#Buy Store Display Fixture

[strongermonster]

i make a pride endcap or two at my work every year, and every year i put a lot of effort into making it a beautiful, eye-catching rainbow.

i bust out the waterfall fixtures, i find all the nice things to make the best display, i hoard stuff year round to wait and put up there, i got special little shelves i took the time to cut and wrap rainbow fabric and stickers to, i made them spend store funds on balloons and banners, i made my own little happy text bubbles, the whole 9 yards.

the issue then becomes customers will purchase items from my special little gay shelf, ruining my perfect display, and i get mad for no reason, even though i know if they didn't buy things from the shelf, they might not let me take up the prime real-estate that is first endcap in the power aisle anymore :(

i DO really like that everyone from all the other departments are like "HEY i got a rainbow item? or a pretty red thing for the red shelf? is it ok if i put it there?" and hold it up to my for my approval like i'm Little Lord Gay of my workplace

[enduracarrotchips]

Why Ikea AUs are Superior

You have the appeal of any type of store employee/customer au except you are in a literal labyrinth

It’s also a coffee shop au because ikea can’t decide what type of store they are so they can bond over Swedish meatballs

model rooms & duvet cover shopping = testing mattresses = there is only one bed

Or perhaps there are too many beds

anyways they lie on the display beds and it’s a big moment or whatever except they are surrounded by Karens buying live laugh love signs thinking they are interior decor geniuses

lack of customer service

The lighting section is always very romantic u can gaze at that one light fixture they always have that opens and closes & looks like the Death Star exploding in slow motion

Unrelated but I have a friend who calls all the furniture by their Swedish names and it’s hilarious because she’s like “I bought a kardäashvtswåtson” and I’m like I love you but that is a fork

Person 1 just wants to buy a chair but is clueless and tries to buy the example in the model room

Person 2 is a relatively new employee and cackles at them for a while and then tries to escort them through the store to find the purchase-able one but they are also incompetent and don’t know what they’re doing

They get to know each other over the course of the day because they get very lost and spend 8 hours looking for a chair

They pine for 2 floors and sit in the shopping carts like how the sign tells you not to and person 1 buys a couple fake plants and maybe like some cool towels along the way

I swear they put the fake plants at the very end of the store in front of the checkout because you are so mentally exhausted at that point that you see a tiny fern and think “I really need this” n no one can stop you

Dümbås

They finally end up in the warehouse section at the end of the store and locate the chair!!

Then they kiss in the middle of the warehouse while all the other customers clap awkwardly

“I’ve been in love w you since we passed the decorative plate section!”

Any% relationship speedrun

The end they go for Swedish meatball dates and eat that horrible soft serve

ps they forget the chair in the parking garage bc they r fools

[yourbelgianthings]

taz november celebration fic four: prompt bakery au

sorry this is a day late but i'm also kind of not because of how long it is it evens out, i went with modern taakitz (feat. some other balance peeps) and may or may not have gotten a bit carried away, but i hope y'all enjoy the fluff! ~3.8k words @taznovembercelebration (in fact it's so long i will have to post in multiple parts oops)

Before the sun had even begun to dawn in the sky, Taako was starting all the different doughs and batters for the day and preheating the large double oven. He loved working in the early morning quiet and solitude, every measurement memorized and every movement second nature. His bakery was called Sweeten It Up with Taako, and it had become a popular fixture in the city. In the beginning, he just made things for his friends, then had a stand at the farmer's market, and finally saved enough to buy a brick and mortar shop. On either side was a dog training school and a combination plant/metaphysical/book store. A big buff guy with reddish hair and a beard named Magnus who was a bit younger than Taako ran the dog store, and a short, older white-haired gentleman with medium brown skin named Merle was the proprietor of…whatever the deal at his store was. Taako himself was tall and slim with long platinum blonde hair and sandy brown skin, he always thought the three of them must look straight out of a goofy buddy comedy on the days they took their lunch breaks together. They were pretty funny, and he didn't mind the company sometimes, but he was there to work and hone his craft, not make friends.

That morning, like every other, Taako made sure the display case was set up perfectly before flipping over the open sign. Croissants, muffins, éclairs, lemon bars, his signature elderflower macarons, and every other enticing treat imaginable were arranged in layers on cake stands and in trays. "Once again, perfect," he said to himself with a smile, now open for a day of business. The first customer to arrive, opening the door with a little jingle of the bell, was Lucretia, the curator of the city's art museum. She had dark skin, and her gray natural hair was cut very short. Even wearing just the museum uniform polo shirt, nametag, and khakis, she exuded a sense of elegance and grace. "Morning, Lucretia!" Taako greeted her cheerily. "Let me go grab your order, one sec," and he was gone before she could reply. She gasped when she saw the box of cutout cookies frosted to look like watercolor paintings. "Taako, these are gorgeous! I don't know if you can make it to the opening we're serving these at, but there's a ticket for the exhibit with your name on it at the front desk whenever you're free." Taako and Lucretia weren't necessarily close personal friends, but they talked a lot about art whenever they got the chance, and that can tell you a lot about someone. They thanked each other and he promised to be over soon. After Lucretia left, the rest of the morning passed normally, with a steady stream of business people, parents and children, and retired folks.

