The activity will replicate the Sportsgirl website in real life where key products will be presented across large billboard-style displays. Customers will be able shop from their mobile or iPad using the already established Sportsgirl QR code system.

Prue Thomas, Sportsgirl strategic brand manager, told RetailBiz Window Shop will be another channel for the company to provide customers with a 24 hour interactive shopping experience.
“We realised we had a number of different channels at our disposal and wanted to create a shopping experience that we know our customer had been asking for- something that met her needs while on the move and also delivered a fun and interactive brand experience as well as delivering her a shopping fix,” she said.
The product lines on display will be changed weekly so it’s in line with deliveries to its stores and online store. Meanwhile, all mobile orders will be dispatched also containing a gift with every single purchase, just like how its online orders are done.
The Window Shop program has been launched at Sportsgirl’s Chapel Street site in Melbourne. It will be rolled to Sydney and nationwide in coming weeks in random spots taking the form similar to that of a billboard. Sportsgirl’s Paddington store in Sydney will be the next site.

According to Thomas, the program is another reflection of the company’s drive to integrate its online business with its physical stores.

“We don’t see it as revolutionising the shopping experience, it’s more of an enhancement and another way of serving our customer wherever, whenever and however she wants to shop- her interaction with us needs to be on her terms, it’s our responsibility to deliver her all the options!”

They say familiarity breeds contempt. Yet the very existence of George Calombaris’ Mama Baba proves this old adage false. The restaurant plays upon recipes that evoke memories of everyone’s grandmother. This is comfort food gone high-end – in concept if not price (nothing on the menu breaks the $35 mark). How high end? Just take a gander at the reportedly $45,000 pasta machine.

Even the name of celebrity chef’s new restaurant makes us feel simultaneously cosy and homesick; ‘Mama’ is for his Greek Cypriot mother and ‘Baba’ represents his father’s Italian heritage. Head chef Dominic Pipicelli overseas a Roman-Greco menu that focuses on authentically crafted pasta; a menu divided into Greek and Italian offerings. Sample the Bucatini Carbonara with calamari, crispy maple pork, pumpkin parmesan and saffron brood or Gnudi of ricotta, burnt butter, honey, walnuts and capers. Enforcing the homely feel, there’s even a small menu of baby food on offer.

Mama Baba is the latest in line of the master chef and Made Establishment’s seven eateries including lauded dining destinations such as The Press Club, Maha and Hellenic Republic. Welcome to the family.

Mama Baba

03 9207 7421

21 Daly Street, South Yarra

http://www.mamababa.com.au

Hours Mon-Thurs, Sat: 5pm -12am

Fri & Sun: 12pm-12am

Forget stuffy, old art galleries. At Signed & Numbered perusing artwork is more akin to flipping through albums at a vintage record store than that of a typically hushed, hands-off gallery environment.

Owner Jacqui Vidal prefers things this way, surrounding herself with covetable prints, stencils and illustrations for sale with a price-tag that won’t send your bank account spiralling out of control. Many of the artists here are Australian, interspersed with works by Acorn from Canada, Kelly Allen from San Francisco and FAKE from Amsterdam. In hot demand at the moment are enchanting portraits by Kareena Zerefos and, as Jacqui explains, “I can’t keep the London and New York cityscapes by Delicate Mayhem in stock – they just sell too fast!”.

Keep an eye out for the store’s latest addition, Melbourne local artist Amy Howard. Her ‘Little Animal’ collage series – like everything at Signed & Numbered – is limited edition. We wouldn’t want to miss out on scoring a piece by a potential next big thing on the contemporary art scene now would we?

Signed & Numbered

Shop 4/155 Greville Street, Prahran

0413 921 046

http://signedandnumbered.com.au/

Hours: Tue – Fri 11am-5pm

Sat – 10am-5pm

Sun 12pm-5pm

This month the NICA community enjoyed La Vie at the Spiegeltent and the cast of Les 7 doigts de la main visited NICA before heading to Adelaide.

We are also pleased  to welcome  internationally renowned UK director, Emma Rice, who will be delivering our first Artist in Conversation, a regular activity at NICA.

