About
Swipe design (also called swipe design objects + books) is an independent book store in the design district of downtown toronto. it is located at 401 richmond st, inside a historical building that also houses studios and galleries. swipe caters to the design community and stocks books on graphic design, advertising, architecture and more, as well as a variety of other items including toys, mugs and art supplies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]
Objectives
Swipe would like to introduce a new promotional item. the main purpose of this item is to promote the shop, although it should also be profitable. The item will be available in store.
Business
The product should compete with existing merchandise as little as possible. For this reason mugs and sketch or note books are not viable options. The item should also be relatively inexpensive so it doesn’t compete with big ticket items and can be added on to a larger purchase. The item needs to be useful, functional and well designed in order to appeal to the customer base.
Marketing
High visibility of the product is a priority. Something that is used outside of the home or in a venue where it has a large chance of being seen. This is critical in order for the item to provide promotion for swipe.
Branding
The product does not need to carry swipe’s logo, but the name swipe design should be visible from at least one side of the item. The atmosphere and values of swipe should also be conveyed in the design of the product.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ animation=”none” column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_position=”left” background_color_opacity=”1″][vc_column_text]Tote Bag
One product in particular that should be explored is a tote bag. It can be produced and sold inexpensively and it does not compete with very many items already carried at swipe. Tote bags are environmentally friendly, practical, and provide a large canvas for a design to be applied to. Tote bags can also easily be suggested to customers shopping for other items in order to complement their purchase. furthermore, tote bags are used in public spaces such as grocery stores and shopping centers.
Specifications
If the product selected is a tote bag it needs to be large enough to accommodate at least 90% of the books that swipe sells. Both sides of the bag should feature design elements. The bag must uphold the design rational of the store. Imagery, however, should not be limited to promotion only. The item also needs to be priced low in order to sell to more consumers (and thus promote swipe more widely).
Competition
Many stores sell tote bags or reusable bags of some sort. Swipe’s bags should compete strongly based on design and quality. Swipe’s bags need to appeal specifically to the art and design community which frequents swipe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]