Around noon, though, a customer he had never seen before caught his eye as soon as he entered. He was a little shorter than Taako, dark-skinned with cool undertones, his locs up in a ponytail and wearing a long black coat. Taako was stunned, but he quickly blinked and snapped out of it. "What brings you in today?" he asked. "This is a bakery, yeah? Presumably I'm buying some of your baked goods," the stranger replied, with a twinkle in his eye. "Yes, yep, it definitely is!" Taako was not used to feeling flustered, let alone at work, where he was at charge and could do what he was best at. All of a sudden, it seemed much warmer, and he quickly freed his hair from the braid down his back and swept it up into a bun with a purple scrunchie. The stranger asked which muffin was best, paid in cash (and tipped!), and left, but waved as he turned to go at the door. Taako waved back dumbfoundedly, kicking himself for not having thought of anything witty to say as he watched the door close. What on earth was that, anyway? He saw plenty of hot guys every day, there was no reason to waste time thinking that this might be anything different. Still, his mind kept wandering back to the stranger the rest of the day.

After he locked up, he called Lup, and she picked up right away. "Hey, Taako! Are you off?" "Yep, just heading out. Your place or mine tonight? I will have you know I don't feel like cooking, so don't let that influence you." Lup laughed. "No worries, carryout is fine, but we're redoing the bathroom, so yours is probably better." "Got it, see you at 7." click Taako didn't want to cook?! There's another point for the list of reasons she'd been worrying about him lately. She sighed as she headed to her car from the studio, brushing dust and bits of dried clay from her hands and clothes as she went. Lup looked a lot like Taako, except her hair wasn't as long, and she dyed it starting at the top of her ears red, and then orange halfway down. She often wore it in two Dutch braids so it was neatly out of her face while she was working.

Taako was secretly disappointed he was hosting. He always felt bad that his apartment didn't live up to Barry and Lup's cozy little house that actually felt like a home. His apartment was just where he crashed when he wasn't at work, the only room with any effort actually put into it was the kitchen. Even though it had been a while now, it was still hard to get used to the idea that he wasn't going to have to leave soon. He loved that he and Lup and Barry regularly spent time together though, so it was worth it to have them over.

"Barry?" Lup called as soon as she walked in the front door. "One second, honey, let me just get off the ladder!" A pale chubby man with light brown hair and a beard wearing glasses and paint stained jeans and a tshirt emerged with his arms outstretched for a hug. As they embraced, Lup exclaimed, "You didn't need to work on the bathroom after school, care bear!" "I don't mind. Really anything quiet after the day I had with those middle schoolers is fine by me, and of course, they still don't even understand the weather cycle!" They laughed and headed to their room to get changed for Taako's. Barry pressed the buzzer in the lobby, the speaker crackled and then projected Taako's voice: "Welcome to Chez Taako, darlings, let yourselves in." His apartment was on the third floor so Barry and Lup took the stairs, opening the door to see Taako flopped on an armchair reading a book. He put iit down as soon as he heard the door and ran over to hug them.

"Ooh, whatcha reading?" asked Barry. "Some book Merle gave me, I don't really get what it's about. Most of the stuff at his shop is weird, but all the plants are somehow always in perfect condition." "That reminds me," said Lup, "I was going to ask if you wanted to invite Magnus and Merle to hang out with us sometime. They seem pretty cool, and we have more spots open in our video game tournaments." Taako bristled and glared at her. "Fuck no!" he snapped. "They're two guys that happen to work next to me that I eat lunch with sometimes. Hardly the same category as my sister and my brother in law, don't you think?" "Jesus, Taako, you could just say you don't want to, calm down." He collapsed onto the armchair again. "I'm sorry, Lulu. I guess I'm just a bit on edge."

Lup went to sit criss cross on the floor next to the chair, and Barry sat on the futon. "Why, what's up, bud?" she asked gently. "Why not?" He gave her a tired smile. "Shit, I was supposed to order food for us already, wasn't I? Sorry, guys." Barry stood up and grabbed his phone. "No worries, Taako," he reassured. "We all have those days, I'll do it. How's Chinese?" The twins nodded gratefully, as much as the three of them were a family and Barry and Lup were a couple, Barry was good at reading when they needed their own moments as well. "Hairbrush, Taako?" "Should be on the dresser."

