Sunday, September 30, 2007

Visual Cues

Interesting Visual Cues at Sociospaces:
Weaver Street Market:
  • No large sign with a huge logo on it when entering
  • There is a large lawn outside for public gatherings
  • Non-linear lay out of store
  • Fewer number of total products, but greater variety within each type of food available
  • More perishable goods
  • Included salad, coffee, and sushi bars to encourage local consumption
  • A few different companies, such as Odwalla, produce a large amount of the food in different categories. There is food imported from far away places such as France.
  • Employees do not have a full uniform
  • Plastic Bags are not available
  • Many products are sold unpackaged


Harris Teeter
  • In the same geographical location as Weaver Street Market revealing issues of competition
  • Different store hours to WSM (open 24 hours a day)
  • Every employee is completely uniformed
  • Lots of focus on family-friendly appearance, large displays
  • Larger in size
  • In the milk section, locally bottled milk composes a smaller percentage
  • Advertisements appear in milk area revealing price cuts
  • There are references to membership benefits
  • Automatic check-out to expedite customer handling
  • Numerous "brands" that are all bottled by Harris Teeter- simulated options


Food Lion
  • Different geographical location from other two sites
  • Store roughly the same size as WSM, smaller than Harris Teeter site
  • Less focus on appearance
  • Employees do wear uniforms
  • A number of milk brands including options not bottled by Food Lion
  • Advertisements show prices in large font, while product is hardly visible
  • Enormous Sign on building
  • Traditional lay out of store
  • Fewer perishable goods, more packaged

No comments: