When Island Vintage found out they were moving to a prime Main Street location—over five times the size of their original store—they knew it was time for a transformation. They came to Bloom for a full rebrand, retail design strategy, and merchandising consultation to ensure their new space not only captured their signature vintage aesthetic but also functioned seamlessly during the island’s busiest seasons.
A Vision Rooted in the 1970s & Island Life
As a vintage clothing store on Martha’s Vineyard, Island Vintage wanted to retain its authentic retro feel while evolving into a more refined, immersive shopping experience. Inspired by the laid-back island lifestyle and the iconic design elements of the 1970s, they envisioned a brand that was peachy, nostalgic, and effortlessly cool.
To refine their vision, they curated a Pinterest board filled with imagery reflecting their ideal branding and retail design. Their goal was clear: create a space that felt themed yet elevated, while staying within a tight budget and using sustainable, authentic vintage materials wherever possible.
Designing a Brand That Feels Like a 70s Summer
With their inspiration in mind, we developed a brand identity that blended muted and bold pops of color to match their beachy 70s vibe. Retro motifs became a central theme, with a four-color branding stripe incorporated across various touchpoints. This signature element tied together their logo, packaging, signage, and interior design, creating a cohesive and recognizable aesthetic.
Retail Design That Marries Nostalgia & Modernity
For their new retail space, we aimed to balance vintage warmth with a modern edge, ensuring the store felt curated, inviting, and effortlessly stylish. Key design choices included:
- Oak-toned vertical panels to bring warmth and texture while maintaining a modern, clean look.
- Striped wall accents and green draped curtains to add flow and visual interest.
- Pops of color and thoughtfully placed vintage elements to keep the space from feeling overwhelming while maintaining a strong personality.
Optimizing Retail Flow for a Busy Island Summer
A major challenge for the new location was ensuring it could handle peak-season foot traffic while maintaining a comfortable and enjoyable shopping experience. Martha’s Vineyard summers bring an influx of visitors, meaning the store needed to feel spacious and easy to navigate while still maximizing merchandising opportunities.
We consulted on store layout, traffic flow, and merchandising strategy to ensure:
- A clear entryway and sightlines to draw customers in and guide them through the space naturally.
- Defined product zones that made it easy for shoppers to browse without feeling overwhelmed.
- Strategic fixture placement to create an open, breathable layout while still allowing for high inventory capacity.
- Checkout optimization to keep the front-of-house experience smooth, especially during peak hours.
- Large & well designed dressing rooms that allowed for customer comfort and purchase promotion.
By balancing thoughtful design with practical layout solutions, we ensured that Island Vintage could take full advantage of their larger space while maintaining a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Curating a Space with Authentic Vineyard Vintage
To bring even more character to the store, we sourced authentic Martha’s Vineyard memorabilia, including:
- Vintage posters and pennants
- Retro hard goods like coasters and decor
- Unique thrifted finds that seamlessly fit the brand’s story
These details made the store feel like a true extension of Island Vintage’s brand, creating an immersive shopping experience that felt both intentional and effortlessly cool.
A Rebrand That Honors the Past While Embracing the Future
By working closely with Island Vintage to bring their vision to life, we helped them transition into their new, larger space with confidence. Their rebrand and retail redesign ensured that while their location may have changed, their identity remained deeply rooted in vintage charm—just with a more refined, elevated feel. Now, with an optimized store layout and merchandising strategy, they’re positioned to handle the high-energy summer crowds while offering an inviting, easy-to-shop experience year-round.
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