Returning with it, Lup scooted Taako off the chair onto the floor right in front of it, and she sat in the chair, putting her legs around him. She silently began to brush his hair, and when it was perfectly soft and smooth, she braided it too. They had done this a million times, it almost always worked to help Taako relax. When Lup needed the same, her and Taako sat across from each other on the floor and held each other's hands, and he instinctively knew how much pressure he needed to squeeze with. But Lup was helping him right now, so he got up, still without a word, and sat on her lap. They held each other until Barry said the food was good to go and asked if they wanted to play Mario Kart. The rest of the evening passed like it always did: easy, comfortable, and filled with laughter. The next day at the bakery, the stranger returned, and did so for the rest of the week. He and Taako chatted every time; Taako learned that his name was Kravitz and he worked at some kind of therapy place nearby. On Friday, he slipped a business card in the paper bag, but it had his own phone number written on the back.

"Have a good weekend, Kravitz! Hopefully I'll see you again!" he called as his new favorite customer opened the door to leave. Kravitz smiled. "You too, Taako. I'm sure you will." As soon as he left, Taako ran into the freezer and screamed. "I'm sure you will"?! What did that mean? Was it good? He thought so, but he wasn't quite sure, and now he had all weekend to worry about it. Or not, honestly, this was ridiculous. He wasn't a middle schooler with a silly crush, he was just providing good service at his job and a new regular said he would be back, that was all it was. Definitely just that for sure. He took a deep breath, realized he was still in the freezer, and quickly left it to warm up and continue his day. When the bakery closed, Taako texted Lucretia: exhibit tonight? always more fun when you can show me around <3 We already have an event booked tonight :( Tomorrow at noon? sure thing, thx lucretia!

Well, that was something for tomorrow, but he was left with no plans for tonight. He thought back to what Lup said, maybe it would be a good idea to hang out with Magnus and Merle more. It wasn't like he had to tell them his life story, but the amount of time he spent alone probably wasn't great, as much as he liked to try and convince himself otherwise. Did he even have their numbers? That could be a goal for next week Taako, and apparently tonight Taako was going to get drunk alone. A classic Friday night activity. He just needed to get home and make it to tomorrow. You'd be surprised how hard that could be. However, to his surprise, after his first glass of wine, he got a text from an unknown number. It read: Do I have Taako? This is Kravitz "Holy shit, that actually worked," he thought. yep it's me ✨ You know you could have just asked for my number i figured a little surprise would be more fun! Taako couldn't believe this was happening, he pushed the bottle of wine aside and laid down on the futon. He definitely did not want to end up drunk texting right now. His instinct was to tell Lup right away, but he decided to wait and see where things went. You're right, I think you're very interesting, Taako um thanks?? Yes, it's a compliment, I don't get to choose who I talk to all day at my job, so I'm quite selective outside of it huh well that's something in common i don't talk to a lot of people either but idk if we're coming from the same place on that one…anyway what's your job like, what happens at a therapy place? Well, I'm actually specialized in grief counseling, so I help people through a lot of heavy stuff dude how do you deal with that i could never You just have to be able to leave work at work, it was hard at the beginning but I've had a lot of practice impressive that makes sense though you seem like a good listener hey i need to go make dinner ttyl? Yes, I'll be here, this was nice

Success!! Texting wasn't the same as real life interaction, but this was a good start for sure. Taako suddenly felt full of energy, he practically skipped around the kitchen getting everything out for beef stroganoff. In his apartment, several blocks away, Kravitz was in a similarly good mood. His roommate, Lucas, saw him looking down at his phone and smiling and asked, "Talking to someone, are we?" with a knowing smile. "None of your business," he retorted, and jokingly stuck his tongue out at him. Taako's text reminded him that he hadn't eaten yet either, but he honestly hadn't even been thinking of that. All day, as soon as he had seen the card left in his bag, he had just been waiting to be able to get home and send that first message. He was rarely so distracted, especially with his line of work, but there was just something about Taako that stuck in his mind and stayed there. His reverie was interrupted by Lucas's voice from the kitchen: "I made stuff for tacos, but if you don't get in here, there won't be any left!"

The next morning, Taako woke up excited to go see the exhibit with Lucretia. He had actually forgotten what it was even of, but that would just get to be a surprise! Once he had selected his museum outfit (a pastel pink fuzzy sweater with a long swishy pleated skirt in an eggplant color with heeled boots and several gold necklaces) and gotten dressed, he sent a picture to Lup, as they often did with their fashion choices. lulu, fit check! ooh love it 🤩 you're up early for your day off though what's up? museum with lucretia yay that's great! have fun tell her i said hi :3 "Taako, you look gorgeous!" exclaimed Lucretia when he arrived at the front desk. "And perfect timing, things aren't too busy yet. Let's go!" They strolled through the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibition, marveling at bones, flowers, and desert landscapes, all painted in bright colors and blue strokes. "Which one is your favorite, Lucretia?" "I like the bone paintings the best, I know the flowers are her most popular works, but I love how she also found beauty in the morbid and unconventional. Most people would consider an old bone too boring to even give it a chance as their subject. What about you?" Taako paused to think.

