1. Are You Paying Attention?
By David Fealkoff
Indoor, Outdoor…Open Door
Two of the six stores visited had open doors. This one is a flower and gift shop and the only open door
in the shopping center. It has been there for 15 years and survived two supermarket flower shops and a
Hallmark card and gift shop. The front window is busy but pleasantly arranged. When you go inside it
looks like a step back in time to grandma’s house.
Let’s take a look!

2. It is warmly decorated and lit with low warm lighting. There’s a table set as if you were expected and
the walls covered with cloth wall paper. The ceiling is low and there’s no music playing. It’s cozy,
comfortable with plenty to look at. There no trappings of technology like video cameras and the
refrigerator and cash register are in the back. The cash registered is at the very back so that it doesn’t
affect the ambiance of the room.
There were no customers inside when I was there and the owner is right in character with the décor of
the shop… pleasant, warm, and engaging. It’s as if the store was a period piece created by Disney.
There are many unique crafts for sale which tends to keep you browsing.
Indoor/Outdoor
The front window, while not particularly eye catching is unique because from the outside it is organized
to appeal to passers’ by. From the inside it is designed to complete that face of the room as if you were
not in a store but in a four walled room.

3. No curb appeal
This is a local drug and convenience store. It looks like it sounds. There’s no curb appeal and that’s
being kind. Inside it’s bright and very utilitarian. If that weren’t bad enough the music is dreadfully
uncomplimentary. Having said that, it generates a great deal of foot traffic and very few people walk
out empty handed.
Let’s go inside.

4. On the inside you can see that it’s brightly lit with a mix of seasonal displays complete with alcoholic
spirits that are on sale. The ceilings are fairly high so there’s an openness about it that improves the
experience. I didn’t see anybody browsing. People tend to be mission oriented to get in and get out in
an expedient way. I noticed a wall of candy up front near the registers, where the only browsing seems
to take place and mostly by patrons who come in with children.

5. Christmas with the Griswalds
This is a hardware store which has decided to get a jump on Christmas. It is bright, white, and light with
high ceilings and a low employee per square foot ratio. There’s something about the décor that except
for the tools and supplies you can expect low quality. It is cleanly laid out. Most visitors are male, 25
and up. There were also a few senior citizen couples. There seems to be a lot of wandering around,
people looking in search of something but unable to find it and patrons have kind of a ‘Night of the
Living Dead’ quality to their demeanor.
Let’s look around a little more.

6. Room to move
There’s hardly an employ in sight, but they keep your spirits up as you wander around by playing 60s
rock n’ roll. A good time for ‘She’s not there’ by the Zombies.

7. Bringing home the bacon
This is the vegetable section of the local supermarket. I particularly like the fruits and vegetables in this
market because I perceive the quality to be better than at some of the other nearby markets. After
looking at the signage this photograph I just realized that they pegged me as a value shopper. Go figure!
This section of the store is fairly dark with wood floors and some other country genre trappings. I’m not
sure if it’s because it makes the vegetables look more appealing or makes you feel calmer about the
prices they’re charging. It’s kind of busy but not in an annoying way.
Unlike most of the other stores I notice smells. Very nice.
I’ve just showed you the appealing part of the store, but this Dr. Jekyll has a Mr. Hyde. I think that’s the
way it goes.

8. We’re movin inventory!
This is actually at the entrance of the store. Before you can commune with asparagus or seasonal
specialties like pomegranates in their bucolic veggie department you have to make your way through
the wall of seasonal commodities at the front door. If anybody reading this can’t find a turkey pan this
season, give me a call!
The remainder of the store is brightly lit and the store in general is always highly trafficked. There are
lots of moms, seniors, with timed surges of middle school children and individuals picking something up
on their way home from work. For the most part the employees are engaging and make the
atmosphere quite social.

9. Another Open Door Policy
This is a cosmetic store. It has an open policy in a different shopping mall where all the other shop
doors are closed. It kind of reflects thepersonality of the store. When you walk in someone is typically
there to greet you and ask if they can help. If you’re not a cosmetic connesieur, this is a life saver. Even
if you are I find the walls of colorful hair, skin, and god only knows what kind of other product bottles
tend to blur together. The façade of products looks like a ‘Where’s Waldo’ puzzle to me.
It’s brightly lit and full of all kinds of mirrors. I wouldn’t recommend going in there on a bad hair day.
Let’s go inside!

10. See what I mean!
As you can see it’s a maze of beautification products goes pretty far back (I’ve actually never reached
the back) with some parallel and some meandering rows. There are no signs directing you where to go
to find something, but with knowledgeable and prompt staff it’s never been a problem.

11. The Grand Bookstore
Open, airy, aromatic, and inviting. There are book displays inviting you to explore something new,
something that clearly wasn’t on your mind when you came in. The ceilings are very high making book
browsing like visiting a grand library. The smell of coffee and pastries waft around the room and if
you’re fortunate enough to find a good seat you’re set.
Sections of the bookstore are well marked and there are multiple customer service stands in case you
can’t find what you’re looking for. Cash registers are in the front, but kind of out of the way so you
don’t notice them unless you are ready to check out. There’s a low buzz of conversation which sets a
socially pleasant tone.
Let’s look around

12. Lots to explore
There’s a mezzanine with more sections to explore. It is well lit and appointed with calming earthtones,
wood, and wrought iron. There’s adequate staff in addition to the customer service stands who are
walking around and asking if you need help. There’s a complete cross-section of the community with
friends periodically running into other friends. Children congregate in the children’s section, adults and
high schoolers at the coffee shop.