sustainable.
Financial Times article, Nov 2020.

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John Lewis locations of shops, warehouses etc

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UK is facing export tariffs to the EU which is the UK's biggest trading partner.

“The EU is by far and away the biggest market for the UK...so, therefore, having tariff-free access to that market is hugely important for us.”
'80 per cent of UK clothing exports are currently sent to the EU. '

Workforce issues:
If freedom of movement between UK and EU is lost, positions within John Lewis that domestic workers don't want will go unfilled.
'The fashion manufacturing sector in the UK is currently at capacity due to a shortage of garment workers. A survey of 50 UK manufacturers conducted by the organisation indicated that 80 per cent had unfilled vacancies and more than three quarters doubted there was sufficient domestic skill and interest from UK workers to fill the gap.'

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UK and European Union fashion firms want clarity on tariffs, migration and regulation from the upcoming trade negotiations.

Key takeaways:

The fashion sector in the UK, built on duty-free access to the EU, is facing the risk of export tariffs into its biggest trading partner from 2021 onward.

Some businesses hope for liberalised regulation post-Brexit, but EU firms are pushing back over fears that this could give British manufacturers an unfair advantage.

The UK fashion industry fears a lack of clarity around short-term work visas could limit the ambition of promotional events like London Fashion Week.

On Friday night, Britain will formally, finally, leave the European Union. With that, the focus shifts to upcoming trade talks. The dangers for British fashion have been well documented: the UK Trade Policy Observatory, a research unit, has called it the manufacturing sector most at risk of a significant drop in exports. Meanwhile, continental manufacturers and retailers fear that a UK outside of the EU regulatory sphere will operate at an unfair advantage.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated he wants the trade deal completed within the year when a transition period that will see the UK align with single market rules is due to end. But that is a timeframe many consider unrealistic. Even if an accord was to be agreed in less than 12 months, fashion firms fear that negotiators will overlook some of the detailed protections they want, or even miss some of the opportunities of a post-Brexit world.

Vogue Business spoke to representatives of the main lobbying bodies and industry groups on both sides of the channel about what they want their governments to prioritise in the trade talks. We also reached out to over 30 brands across different price points, but most preferred to let trade bodies speak for them. The results of these discussions are outlined below.

Keeping zero-for-zero tariffs

"The absolute number one [priority] has to be tariffs," says Adam Mansell, CEO of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, whose members include Burberry, Asos and Ted Baker. "The EU is by far and away the biggest market for the UK...so, therefore, having tariff-free access to that market is hugely important for us."

The modern UK textiles, apparel and footwear sector was built on the assumption of tax-free access to Europe, so British manufacturers are highly reliant on exporting to the EU. For instance, 80 per cent of UK clothing exports are currently sent to the EU.

UK Brexit minister Stephen Barclay said last week that zero-tariff, zero-quota trade would be one of the British government's aims in the trade talks. But EU negotiators have repeatedly said that they will only countenance that if Britain aligns with the bloc on issues like state aid, environmental rights and taxes.

There will probably be some disruptions post-Brexit even if a free trade agreement covering these issues is reached. Major retailers, for instance, hope that the authorities are prepared for any increased border checks and other holdups caused by increased border regulation. (The UK imports over £14,000,000 worth of apparel and clothing accessories per day.) Last year, for instance, dozens of France-to-UK trains were cancelled as customs officers at Paris Gare du Nord carried out stringent customs checks in a simulation of what tighter border control looks like. The UK Cabinet Office did not comment for this story.

Leaving the customs union means that exporters will likely have to fill in declaration forms, which come with administrative costs - UK mid-market retailer Next estimated a cost of £150,000 per year under a no-deal scenario. This is likely to be a bigger problem for smaller exporters, since major retailers like Next that export more than £250,000 per year into the EU, already have to declare all the goods moved out of the UK. The UK Freight Transport Association has reportedly requested information from the government on how it plans to deal with a perceived shortage in customs experts in the UK.

"We hope the UK Government and the European Commission will adopt a pragmatic approach on the future regulatory relationship, in particular on customs processes," says William Bain, trade policy advisor at the British Retail Consortium. "This could also include sector-specific implementation periods to allow businesses to apply as-yet-unknown changes affecting IT, staffing, taxation and compliance systems."

This is not likely to be existential for larger retailers both mainstream and luxury, although Burberry have warned in the past that higher inventory levels will be needed to mitigate for delayed delivery times in a situation where there are border checks. Small and medium enterprises with lower margins are much more at risk, however.

There is also the side question of what happens to Britain's existing trade deals with other third-party countries. While many nations have agreed to extend the terms to Britain, a deal with Turkey - a significant import market for British fashion - will not be signed for exit day. The Eurasian country, which exports £1.4 billion of clothing to the UK, is in a customs union with the EU and a straight-forward rollover is not possible given the rules of that agreement.

