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October 18, 2005. The Apple Store in the Shinsaibashi district of Osaka played host to the DESIGN MATTERS meeting.
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Creating a retail outlet with Japanese landlords
From concept to implementation to reconstruction of concept
Douglas Schafer, a 13-year Japan resident who started Toyo Beverage, K.K. eight years ago and has grown it into a major supplier for branded specialty products in the food service industry, gave a wonderful presentation on the creation of his new Café, Shakers.
Shakers opened in the upscale Herbis Ent building located in Umeda (Osaka). A unique café concept that not just rents space, but actually becomes part of the total building concept and its use of an open lobby space. Doug says he created Shakers originally to work hand in hand with his main importing business with a heavy desire to have design play a major influence, but the concept ran into obstacles and took many turns as each part of the project had to be done in conjunction with the building landlords. This left a very different concept in place at the end of the process, but one that is still a successful operation. Doug took the audience through the processes of acquiring the space, designing, choosing furniture, financing, etc. to the final phase of actually making a profitable business.
A standing-room only crowd gathered in the Apple theatre for the presentation.
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| Douglas Schafer talks about design. |
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| Large crowd in the theatre. |
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| Garr and Nathan handout samples courtesy of Shakers. |
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| DM members gather for the 2-jikai. |
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