the wine sorceress

May 25, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
VML
 
Something caught our eye at Bistro Ralph in Healdsburg, CA and it wasn't the charming room.
 
It was the unique astrology-inspired horizontally-placed VML black-and-white label which tells a whimsical story of the woman winemaker as sorceress — blending natural elements through rich black images within a utopian backdrop. The illustrations seem to move with the seasons as insects, flowers, and human kind are in sync with the planting calendar.
 
The visual story of the winemaker as a sorceress and the lovely Pinot Noir was riveting combination. Beyond compelling — we had to visit the winery.
 
 
{photos by The Dieline Wine & VML Winers}
 
VML Winery opened in April 2011 at the location previously occupied by Belvedere Winery owned by Bill Hambrecht and later C. Donatiello.  The winery is named for winemaker Virginia “Ginny” Marie Lambrix and is a partnership of Bill and Woody Hambrecht, Phil Hurst, Mark De Mawulenaere and Paul and Heath Dolan.
 
Ginny’s approach to winemaking is organic and biodynamic. In a 2011 interview in Wine Business, she was was quoted as saying “I do believe there is something more to the vitality of the estate when the person farming it is completely engaged. Biodynamics is a really elegant way to farm, and I think the wines that come out of grapes that are grown Biodynamically are more interesting.”
 
VML Winery
 
VML design
 
At the winery located on Westside Road in Sonoma County, the wine menu uses similar graphic elements. The tasting room, with large pounded brass bar, is a perfect backdrop.
 
The graphics for VML were created by Stranger & Stranger, a packaging design agency for spirits, beer, and wine based in London. Within firms website, the case study copy describes the inspiration for the collateral with cheeky humor: "Ginny Lambrix is a witch. Ok, she’s not a pointy-hat-broomstick kind of witch but she's a biodynamic winemaker and she does things with potions and skulls that just sound a bit too witchy. So we made her a label that was suitably worshipful."
 
astrology influencing design
 
As fashion continues to embrace the celestial trend, it's only logical that other industries adopt tactics and themes that already resonate with a design-conscious demographic. We love astronomical objects and the biodynamic philosophy with artistic integrity in a rich scheme.
 
Tags: wine, beverage, packaging, design, California, GlobalLocality, trends, artisan, london

the debonair digital dude

May 7, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
affluent men shopping online more
luxury menswear
 
Luxury menswear is leading the trend and growing at a rate of about 14% per year, according to a new study.
 
"The Affluent Male: What His Online Behavior Can Teach Luxury Brand Marketers," released last week by iProspect, shows the online preferences and behaviors of affluent males – including device, advertising, research, shopping and brand preferences.

According to the study, there are 19 million affluent males (age 18 and older) with a household income of at least $100,000 on the Internet and 40% of the respondents to the study indicated that they are shopping online at least twice a week. And those who are shopping multiple times are spending more than $30,000 annually.

"The old adage that men hate to shop is being upended by the digital experience. Not only are affluent men shopping online more, but this demographic is doing extensive research, shopping and then purchasing online, which provides advertisers with multiple touch points to reach him. Understanding the habits of the high-end consumer allows iProspect to help our clients develop well-integrated digital campaigns that connect with this audience and deliver results," said Robert Murray, Global CEO, iProspect.

 
Affluent shopping
{image: iProspect}
 

According to the study, 70% of affluent males prefer to research and buy online rather than researching online and purchasing in store. And they are adopting a multi-channel approach to accessing the internet. 
  • The vast majority (91%) access a PC at least once daily, while seventy-seven percent have a mobile smartphone and 50 percent own a tablet.
  • Engagement with these devices is high across the board - almost 100 percent of survey respondents report using their PCs and mobile smartphones at least daily and 85% reporting daily use of tablets.
  • When an affluent male has daily access to tablet, he is 32 percent more likely to have made a purchase via the device.
  • In terms of visibility, 71 percent have seen ads on a PC while one in three have seen ads on a mobile phone or tablet.

"By all indications, this segment has untapped purchasing power which can and will trickle down to non-luxury brands," said Murray. "The best digital marketing strategies integrate practices across all channels. For brand managers, knowing how to effectively communicate to affluent men will a key factor to success in an increasingly digital world."
 
The research also showed that 84% of those surveyed make purchases for themselves, with the most-searched categories including travel, accessories, apparel and automobiles. Within the affluent demographic, this study contradicts the cornerstone of She-conomics – which advocates that women account for 85% of all consumer purchases and represent the majority of the online market.
 
As we track the growth opportunities within the menswear category, alongside purchasing trends, it’s apparent that these new findings represent an alteration to the online fabric. More and more, it's the visual storytelling and consistent holistic messaging that attract appeal.
 
