NEIMAN MARCUS 2010 HOLIDAY WINDOWS (REVEAL HIGHLIGHTS VERSION) - PLANET PRODUCTIONS - DALLAS

Neiman Marcus offers a whole new take on windows this holiday season

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, November 13, 2010

mhalkias@dallasnews.com

Dallas-based Neiman Marcus is about to change window shopping forever.

[Click image for a larger version] LOUIS DELUCA/DMN
LOUIS DELUCA/DMN
Ignaz Gorischek designed the mini-theme park in Neiman's windows.

For the second consecutive year, the luxury retailer's downtown store windows will let children climb in from the street beginning Nov. 20 during the annual City Lights festivities.

But this year, the holiday play experience incorporates features activated by adults and their smart phones that may lead to actual window shopping year round.

"For the adults on the outside, we've turned the windows from static to interactive," said Ignaz Gorischek, vice president of store development for Neiman Marcus Inc.

For example, visitors can text a number to control one of six special effects inside the display. They also can use camera phones to place themselves in space scenes.

"Windows can be a 24/7 point of access for people walking by. Phone applications can capture information about displayed products and brands. Who knows?" said Gorischek, the creative executive who came up with the idea of letting children climb into the store last year. "It's just the tip of the iceberg."

Window shoppers can expect even more commerce possibilities throughout the year.

For now, Gorischek is all about the mini-theme park he's designed on Main and Ervay streets. His Christmas wish is for more than twice last year's 3,500 children to make it through this year's windows.

For 2010, displays create an outer space travel experience in twice the tubing that was up in 2009.

Dallas children involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters helped decorate 800 stars for the celestial scene, hence the window's branding this year as "Big Encounters of the Little Kind."

Category:

Film & Animation

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