NICA is planning a number of exciting projects this year for which we will be seeking support. We are endeavouring to raise the funds to support a study tour to the Auch Festival of Contemporary Circus in France, and other professional circus schools in Europe, for our 2nd year students. This tour follows from our successful study tour in China in 2011. The impact of seeing the work of other artists, professional companies and other professional circus schools is extremely beneficial and motivating to young Australian artists.

Should you be inspired to support NICA all donations are tax deductible.

Please visit our websitefor more information about how you can get involved.

Pamela Creed, CEO & Director
National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)

No doubt you have noticed some changes at Great Dane in recent times. It’s almost a decade since I imported my first container of vintage Danish furniture, unpacking it in a little warehouse in the back streets of Prahran. That initial venture was quite bold at the time and exciting both for us and, we believe, our customers. Now we’re ready for the next bold step – moving past the selling of vintage Danish furniture to bring you the absolutely latest in modern Scandinavian design.

We’re going to do this by collaborating with classic design houses to present new interpretations of furniture, lighting and accessories, by presenting our own exclusive lines of products and by bringing you work from the new leaders in Scandinavian design and manufacture. These new collections will be showcased in our existing showrooms, plus the all-new space we’re opening in Johnston Street, Fitzroy.

For lovers of vintage, however, we still have a small selection of special pieces to sell in both our Melbourne and Sydney showrooms before the new adventure begins. So, if you’re after something special – a Hans Wegner rosewood sideboard, a special Arne Vodder sideboard, an exceptional rosewood banker’s desk and some other treasures that we’ve been holding on to – now’s the time to come and see us.

And yes I have reduced the prices on the vintage items I refer to; we need to make room for the new and, while I know we all appreciate design, we love a good bargain too!

Great Dane turns TEN in March. That anniversary marks the end of a fantastic journey where we introduced many of you to the unique beauty and allure of Danish design. Now we’re going to take you on a whole new trip to showcase the world-leading furniture being produced in Scandinavia generally.

Thank you again for being part of the Great Dane journey. I look forward to wowing you with some incredible design finds in the next few months and continuing to provide you with beautiful, functional, enduring furniture and accessories for years to come.

Thanks for your time.

Anton

Great Dane

116 COMMERCIAL RD, PRAHRAN

03 9510 6111

www.greatdanefurniture.com

Swap that Dirty Martini for a rooftop yoga class.

From February 2012, Yoga Poses Melbourne is offering a dynamic new way to energise the mind, body and spirit. From one of the City’s most covetable poolsides, feel the power of the open air with an invigorating one-hour yoga classes that will have you reaching new physical and spiritual heights.

Salute the sun, align your chakras, and make Yoga Poses your new mantra. Come join us for alfresco style yoga. Classes suitable for all levels. Weekday and weekend sunrise classes.

BOOK YOGA AT THE OLSEN

The ultimate fish and chip experience just got better!  To celebrate ‘O Week’ from the 20^th of February to the 24^th of February Sea Salt Fish & Chips and Sushi Bar is offering customers a free lunch between 2pm and 3pm every day. The tastiest quality seafood, burgers and chips will be served up at their Chapel Street store from a special ‘O Week’ menu.  And you don’t have to be a student to take advantage of this great offer, it’s open to everyone from the 20^th to the 24^th of February.  See facebook.com/seasaltmates for terms and conditions.

Sea Salt prides itself on serving delicious, great value meals, where freshness is key.  The diverse menu caters for all tastes from classic-style burgers, tender calamari, succulent prawns, crunchy chips, fresh salad or the latest creation from their very own Sushi Chef.  They even offer gluten free meals and brown rice.

At Sea Salt the customer is king.  Hot food is made to order while you sit back and relax.  Dine-in or take in all Chapel Street has to offer from their outside seating. Great for meeting friends or holding an informal business meeting.  If you’re looking for a light meal and drinks before you head out Sea Salt can cater for that too.  The store is fully licensed and open from 11am till late, 7 days a week.  If you’re in a rush place your order by phone and pick up or take advantage of Sea Salt’s great catering service, it’s a delicious fuss-free way to impress your clients.

Connect with Sea Salt and make sure you catch all their great deals.  Like them on Facebook facebook.com/seasaltmates or check out their mobile website www.sea-salt.com.au

Sea Salt

129 Chapel Street, Windsor

www.sea-salt.com.au

Ph: 9533 2129