{source: iProspect}
 
Tags: fashion, apparel, menswear, trends, shopping, eCommerce, luxury

top 5 reasons to follow our read

May 3, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
trendscaping
 
Why Our 2013 Annual Trendscaping Report is Required Reading.
 
1. Trends matter.
Now more than ever, culture is fueling the engine of commerce. Consumer behavior, preferences, and expectations determine our culture. And it’s constantly changing. Keeping up with these cultural changes – or trends – gives you the power to advance your brand. To be in the right place, with the right message, at the right time. To leave the competition eating your dust.
 
2.  We’ve spent our time and money so you don’t have to.
We’ve done all the legwork, scoping out brands, products, and cultural phenomena that are inside and outside your category. Our annual report gives you a concise and stylish account of the latest consumer trends. What’s more, it tells you what they mean for your business. Doing your homework has never been so easy. Or affordable.
 
3.  With insight comes innovation.
It’s not enough to just spot a trend. Great ideas come from understanding what it means and where it’s headed. Think remote retail. Personalized window shopping. Or mini pastries. The more insights you have about your customers’ behavior, interests, and expectations, the easier it is to tailor your business or service to meet their needs.
 
4.  Turn a pitch into a home run.
Whether you’re a manager pitching a new idea to your boss, or a CEO trying to persuade the board, the job of selling never stops. We make it easier by providing additional research, facts, visual aids, and insider knowledge to strengthen your presentation. In other words, the extra muscle you need to knock your next pitch out of the park.
 
5.  It Pays to be Proactive.
The world is changing even as we speak. And that affects business. Exploring big-picture consumer themes and what they mean is crucial to staying one step ahead of your competition – and your customers. Because once you know where people are headed, you can be there to meet them.
 
Get out front and stay there.
Pre-order your 2013 Annual Trendscaping Report here.
 
Tags: trends, color trends, trendscaping, visual merchandising trends, trend projections, food, fashion, Culture

Istria or bust

April 27, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
croatia food
 
Anthony Bourdain and the No Reservations team let the cat out of the bag this week. It's true what they say — Croatia rocks. We should know.
 
In 2006 we visited Istria to soak up the rays, eat a ton of white truffles, partake in a glass or two of Croatian wine, and savor the delight of the sea. Like Tony says, it's a lot like Italy.
 
The newest gastronomic vacation spot will soon be on every wannabe foodie's to-do list for months, if not years. This episode is the tipping point for a delicious peninsula, thanks to Tony. Mark our words: prices are climbing so go while the going is good.
 
croatian food
{photo by Villa Annette - our hotel seaside hotel in Rabac, Croatia}
 
Before you get your elastic-waist pants on for an epic culinary excursion, it's important to mention couple of things that were not addressed in the No Reservations Croatia episode (warning: there are a ton of f-bombs).
 
If you love wine tasting, you should get a driver. You absolutely can not drink like a TV host and get behind the wheel. There's a zero tolerance policy for those in charge of yachts or boats and a blood/alcohol limit of 0.05 for drivers. Police routinely check motorists for drinking while driving and will administer a breathalyzer test.
 
Secondly, much of the Croatian coastline makes the Amalfi Coast look like child's play for the above average driver. And the inland roads, at least in 2006, are the Adriatic version of a one-lane autobahn. Trust us, it's hard to relax and digest food while gripping the steering wheel.
 
Those cautionary points aside, we loved Istria and are generally pleased with it's newly found fame.
 
It's a food trend years in the making. 
 
Tags: food, wine, Croatia, travel, TV, trends, seafood, trendscaping

old school brew

April 17, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
Churchkey Can Co. Launch
 
Churchkey Can Co. is bringing back packaging long associated with Americana with the launch of it's handcrafted Pilsner-style beer. We threw back a few at the brand's launch event on April 10th at King's Hardware to gain insights into how this old-school, three-piece, flat top steel can from Ball Corporation is aiming to change an interaction into an experience.
 
The story of the flat top beer can, which must be opened with a "church key", dates back to 1935 when the first flat top cans were introduced. Canned beer was an immediate success and others quickly joined the marketplace with this versatile packaging. Back-in-the-day, the innovation allowed the portability and freshness to enjoy a beverage of choice anywhere and with anyone. The flat top can remained a standard until the pull-tab came to market in the mid-1960s.
 
Churchkey Can Co
{Photo: Churchkey Can Co.}
 
The throwback packaging is not only unique but functional. "Increasingly, beer drinkers are learning that cracking open a craft beer in a Ball can – whether in an aluminum or steel can – is like tapping a fresh keg ... you get exactly what you expected," said Gary Woeste, vice president, sales and marketing, for Ball's metal food and household products packaging division, Americas.
 
