Sep 11, 2013
Colorful EquilibriumBy pmihalek

Violet Tulip, Radiant Orchid, Celosia Orange, Freesia, Hemlock — this is not a list of ingredients for your next container garden recipe. They’re actually half of the new Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2014. See the report here.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at the Pantone Color Institute, said this about the new report: “This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium. While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations.”

I’ve always been a little skeptical of the importance of this list in our industry, particluarly for you retailers. How much influence or inspiration does it really provide? This year, however, I’ve changed my tune a little. I’ve visited a handful of retailers this year that are using this report to provide some cohesion between spring displays — or at the very least, help them prioritize which colors to use when and where.

An easy example of this comes from Al’s Garden Center near Portland, Ore. — a finalist in this year’s Merchandiser of the Year competition. With a little paint, Al’s brought to life a few dated props using bright and cheery colors from Pantone’s 2013 Spring Report. Check it out here. Now that you’ve seen Pantone’s colorful spring picks, do you have any plans to use them in your merchandising? Let me know!


pmihalek