Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Week 43... The Color of Bait & Switch

I had intended this post to be titled The Color of Opportunity... I mean how often do you get a chance to take a Window Display Workshop from the one and only Anthropologie!!
Kenya and I found out about the workshop a couple of weeks ago and were so excited to go "learn" from the best in the business.  We got up to Lenox mall about 15 minutes before opening.. giddy as kids on Christmas morning!!  The doors opened up and we rushed inside, along with the others waiting to take the workshop.
 
 
Tables on the right were set up for arts and crafts...
 
Tables on the left were set up with yummy snacks and drinks...
 
We sit down and listen to Caroline, The Merchandising Manager for the home goods department, talk about the Anthropologie vision for this winter.  (Nordic animals I think)  Today's project was making paper garlands for the front window.. that explains the arts & crafts table.  So after a quick demo, we were off making geometric shapes by scoring, folding, and gluing.  After about 30 minutes of this, it was very obvious to everyone at the table that we were DUPED!!!  This wasn't a workshop to learn amazing techniques, inside trade secrets, rules of display, etc... this was a sweatshop set up in the back of the store!!
We spent the next 2 hours scoring and folding these templates so that the Anthropologie employees could tend to their customers. 
 Here is one of several completed bags that headed down the production line to the gluing table.
 
The finished dradle looking shapes.  
 
Our Thank You gift... A coupon would have been much more appreciated!!  Apparently this location will be hosting several more Display Workshops over the next few weeks.  Afterall, the shapes still need to be painted and strung together!!  I think I will pass.. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Enjoy!!


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