Typically exhibitors at the IIDEX Canada industry trade show, which took place last week, are geared towards commercial sectors other than retail; but that doesn’t mean that the show is short of interesting new products suited to retail applications. Here are 3 of the best from this year’s show:
1. Luminous Textile with Kvadrat Soft Cells [Philips]
This intriguing product, awarded Bronze Innovation Award in the category of Innovative Lighting, is a Luminous Textile fabric panel lit with integrated LEDs. It’s a completely customizable modular product available in a variety of colours and ready for whatever content you wish to plug-in. According to Philips, the product provides “…endless ways to play with colour, movement, texture and light…” This is a perfect way to seamlessly integrate technology and interactivity into a retail environment, to enhance the retail experience and subtly engage customers without detracting from the product within the store.
2. IdeaPaint [Levey Industries]
The new normal for retail is adaptability and flexibility. Retail spaces need to be easily transformable to address rapidly changing product and customer needs – not to mention being able to be interactive and responsive. IdeaPaint although intended for office environments, lends itself beautifully to “blank canvas” retail spaces where products are artfully displayed and the shell of the space takes a backseat; or even “market-type” retail spaces where narratives and price points are part-in-parcel of the experience. This specialty paint can be applied to virtually any surface transforming it into a dry-erase white board. Imagine the possibilities of easily animating and transforming a retail experience within minutes or simply compelling customers to leave their mark – even if only temporarily.
3. Organoid Panels [Richelieu]
Counteracting the infiltration of technology in our lives is the continuing trend of embracing natural materials and textures. Organoid, a new line of architectural panels distributed by Richelieu, draws inspiration and content from Mother Nature herself. There are a variety of patterns and textures available, inspired and derived from nature utilizing such materials as cocoa, hemp, nuts, hay, bark and my favourite, lavender. Both visually interesting and highly tactile, the line also has an added olfactory appeal with a hint of scent, at least initially.