Founded by actor Adrian Grenier, Justin Hawkins, and Ryan Sowards, Churchkey Can Co.'s eco-conscious influence isn't ironic. Cans are a sustainability success story and the number one recycled beverage container of any kind in the United States according to data provided by Ball Corporation. Steel cans have the highest recycling rate of any food package at 66 percent while aluminum cans enjoy the highest recycling of any beverage packaging at 58.7 percent. Both steel and aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable and require less fuel to ship to the brewery and to retail outlets after being filled.
 
Churchkey Adrian Grenier
Justin Hawkins and Adrian Grenier at King's Hardware
{Photo: Churchkey Can Co.}
 
The Pacific Northwest-brewed Pilsner-style craft beer was originated by Portland-based home brewers Lucas Jones and Sean Burke — who have been crafting home brewed beer in their garages for many years. To bring the beer to market, Churchkey Can Co. turned to Joel VandenBrink, head brewer at Two Beers Brewing Co. and the first Washington brewery to produce 12-ounce cans.
 
"It's about the joy of drinking good beer – from the people you drink it with, to where you drink it, and with this unique package, how you open it," said Justin Hawkins, Churchkey's co-founder and creative director. "We didn't make these traditions, but are keeping them alive with Churchkey."

Churchkey Can Co
{Photo: Churchkey Can Co.}
 
The backdrop of King's Hardware was an excellent choice for the brand. "We had a great time hosting Churchkey – obviously I love all things retro. I remember my grandfather and my dad drinking beer from flat top cans on summer afternoons at a lake we used to go to in the Adirondacks when I was a kid," said Linda Derschang, owner of King's Hardware. "The cool thing is the steel can is great for the taste of the beer and is totally recyclable, so you get to enjoy retro packaging without the guilt," she continued.
 
The launch of Churchkey Can Co. marks nearly 50 years since the introduction of the original flat top steel can. Like trends that harken back to an earlier time, the package and product must be in sync to resonate with consumers, retailers, and drinking establishments. In addition to King’s Hardware, the newest flat top steel cans are sold at PCC, Whole Foods, Dig and Pony, and RN74.
 
Churchkey Launch
{Photo: Churchkey Can Co.}
 
For us, the strength this brand centers around simplicity and less-ism — an opener, which obtains its name from its similarity in style to the large old fashion keys formerly used to open a church, and the little extra effort of punching two small triangular holes into the top of the can, allowing for aeration and pouring of the beer.
 
What's nice about this beer — and the experience — is what you can't do when you are opening the can: talk on your cell phone, Instagram what's for dinner, or change the channel on the remote.
 
It's worth the effort.
 
-
Editors Note: Special thanks for Erika Desroche of Blonde House Production for the heads up and invitation to this event.
Tags: beverages, trends, packaging, design, Eco-friendly, seattle, artisan, bars

seasonal creativity

April 10, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
People's Pops
People's Pops
 
We've long been fans of the DIY ethos of People's Pops. With flavors like Raspberries & Basil, Peach & Bourbon, and Cantaloupe & Tarragon — the concept championed seasonal creativity while remaining loyal to their brand.
 
Launched as a one-day experiment on a hunch in 2008, partners Nathalie Jordi, David Carrell, and Joel Horowitz mark their fourth summer in business with four stores, four flea/farmers market locations across New York City, and the national release of their book People's Pops: 55 Recipes for Ice Pops, Shave Ice, and Boozy Pops from Brooklyn's Coolest Pop Shop on June 5th.
 
Our first pop-in (pun intended) occurred at the Chelsea Market in September of 2010 as we rushed from Milk Studios with our pals from butter LONDON during New York Fashion Week. The combination of nectarine + jasmine was almost as clever as the counter constructed out of popsicle sticks.
 
Power to the pop peeps.
 
Tags: food, sweets, trends, nyc, popup food, visual merchandising trends

Agrarian: upscale products for your DIY projects

April 5, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
Agrarian
French laundry garden
 
Homegrown and homemade are two lifestyle trends spurring product ranges.
 
Williams-Sonoma is the latest retailer to launch a new product collection “for customers who want to go beyond cooking by cultivating a healthy awareness of where their food comes from.”
Agrarian
{source: Williams-Sonoma}
 
Rooted in Global Locality & Less-ism (see our 2012 forecast here), the Agrarian line includes upscale gardening and cultivating supplies such as heirloom seeds, gardening tools by Sophie Conran from London, cedar raised beds from Farmer D, chicken coops, culinary herb seed bombs, and home canning & preserving supplies from Europe. For the customer who does not have time to visit the local nursery, live fruit trees, organic herbs, and heirloom vegetables can be delivered to customers’ front doors, ready for planting. Tapping into the DIY trend, cheese-making, kombucha, and sprout kits are available as an alternative to the new range of similar products at Whole Foods.

