Hello there and Happy Monday!

Last week, I introduced you all to Teresa, who is one of the talented individuals behind our new stores and their design. In her employee profile, she didn’t feel like she gave us the full story behind where she finds her inspiration…so much so, that she gave me the full story behind how the new Fresh Produce stores are evolving.

Check it out! Pretty cool stuff…

Where do you find your inspiration?  for props - the ideas come from all kinds of crazy places.

For our stores - well it is a pretty neat story…A team of us, Thom and MaryEllen Vernon - the owners of Fresh Produce, David Murphy, our Director of Retail at the time, Sarah Seifert , Merchandising Manager and myself, Visual Merchandising Manager went on a trip to some of our stores in Atlanta and Florida. We looked at what we liked and wanted to carry over from our existing stores. We met over the next few months and also brought in Scott Brogan and Cem Basturk as well (from our Brogan owned stores in Florida) and talked about what the FP lifestyle meant to all of us and how it made us feel.

We kept coming back to Thom and MaryEllen’s home in Santa Barbara and the different elements in it that really spoke to the FP way of life. We gave this information to an architect at Catamount Designs and he designed several different scenarios for us with different options and interpretations to bring that same look into our retail stores. From this we chose the wall treatments and cash wrap design to reflect a coastal cottage look. It consisted of a board and batten look and a cash wrap with hutch style cabinetry and glass doors. Then we added weathered floor fixtures, hardwood floors, coastal prop elements, transom windows, weathered hutches and furniture pieces, seagrass chairs, chandeliers, eclectic light fixtures, wrought iron elements and special accessories that added a personal touch. We also added a “History Wall” for our customers that tells the story of Fresh Produce.

Our first store with the new design was our store at the Borgata in Scottsdale, AZ. It was a great experience, and in each store we challenge ourselves to make it more fun than the last. In each store we alway bring a message of color, fun creativity and what the spirit of Fresh Produce is all about. We also try to bring in a little bit of individuality of the local area to make it feel like home….

If you haven’t been to an FP Store in awhile, get to one and check it out.

Find a redesigned store near you here.

Live life, enjoy color…fresh-E