Regulatory alignment

Another area for concern is divergence on regulation and standards, says Dirk Vantyghem, director general of Euratex, which represents European fashion retailers and manufacturers in Brussels. UK Chancellor Sajid Javid has sent mixed messages on this issue, telling the Financial Times to expect the UK to make its own rules before watering down these comments down after a backlash from British businesses.

All goods manufactured in the UK and sold in the EU will need to comply with the regulatory standards of the latter - and vice versa. But Vantyghem worries that the UK, whose government has pledged to be a rule-maker, not a rule-taker post-Brexit, will not put the necessary protections in place to ensure that EU standards are properly matched. However, he adds that the statements of EU representatives thus far gives him confidence that single market rules will be protected.

An even more challenging question may be around "rules-of-origin". The measure determines if enough of a good has been made in a country that it qualifies for preferential tariff rates. With products like clothing, where the supply chain stretches across multiple countries, this can be difficult and expensive to prove. Indeed, suppliers of certain goods from Norway, which is part of the EU single market, but not the customs union, often pay tariffs instead of going through the rigmarole of proving the economic origin of their goods.

The EU is currently part of the Pan-Euromed Convention, along with a number of nearby countries such as Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey. This agreement allows for a textile product to be designated as originating from a country within the zone if two significant manufacturing processes happen there like yarn being turned into fabrics and then cut into a garment.

The UKFT's Mansell has been lobbying the British government to push for more flexibility on these rules in any new free trade agreement with the EU. (Britain's largest textile and clothing supplier is China.) One possible change could be stipulating for single transformation, which would mean just one production process, such as tailoring material into a suit, would be needed. Fashion firms such as H&M, which sources significantly from non-EU countries, are enthusiastic about the potential for a more liberal approach when it comes to trade.

"We encourage the UK to conclude ambitious free trade deals, mirroring EU Free Trade Agreements, preferably with even more flexible trading rules. We certainly also see opportunities arising, with the possibility of the UK concluding trade deals with key players in the textile industry with which the UK/EU has no solid agreement as of today," says a spokesperson for H&M.

Vantyghem, by contrast, is concerned that the EU negotiating different rules of origin with the UK could give it an unfair advantage on textile industries based in other EU countries. Fashion firms that are dependent on European products for their manufacturing processes are also wary of the potential for added tariffs. "UK businesses should not be required to pay duties on raw material and components sourced from within the EU. Without this, we are in no doubt that there would be an impact on the prices we offer our customers," says Mulberry CEO Thierry Andretta.

The luxury industry is also particularly concerned about the prospect of losing some intellectual property protection over their designs. The British government has not announced which elements of the comprehensive EU legislation covering the issue are going to be transposed into UK law. Without these added safeguards, brands may be hesitant to show at London Fashion Week.

Workforce issues

Who gets to work in the UK and the EU is not distinctly a trade issue. But it is a major point of contention for the fashion industry going forward. The British government has pledged to end freedom of movement and introduce a new migration system; British subjects will also lose their right to work and live in the EU freely.

Tamara Cincik, the founder and CEO of lobbying group Fashion Roundtable, says that the fashion manufacturing sector in the UK is currently at capacity due to a shortage of garment workers. A survey of 50 UK manufacturers conducted by the organisation indicated that 80 per cent had unfilled vacancies and more than three quarters doubted there was sufficient domestic skill and interest from UK workers to fill the gap. (Many Brexiters say that EU migrants have depressed wages for British workers, and vacancies will be filled if companies pay higher salaries.)

This has led to industry fears of a skills shortage if the government goes ahead with its desire to impose a new points-based immigration system as soon as the transition period ends. Both Fashion Roundtable and the UKFT have expressed willingness to work with the government on upskilling the domestic workforce, but there are concerns about the readiness of the industry to adapt to the changes in the short-term. For Cincik, not updating the rules to accurately reflect the needs of the sector also risks undermining a potential growth in UK textiles manufacturing post-Brexit. (The government's independent advisory body on migration has recommended that the minimum salary for migrants with a job offer should be lowered from £30,000 to £25,600.)

Mansell also called for clarity on the freedom of movement of goods-not-for-sale like samples. Historically, fashion firms have been able to load up their products into a suitcase and take them on the Eurostar to trade shows. If the UK mirrors the rules of other third-party countries, these will now likely be subject to the ATA Carnet or "passport for goods" system. "How is the government going to make it accessible to show our products?" Mansell says.

This also presents another challenge for London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Council. If models, creatives and extra garments cannot be sourced at short notice, then it becomes a less favourable environment for luxury brands to be a part of. Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council says: "We continue to have a dialogue with government, focusing our efforts on issues raised by the businesses we work with such as access to talent, tariffs and intellectual property."

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Brexit is here. What's next for fashion?

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UK and European Union fashion firms want clarity on tariffs, migration and regulation from the upcoming trade negotiations. Key takeaways: The fashion sector in the UK, built on duty-free access to the EU, is facing the risk of export tariffs into its biggest trading partner from 2021 onward.