“Agrarian is yet another way for Williams-Sonoma to bring people together around food,” said Richard Harvey, President, Williams-Sonoma brand. “We’re excited to provide our customers with a collection of products that will enrich their culinary experiences, all while helping them to lead a healthier lifestyle.”

As part of the launch, all Williams-Sonoma stores will offer an “Intro to Edible Gardening: Seed Starting” class on Earth Day, April 22, with the $10.00 class fee donated to the Edible Schoolyard Project.
 
We like the retailers cause marketing tie-in and applaud efforts to raise awareness about healthy foods but question whether customers need to forgo local hardware store and nurseries for glossier versions of well-made products.
 
For example, while we feel that canning is a growing trend, we're concerned that the Weck jars within the range of canning supplies are not recommended by the USDA for water-bath canning. According to Canning Across America, an online resource committed to the revival of the lost art of “putting up” food, these jars are tricky to get a good seal with unless you are an experienced canner.
 
What's your take on Agrarian? Tweet us your feedback or comment on our Facebook page.
 
 
{editors note: In Your Head founder, Shannon Kelly, is a member of Canning Across America.}
Tags: food, retail, DIY, canning, housewares, trends, GlobalLocality, Lessism

all hail cheese

March 27, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
artisan cheese festival
CA Artisan Cheese Festival
 
It was a shocking revelation that we hadn’t attended a consumer festival in nearly ten years.
 
Maybe we were tired after too many years on the trade show circuit, attending events like the International Gift Show, Fancy Food Show, International Housewares Show, Coffee Fest, Natural Products Expo and Gourmet Foods events as buyers.
 
It’s not that we’re jaded exactly—it’s just that the opportunity to spot something truly new and noteworthy in a sea of Chupa Chups and Beanie Babies is rare. For every 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, there are generally two or three products of note that you can not get or see online, or when connecting with a local vendor or distributor.
 
Fortunately for you and us, product launches are not exclusive to trade shows. Consumer’s insatiable cravings, especially in the food and beverage industries, to meet purveyors to connect with locally made goods drive demand for events where there is a greater degree of transparency. And bloggers can be thanked, in part, for broadening the reach of product reporting.
 
artisan cheese
 
This connection between product and producer was evident this past weekend at the California’s Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma as we sipped and sampled alongside cheese mongers, cheese lovers, bloggers, and traditional media.  
 
Motivated by direct to consumer (D2C) sales, profits from events like these directly impact the bottom line thanks to the elimination of distribution and freight (remember that these purveyors need pricey cold transpiration to keep products viable at grocery). Events like these, which launched in 2007, have been popping up thanks to the influx of food savvy customers.
 
Cheese Festival
 
Our favorite session was the “Bacon, Bubbles + Brunch” event with Chef Duskie Estes, sponsored by Clover Stornetta Farms.  It was a wonderful opportunity to show the versatility of cheese—paired with meat (loved the Black Pig Meat Co. bacon) and wine (shout out to Iron Horse Vineyards).  Did we mention that Chef Estes is the Queen of Pork? She and her husband, John Steward of Zazu Restaurant + Farm in Santa Rosa won the Grand Cochon — the national 555 Cochon competition in Aspen, CO.
 
It’s events like these that showcase everything dear to our hearts—locally sourced foods, passion for craftsmanship, and community. These are products made in small batches by people with a passion for what they do.
 
 
Exhibitors at the Artisan Cheese Festival may not have a tradeshow booth at a national event but for these passionate trendsetters, the size of the stage is not the prize — it’s the quality of the end product that matters most. 
 
Tags: food, cheese, restaurants, trends, trenscaping, artisan, California, SF

industry wisdom & fashionable content

March 24, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
trends
We spoke to the team at Atelier 36 about scouting, documenting, and editing trends — stressing the importance of differentiation.
 
To read more about our catalog of over 12,000 photos or why we won’t be giving away a list of NYC pastry shops anytime soon, click here.
 
Tags: food, fashion, trends, trendscaping, sweets, new media, promotion

hey honey

March 23, 2012 | By Shannon Kelly
bee raw honey trend
{photo: Raw Bee Honey}
 
in today’s hyper-charged marketplace, spotting growing brands and potential products is our game.
 
Earlier this month, we were thrilled another one of our finds from 2008, bee raw hand-corked honey, featured in the March issue of Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow's online newsletter. It's a perfect example of how healthful, quality products are replacing sugar as the sweet of choice.
 
 
Tags: food, trends, trendscaping