How are retailer-supplier partnerships being played out post-recession? Here are some examples:

Wired to Work
Engineering the “digital pod” for My.Suit was much more complicated for Grand + Benedicts than simply manufacturing the usual shelving unit.

“The screens had to be angled so that they would show the moving images most efficiently,” says Reggie Medford, Grand + Benedicts’ director of sales. “Materials had to be chosen for durability and ease of cleanliness. Weight-bearing capacity and balance had to be considered.”

A core of wiring within the pillar was designed to accommodate the cables as well as factor in such practical concerns as heat build-up, ventilation and accessibility.

A Snappy Solution
The partnership of KC Store Fixtures with the Spirit of Halloween stores saved the retailer considerable money last fall. The manufacturer came up with a patented snap wall perimeter system for the seasonal retailer, which opens more than a thousand stores at once every fall.

“No tools were required, so the entire store could be set up in a day,” says KC owner and president Leo Galey. “We also figured out a way to wrap fixtures with corrugated bands, instead of putting them in boxes, to minimize the amount of trash. Imagine the cost of renting dumpsters for a thousand stores.”

The Shoe Doesn’t Fit
“We received a design for a shoe rack from a big fashion brand,” says Jackie Glanz of MG Concepts. “Our engineers knew, from looking at the plan, that the angles were all wrong. The shoes would fall off.

“We could have told them we thought the angle was all wrong,” she says, “but design people almost always say, ‘Build what we’ve designed.’ So, we built two mock-ups, one of their design and one that we suggested. Then they could see where their design was wrong.

“It cost us some money, but they were very appreciative and I’m sure that’s led to some ongoing business with them.” ­