“The Big Chicken” Takes Flight

Kentucky Fried Chicken has been one of our clients for more than 10 years. We have worked on projects and brand initiatives large and small, but no single project has the scale and literal visibility as the “The Big Chicken” – which boasts an iconic 56-foot-tall chicken sculpture as its main architectural expression. Situated in the heart of Marietta, Georgia, this roadside beacon has been a landmark since construction started in 1956 and a flagship KFC destination since 1966. Still used as a guide to help direct pilots, The Big Chicken has captivated locals and passersby on their way to and from family vacations – forever etched in the hearts and minds of any and all that stop in for a bucket of chicken.

EuroShop 2017: Unconventional Textures

Foreword: Every 3 years, 100,000+ visitors flock to an international destination to experience all things retail. Hailed as the “Global Retail Trade Fair,” EuroShop covers all things retail related, from store design to visual merchandising. Located in Dusseldorf, Germany, the event offers 17 exhibition halls within 19 different buildings.  A group of lucky FRCH-ers made the trip this year and will be sharing global trends and inspiration from the conference all week!

The EuroShop Retail Design Conference offers products and services for all things retail, but unlike the typical conference, vendors here go above and beyond when creating their exhibit space. One design trend I’ve noticed popping up on the expo floor this year is all about textures. Vendors are using everyday items in new and innovative ways to create impactful, textural experiences.

Welcome to Main & Vine

Earlier this month, Kroger opened their doors to Main & Vine – a brand new 27,000 SF, fresh‐format supermarket prototype in Gig Harbor, Washington. With the widely noted successes of recent ventures like their Roundy’s purchase and the billion-dollar-plus status of their Simple Truth brand, this new brand launch comes with much excitement and anticipation. FRCH partnered with the country’s largest supermarket chain step-by-step from concept to completion to bring the new natural grocery brand to life.

Whole Foods Market Dayton Grand Opening

Wednesday, our team took a quick road trip to the grand opening of the first Dayton-area Whole Foods Market. The new 45,000-square-foot store at Oak Creek Marketplace features local products (many made within 100 miles of the store), such as a new flavor of Jeni’s Ice Cream, and a collaboration beer with MadTree Brewing from Cincinnati offered at the in-store pub. Whole Foods Market goes beyond the typical grocery store experience with a coffee bar and growler fill station, fresh soup, salad and sandwich bars, and open service department layouts that bring the product closer to the customer, encouraging an interactive experience with both product and store employees.

That’s Amoré Signs

Okay, so admittedly I am a little obsessed with signage, dating way back to when I was first able to read — I would ride along in the family van reading each and every sign as we traversed the roads and highways of southern California. Maybe it was all the trips from SoCal through the desert and arriving in Las Vegas, the mecca of neon and flashing lights, that got me hooked. Or maybe it was the sign to my grandfathers pizza restaurant up in C-Bus (Columbus Ohio for anyone not familiar with central Ohio) that solidified my passion for old school typography and neon.

Fishs Eddy

On a recent trip to New York, I was thrilled to revisit one of my favorite stores, Fishs Eddy. Located at 889 Broadway, the retailer originated as a small shop near Gramercy Park. While on a buying trip nearly twenty five years ago, the owners passed a small town in Upstate New York called Fishs Eddy, and borrowed the name for their store. Original merchandise included dishes from roadside diners, hotels, and country clubs. 

The visual presentation in the store is nothing short of inspiring. Tables, buckets, and bins are abundant with terrific household merchandise, with clever signs perched above. It’s impossible to leave the store without purchasing something! 

The store is fun, funky, and quirky, with a great selection of both basic and unique items. Check out their website, or better yet, their store.