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Tigertree Gift At Tuttle Crossing

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Started 3 years ago by Tigertree
Latest reply from ehill27

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Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I got into a conversation with my friend Ryan from Homage a few months ago about mall kiosks. It centered around the question of inventory. Are tacky cell phone charms, knock off sunglasses and embarrassing head massagers the only things viable for a kiosk or just more naturally drawn to one? We wondered if it were possible to make a kiosk cool. The real estate couldn't be better, you have the ability to grab every mall shoppers attention without forcing them to commit to walking through your doors.

After finding out how surprisingly affordable a mall kiosk was we decided it was worth a shot. So starting this weekend (then skipping a weekend for Agora) we're launching Tigertree Gift at Tuttle. Initially it's only for May but if it works it will become permanent and maybe expand into other malls.
It will be the gift selection from Tigertree, plus some other Tigertree like stuff and Homage Tees.

Posted 3 years ago #
aaminian
Short North
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Great idea. You'll probably be the first cool mall kiosk in history.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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cool. Good luck!

Posted 3 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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Good luck :) I can't wait to hear how it goes!

Posted 3 years ago #
sjf
Canal Winchester
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Hire someone that will harass everyone as they walk by. That's a sure fire tactic.

Good luck--I know we'll stop by if we see a kiosk.

Posted 3 years ago #
Manatee
The eternal present
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Better than hot pretzels!

Posted 3 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I feel much more confident about this now. I have to admit, telling CU that I was opening something in the mall, I am not getting the response I was guessing I would.

Posted 3 years ago #
dru
IV
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^^people are too busy flaming in the "graffiti" thread.

i only wish that if this proves to be economically sustainable that there would be some way to track how many people who see a snapshot of your line out at Tuttle decide to come see the entire store in the SN. I can see it attracting a suburban 16-21yr. old bracket that has a growing eye for design, but has yet to venture further inside 270 for their shopping.

Posted 3 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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That was the other part of what drew us to this. I was initially introduced to the Tuttle Kiosks through Mike from What The Rock?! as a possible marketing tool for our short north retail group. We were initially going to do more of an information set up, but I think actually selling will be a more effective marketing tool than just informing.

Posted 3 years ago #
dru
IV
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i'd agree that selling actual merchandise will be more compelling than just having a display presence.

it does however make me recall that a number of SN businesses went out to Polaris when it first opened. One main difference was they had storefronts. But Functional Furnishings, Curio-a-Go-Go and whatever Luxe was called before it changed to Luxe all opened branch locations there. There is a fairly ominous common denominator among those three

your approach already has some immediate differences. but it may help to delve into what worked, and obviously didn't work, in the long run for those operations.

Posted 3 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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dru wrote >>
i'd agree that selling actual merchandise will be more compelling than just having a display presence.
it does however make me recall that a number of SN businesses went out to Polaris when it first opened. One main difference was they had storefronts. But Functional Furnishings, Curio-a-Go-Go and whatever Luxe was called before it changed to Luxe all opened branch locations there. There is a fairly ominous common denominator among those three
your approach already has some immediate differences. but it may help to delve into what worked, and obviously didn't work, in the long run for those operations.

Modern Object was also in the SN before they moved to Easton (then subsequently bit it).

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Tigertree wrote >>
I feel much more confident about this now. I have to admit, telling CU that I was opening something in the mall, I am not getting the response I was guessing I would.

Oh, come now. We're not ALL Columbusite. ;)

I agree that this is very cool. I can't tell you the last time I was at the Tuttle Mall (2 years? More?), but they still have good foot traffic and it should be a completely different audience for your products. Very smart. ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
misskitty
Columbus
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sjf wrote >>
Hire someone that will harass everyone as they walk by. That's a sure fire tactic.
Good luck--I know we'll stop by if we see a kiosk.

LOL yea please don't do that. We know you won't! ;) I go to Tuttle sometimes I will check out you're stand if I catch it as well.
I think it's a fine idea.

Posted 3 years ago #
shroud
Polaris
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Man, I LOVED Functional Furnishings AND the Modern Object. I've still got several things from both around the house/office. Was opening in the malls really what did those places in? If so, very sad...

As for the Tigertree kiosk - very cool! I *definitely* agree that actual sales were the way to go though... I mean, if people have trouble taking regular mall kiosks seriously, then "info booth" kiosks might as well be out back by the dumpsters...

Posted 3 years ago #
dru
IV
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shroud wrote >>
Man, I LOVED Functional Furnishings AND the Modern Object. I've still got several things from both around the house/office. Was opening in the malls really what did those places in? If so, very sad...

i don't think mall expansion was the reason any of them ultimately closed up shop. but it also didn't work to sustain them in the long-term, so I thought it worth pointing out so that tigertree could look into what worked and didn't in those cases.

Posted 3 years ago #
nexttuesday

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I think it's a great idea. Better than ink cartridge refills (who seriously goes to the mall to get an ink cartridge refilled?) or an oxygen bar.

Posted 3 years ago #
chrisgillespie
Short North/Victorian Village
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What a terrific idea! Selling items, and giving these folks a taste of what they are missing if they aren't shopping the SN. I agree selling 'teaser' items would be more interesting and effective than just having an info booth, and you can make some money to boot :)

Wishing you success!

Posted 3 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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Just don't get one of those creepy guys who always wants to touch your hands with a damp cloth.....

Posted 3 years ago #
tornangel012
Grandview Heights
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Good luck with that! I wish you all the success and hopefully it will catch on and it will be a little taste of the short north in all the malls and make them less tacky.

Posted 3 years ago #
HeySquare
German Village
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I think this could be a really good way to dip your toe into a different venue. I don't go to Tuttle a lot, but I will make sure to check it out if I go over.

The different avenues you have been working on... west side, mall kiosk, independent clothing boutique. It's really great to see some independent entrepeneurial spirit!

Posted 3 years ago #