Update #10: I Hope I’m Wrong
And here at Graffito we’ve all embraced a strategy of not bull-shitting each other or our clients. And I guess being a realist right now just feels and looks a lot like being a pessimist.
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Spatial Distancing
Something that has been bothering me for months is the phrase “social distancing.” Why? Because it’s a misnomer. Nobody wants to encourage social distancing; what we actually want is spatial distance.
read moreThe Great Gift Card Debate
When I started purchasing gift cards, I briefly wondered what would happen if the place I’m buying from never reopens. Even if the restaurant reopens, when will it be ok for us to use these gift cards?
read moreBusinesses Reopen…And Then What?
It’s anyone’s guess when sales return to pre COVID-19 levels, and even when they do, is it possible to carry the added rent burden in future years by just kicking the can down the road?
read moreRestaurant Retrofits Week 5: The Bagel Drop
The efforts of Bagelsaurus – whether intentionally or not – is cultivating even deeper brand loyalty. It’s probably stating the obvious here, but the net result of people who are buying gift cards and swag and who have put forth above average efforts in trying to support restaurants are going to come out of this extreme loyalists whether they realize it or not.
read moreThe Future of Luxury Retail
Retailers along the first blocks of Newbury and in Copley Place Mall rely heavily on Boston tourism and students to generate sales. Unfortunately, both tourism and the student population will be minimal for the duration of the short term. When it does return, it is still uncertain that consumers will be in a monetary and emotional position to make large purchases from these retailers.
read moreUpdate #9: Rebuild. Rethink. Reopen…
Today, unlike in March, it is safe to say with certainty that COVID-19 has touched all businesses selling anything to the public, whether online in or in-person. Every single retailer in the past two months we have spoke to — and we are talking to a lot of retailers — is thinking about changing their business model in some way. The scale of the collective rethink in retail is just nuts.
read moreBrian Samuels Covid-19 Portrait Project
Some chefs and owners have decided to remain “open,” providing takeout and other essential services to Boston diners. Recently on his website, Brian began sharing his ongoing project, Covid-19 Portrait Project, which features local chefs and owners while they are making the best of a very difficult scenario.
read moreDrinking Age Rethink
There are many good reasons to rethink the drinking age (and for sure some on the other side too), but top of mind right now is that this move would add legitimate revenue to bars and restaurants, especially in places like Greater Boston.
read moreThe Signs of Social Distancing
Working at Graffito and learning more about how our neighborhoods and cities are shaped, it’s become even more apparent to me how design has the power to affect our daily interactions in public spaces
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