That's why it was done that way. It can be too intimidating for some to approach the staff and ask to see what's vaulted away or to have the staff coming at you trying to get you to try items on can be a bit much if you're not looking for interaction. In an open sell environment you can relax a bit.

That and in the Oakley stores they need to emphasize everything that isn't a sunglass and move it to the stores center as other retailers have getting teh glasses on the walls in to the open sell system that both Lobby O and Irvine had. Better usage of space.

Yeah, I thought we would see some sort of open dispay on the new cases.

I like it. Not sure what the point is when everything will be open-sell in two years anyway, but I like it.

It'll be nice to have a few display cases in store still and OPDs will still need the case as oppossed to open sell. It's good to keep your image up with items like these. I mean, how many people really know Oakley for or only had them catch an eye in passing because of how cool the displays look. A good amount.

I think I'm indifferent. I like the floating-ness and the legs, but the legs are definately not practical...but when is Oakley ever practical. I think more metal supports or a metal with riveted framing around the entire case would have made it look better.

Are these the universal displays though? No singles, double, or even triple wides? No counter-top or cube equivolents? What about stands? The sheet-metal stands don't seem to go as well for this more refined looking case.

There will never be an "open-sell" case outside of a couple Oakley owned concept stores. Never. No retailer would even remotely consider it.

Have you been to the HQ Lobby Store or the store in the Irvine Plaza? Oakley is moving a a good majority if not all their O-Stores in that direction. Right now they may just be concept stores but in a year or so they'll all be that way.

All the Solstice store are like that as well. They dont carry Oakley but there are definately $400 Chanels just out in the open on racks for people to try on (and grub up).

Here's what was in the Spectrum before it was scheduled to close up for a quick remodel. (Tough the store was gettign a remodel this was more than likely staying as it was just put in itself.) It's not as nice as what was in Lobby O though.

Soltice is owned by Safilo, a sunglass manufacture. Their stores are always going to be concept stores, just as Oakley Has Sunglass Icons, or Luxottica Has Sunglass Hut.

Their brands include:
Carrera, Smith, Alexander McQueen, Bottega, Veneta, Boucheron, Dior, Diesel, 55DSL, Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Imatra, Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Oliver, Pierre Cardin, Ralph
Lauren, Stella McCartney, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent, Fossil, Juicy Couture, Nine West, Kate Spade, Saks Fifth Avenue, Liz Claiborne, and J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez collections.

Soltice is similar to Sunglass Hut in that it is also owned by a manufacture (Luxottica Group).

http://www.safilo.com/eng/safilo-group.pdf

Here is some info on the 26 brands that Luxottica owns:
http://luxottica.com/english/profilo_aziendale/portafogliomarchi.html

the Sunglass Icon store in Disney has had the same "open" setup since I can remember (Neil can tell us how long). Places I went in Europe also had the open walls with everything from Oakley to Cartier to Cavalli.

Will SGH or other places like that go to open walls? Doubtful.
But nothing is stopping all of the Oakley-owned stores from doing it (except maybe cost of converting).

I like the new cases. Sure, the old ones are "Industrial", but they're not flattering for the product they hold. The new ones aren't distracting from the product (although the comment about the legs sticking out being a hazard is dead-on). Now, I'm personally a big fan of the Fox cases as well as the stretch cases. They're nice and plain.

Dave, even though Solstice is owned by Safilo, and SGH is owned by LUX, and Iacon is owned by Oakley, they all stock competitors' products.

The only exception to the rule is the O-Store/Vault. Otherwise, everybody carries competitors' products (though it is "encouraged" at each to push the in-house product lines).

I think I'm indifferent also but on both the open sell and the new cases. The open sell concept makes a lot of sense and could also look very cool if done right. But at the same time part of the psychology behind having products displayed in a locked case is making the product inside seem highly valuable and more special. Which in turn helps makes the things inside more desirable. I think alot of that gets lost with the open sell concept and it makes the product seem less special.

I do think a cube using the new foot/floating design would be pretty cool.

Will SGH or other places like that go to open walls?

A lot of our stores are considered open sell, even if the glass is still there. It's self serve, unlocked for ease of trying one styles without help. We're technically not supposed have the glass but after having it for long we feel "safer" with it. Newer stores are more than likely open pegs walls that may look as if the can be turned into cases with glass doors.

I dig it, cant wait to see it in person - final judgement to follow.

i like the old cases any chance the stores will get rid of them or are these just going in new stores>

Are they phasing out the old cases?

I saw it today and they are sweeeet lookin'!

Sooner or later all O-Stores (but not Vaults) will have an Open Sell wall of some kind. New stores will get the super cool one like London and market street. Older stores will get retrofit with ones like the pic. showed earlier. Open sell is always going to be a debate and have its pros and cons, but a lot of customers like it and it is here to stay.

That case is the new dealer case, the O-Stores will have there own unique cases soon, again new stores first.

Definutely not feelin the new displays, like yukio said, its another step away from the oakley that i fell in love with, alot has changed in a year eh?

I think the new open eyewear wall is sleek (not the one pictured above, it has floating full length mirrors and a glowing display). Its very Oakley in my opinion.

You can kind of see it in this picture...

That's what I'm talkin about! That wall display is the nuts.

BTW, do you think that guy is thinking about walking out with that cube under his arm?

One less barrier between me and the glasses - I am all for it! Lately, I've been depressed with the number of scantily-stocked cabinets I've seen in stores - and I think it has tarnished the love for the cabinets I used to have.

And Hoots, changes have occured in the past year, changes have occured every year - please don't make the mistake of thinking everyone agrees this is a bad thing like you.

Wow that's nice ! I would've never imagined it could look so good and presigious even though it's open sell display walls. Geez, can't wait to have this now !...can't wait to see this !

And Hoots, changes have occured in the past year, changes have occured every year - please don't make the mistake of thinking everyone agrees this is a bad thing like you.

Obviously not everyone agrees with me, but am i no longer allowed to voice my opinions?