Dec 4, 2014

And the Color of the Year is … By Tim Hodson

Yesterday, the color experts at the Pantone Institute announced its choice for the Color of the Year for 2015.

And the designated color is “¦ drum roll please “¦ Marsala (Pantone 18-1438), “a naturally robust and earthy wine red.”

Each year, color specialists from the Pantone Institute “comb the world” looking for color influences that they feel will have an impact on product development and purchasing decisions in the coming year.

“Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“While PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, the captivating 2014 color of the year, encouraged creativity and innovation, Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability.”

Pantone says Marsala is a rich contrasting color that is “incredibly versatile” and “complex and full-bodied without overpowering.”

That’s what the color experts says. What do you say? What do you think of Marsala? How do you think it will work for today’s gardening consumer?

Drop me a line at thodson@greatamericanpublish.com and let me know.

– Tim

Wal-Mart Merchandising Head Exits

Just days before the official holiday shopping season was set to begin, Wal-Mart announced that its chief merchandising officer in the U.S, Duncan Mac Naughton, resigned from the company to pursue other opportunities. Rather than replacing him, Greg Foran, the head of the retailer’s U.S. operations, said Wal-Mart would eliminate the CMO position and restructure its merchandising operations. The company also announced last week that Steve Bratspies, executive vice president of general merchandise, has been named EVP of food.

Depot, Wal-Mart Top Advertising Efficiency List

According to a recently released study from Kantar Media, the Home Depot and Wal-Mart are among the top retailers when it comes to getting the biggest bang for their advertising dollars. The study said that Wal-Mart’s $70.7 million spend on TV advertising during the holiday season equated to 38% of its store visitor traffic – way out in front of all retailers. The Home Depot was the third highest retailer, spending $25.1 million on advertising resulting in a 6.9% share.

Lowe’s to Add Stores in Canada

Lowe’s has announced plans to open three new stores in Canada in 2015. The stores will be located in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. With these three new store openings, the home improvement retailer’s total store count in Canada will reach 40 locations. The Alberta store will cover 94,500 square feet, the Saskatchewan store will be 86,000 square feet and the Ontario location will cover 75,000 square feet. All three stores will have adjacent garden center departments.