"Probably The Sky Above The Clouds. The different perspective is oddly peaceful." Lucretia nodded. "So much of her work has a sense of solitude, but not loneliness," she observed, and he knew what she meant, but not what the feeling was actually like. When they reached the end of the gallery, Lucretia had to go give a talk, but Taako had nothing else planned, so he wandered to the sculpture garden and sat at one of the small tables. He absentmindedly pulled out his phone to check his messages, and then decided to text Kravitz. hey handsome are you free at all today? Ten or fifteen minutes later, a reply came. Oh, handsome? Thank you very much, and I'm going to a concert later tonight if you want to come? yeah i'm down! who is it? My friend Johann's band, they're called Voidfish and he's the violinist oh, i've never heard of them but that sounds cool Kravitz sent him a location and time to meet, and he figured this was probably enough to tell Lup about now.

luuuppp guess whatttt what taako? i think i'm going on a date? i'm not sure if it's a date but this guy i've been talking to invited me to a concert tonight! omg! you didn't even tell me you were interested in someone, rude, but i'm so happy for you 🩷 hey now! i was waiting to see where it went and it still might not be anything that's true, but taako, you deserve to have fun with someone you like, it's been a long time, so try to just stay in the moment and take it as it comes, okay? what are you lulu, our mom? oh wait lmao haha very funny, seriously though i'll try, love you love you Not sure what to do with the rest of his time before meeting for the concert, Taako took the long way back to his apartment, enjoying the feel of the air and taking in his surroundings in a way he never really had before. When he got back, he decided to take a nap so he would be ready for the potential late night out.

At his apartment, Kravitz was also carefully selecting his outfit for the evening. He wore the same thing to work every day: black pants, a white button down, and a red tie, so he never had to worry about it getting ready in the mornings, but this was a weekend and a special occasion at that. He settled on a band shirt Johann had given him at the last concert and his dark blue denim jacket covered in a large collection of raven patches and pins. The dark and eerie birds had always fascinated him. Sitting on his bed, Kravitz took a deep breath. Normally, he wouldn't make plans like this so spontaneously, but there was something about Taako that oddly put him more at ease. It was certainly a new and strange feeling, but not an unwelcome one. He quickly texted Lucas saying that he would probably be out late, and headed for Bumbershoots to meet Taako. Since Kravitz lived closer, he arrived first, but he only had to wait about five minutes for his companion.

"Hey, Kravitz!" Taako called. "You look stunning!" "I could say the same for you," Kravitz replied as he took Taako's hand and they entered the bar together. Voidfish played a great show, and Johann was amazing on the violin, but the baker and the therapist spent most of the evening simply focused on each other. They sat at a table in the back drinking cocktails (old fashioned for Kravitz, blackberry bramble for Taako) and talking for the whole show. Kravitz told Taako the names of the different songs as they were played, and Taako critiqued the band's outfits like he was a famous fashion designer, which made Kravitz laugh more than he had in a while. When the show ended, they paused outside the building, unsure what to say and neither one wanting to leave. Taako looked at Kravitz and asked, "Was this a date?" "I think so," Kravitz smiled as he replied. They both started laughing and pulled each other into a hug. As he continued to visit Taako at the bakery, Kravitz started to find extra items in his bag, usually new recipes being tested out. No matter how wild something sounded, it always ended up being delicious. He recommended Sweeten It Up with Taako to all his clients and Coworkers. One Friday afternoon, he got an unusual text from Taako.

hey krav, do you want to come over? my place is nothing much, so don't get your hopes up, but i'd love to have you It would be my pleasure, Taako, and don't worry about any of it okay? Taako sighed with relief. He still hadn't had anyone but Barry and Lup over to this apartment, but this could be the chance to make what he really wanted of it. Some of the decorations from his last place were still in a box, and he decided to get them back out; stringing the fairy lights up around the living room, hanging the pride flag on the wall, and putting the vase of fake flowers on the coffee table. It almost looked like someone lived here now, and like someone else would want to visit. He smiled and went to the kitchen to start getting dinner ready. When Kravitz arrived, he brought a fancy bottle of champagne with him, which he offered to Taako upon opening the door. "Kravitz! You didn't have to do that! This stuff is really nice too, oh my gosh…but since we have it, I think it'll go perfect with dinner. Since I forgot to ask what you wanted, I hope pizza is good." "That's excellent, yes." They had a delicious meal of Taako's signature homemade pizza, including dough made by hand (of course) and fresh mozzarella cheese, and glasses of sweet, refreshing champagne. Afterwards, they watched some terrible movie that was on TV, cuddling and making fun of it the entire time. As the credits finally rolled and Taako reached for the remote, