Sunday 25 September 2011

William Street Laneway Festival


What do your reckon these two young blokes are doing? Firstly, I thought they were the promised DJs, but they did not have headphones, and that flat white 'board' was not bristling with wires. Now the jeans were hanging from a rope lashed to their upstairs verandah. Could they be designers who are going to decorate the jeans. If you know, tell us. If not, make it up!


Yesterday in Sydney, the sky was a brilliant blue, the temperature was over 30C, and for most of the day a slight breeze fluttered. Today in Sydney, was a dismal grey, the temperature was under 19C, and it drizzled. And today was the second ever William Street Laneway Fashion Festival. Yes, yes - there is an inanity in that title. Let's press on ...


Right now is a tough time for retailers. Consumers are not consuming - well they are consuming, but experiences not possessions. So retailers have to work very hard to get their hand in the consumer-pocket. This is the sort of 'experience' that young folk are craving. But I think the organisers need to do more. They need more music. They need more food, but not in tents, on portable hog-dog stands. They need a coffee cart. They need a distinctive Laneway carry bag. They need more decoration, for the shops to 'spill out' onto the street. To win the hearts and pockets of consumers, they must provide an experience.

17 comments:

Rae Walter said...

Love the pic of the jeans Julie. The words "seeking community" came to mind when reading your observations of what people are likely to be seeking if these Festivals are to be successful.

Thérèse said...

Puzzle for them? Puzzle for me...

Kay said...

My vote: Friends of DJ who are assembling the board.

Kay L. Davies said...

I think they hung their jeans up to air them out.
However, I love love love that millinery shop, Julie. I want the big floppy white hat with the flowers. I want the black one with the white bow.
I'd be in serious danger if there were milliners anywhere near here. I'm safe from your photos, however, although they make me salivate. (That sounds better than "drool", doesn't it?)
Luv — K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Ann said...

That's a new one to me. Shame about the weather. No doubt it will grow with time.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I agree, I think sellers have to 'entice' people to spend now,work a bit harder to get people in that 'got to have mood'. I'm going through a 'do I really need that' period and it's very satisfying to arrive home with money still in the wallet! I'm not sure about the two lads Julie, it must have something to do with the DJ"ing surely.
Dave's getting married on Sat the 13th Nov and we're coming over on the Thursday, coming back late Monday. I know you guys are having your bloggers meet up, will you be back by Monday? I was hoping to catch up with you maybe on the Monday morning or early afternoon, what do you think

Jim said...

This seems new to me too.

Kalyan Panja said...

nice captures!

Joe said...

You have some good ideas for the street festival Julie. Did you hear the suggestion the other day that retailers are considering charging customers to browse to discourage shoppers finding goods in the store and them buying them cheaper online. Now there's a sure way to put a kyber om sales.

Julie said...

i did not hear that Joe, they they are stark raving mad. They should look at some of the research on spending patterns.

Joan Elizabeth said...

I'm not much of a fan of festivals in any form so have no advice to offer on that front. But you have it right ... great service and an enticing experience are the ways to combat online buying and to get the money out of wallets.

I laughed at Kay's comment about the milliner ... out at Kandos there is a milliner's shop. I have not been tempted to enter, I'm more of an acubra girl.

brattcat said...

they need you to take over.

Birdman said...

Jeeeeesh! Working a large jigsaw puzzle? You got me.

Kate said...

I think you missed your calling...obviously you need to take over!

Stefan Jansson said...

No idea what they are doing.

I read a novel about jeans earlier this year. A bit weird it was. By William Gibson who used to write great books.

Jilly said...

Aren't the jeans simply hanging out to dry? That's what happens here, as you'd know.

Julie said...

No no Jilly ... not in Paddo ... not across the road ... they be terribly pukkah designed jeans worth zillions ... but what would I know ... I buy last year's jeans from St Vinnies ...