Boutique Design Firm Launches Retail Revolution

Catoctin Mountains, MD (July 18, 2011) – Studio 22, an award-winning design and strategic communications firm for active lifestyle brands, today announced the addition of customized, environmentally-friendly branded merchandise presentation solutions to their new and existing client service capabilities.


Long gone are the days of bulk printing and mass shipping. Eryn Willard, principal of Studio 22, saw a need to provide custom ordering and printing options for the brand development materials and sales literature that her agency creates for their clients.


“One of our clients was getting point-of-purchase materials printed and shipped to their own facility, then sorted out into packages for each retailer, and shipped again,” noted Willard, “This method demands extra man hours, extra shipping costs, and extra greenhouse gas emissions. Our client wasn’t even sure the retailers were using all of the pieces.”


Willard responded by creating custom and environmentally-friendly retail branding programs. Studio 22’s capabilities enable retailers to directly order the exact quantities of printed POP, signage and shelf talkers that can be reasonably used.


Studio 22’s environmentally-friendly printing and fulfillment are made possible by a partnership with McArdle, a printing house in Upper Marlboro, MD, that Studio 22 has worked with for 2 years. By logging on to the Studio 22 portal, retailers can order the specific pieces they need to display the brand’s merchandise. The shipment is then sent directly to their store, eliminating the client’s need to be involved. The paper used is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, and inks are biodegradable, safe and certified soy inks. All shipping materials are recycled.


This ordering method is a significant advantage to specialty stores that have different needs than larger chain retailers, as well as to clients who are invested in mitigating their environmental footprint.


Known for creating powerhouse brand development materials (including launch packages and identity design) and sales literature (including dealer workbooks, product catalogs and line sheets), Studio 22’s sustainability capabilities are also available for their new creative services. Effective immediately, Studio 22 now offers complete design and development of POP signage and displays, plan-o-grams and extensive retail merchandising plans. The new offerings complement the current brand development materials, creating a continuous message for the end-user and a consistent brand image and awareness at the retail level.


“Our new offerings are supported by industry familiarity, backgrounds steeped in the retail environment, and personal passion for getting outside,” noted Willard. “And with all of our services, it is our duty to support and provide the sustainability efforts in which our industry, and the people who thrive in it, depend on.”
For more information on Studio 22’s new capabilities and to learn about environmentally-friendly printing and fulfillment, please visit www.studio20two.com.


About Studio 22:
Founded in 2005, Studio 22 is an award-winning strategic communications firm that creates innovative branding and enhances retail presentation and performance for active lifestyle brands in the outdoor, bike and snow sports industries. For more street (and trail) cred, please visit www.studio20two.com.