The document describes 6 different retail stores that were observed, including 3 boutique stores and 3 chain stores. For each store, details are provided about the location, entrance, security, employees, layout, decor, customers, and other notable features. The purpose seems to be documenting observations of different retail store environments.

1. are you paying
attention?
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Assignment #2

2. Stores Observed
• 3 private stores
• 3 chain stores
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
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3. boutique store
men’s and women’s shoes
women’s clothing
• shared exterior entrance
• store entrance is not extremely welcoming...you
are drawn in by the window display of shoes
• no visible security
• single employee that greets you immediately
• the desk/register is at the front of the store
• great use of the floor space with a variety of
products
• colour scheme is neutral - browns, buttery yellow
• lighting is subdued but suits the space
• flooring is carpet and tile
• ceiling is high
• there is not any music playing
• customers are 30-45ish
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity

4. boutique store
women’s clothing and shoes
• shared exterior entrance
• store entrance is not extremely welcoming
• no visible security
• single employee was in a conversation with a
customer when I entered but I was never
acknowledged
• the register is in the middle of the wall on the
south side
• the product is sparse
• the decor is fresh with light colours, laminate
floors, lots of natural light and custom touchs
such as painted branches rather than rods on the
clothing racks
• there is not any music playing
• customers are 25-35ish
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity

5. boutique store
men’s and women’s casual clothing
women’s business and formal clothing
• individual exterior entrance
• music plays outside and is a good representation
of the vibe of the store
• there are security sensors at the door but they
really aren’t noticeable
• single employee that greets you immediately and
checks in a couple of times
• the desk/register is in the middle of the store
• great use of the floor space with a variety of
products
• decor is industrial with concete polished floors,
corrugated metal, spotlights, white walls
• customers are 20-45ish
• the clothing has colour and outfit groupings
arranged by brand
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity

6. chain store
men’s and women’s shoes
• within a shopping centre
• displays near the entrance draw you in
• no visible security
• two employees to four customers
• took a few minutes to be acknowledge
• the desk/register is at the back of the store
• good use of the floor space with a variety of
products
• colour scheme is neutral - browns, lighting is
quite bright around the perimeter of the store
• flooring is light coloured laminate
• ceiling is fairly high
• there is not any music playing
• customers are 30-55ish
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity

7. chain department store
• dedicated exterior entrance and shared mall
entrance
• store entrance is not extremely welcoming...there
is a bit of a draw from the street side window
displays
• security sensors are prominent at each entrance
• employees are difficult to find and only speak to
you if approached
• registers are throughout the store but not easy
to find from the recent change of the centralized
registers
• standard department store displays grouped by
brand
• store is bright, fairly sterile and high ceilings
• there is not any music playing
• customers are 30-45ish
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity

8. chain home improvement store
• stand alone store and entrance
• store entrance is not extremely welcoming...there
are seasonal displays at the entrance (never too
early for a blow up Santa)
• security sensors are prominent at each entrance
• employees are difficult to find but greet you
• there are assistance buzzers down many of the
aisles
• staffed and self serve registers are at the front of
the store in between the entrance and exit with a
dedicated contractor entrance/exit and register
• standard store displays with lots of signage at the
end of and within each aisle
• store is bright with corporate colours and very
high ceilings
• there is not any music playing
• customers are 30-55ish and many seem stressed
are you paying attention? - Assignment #2
Stanford - Crash Course in Creativity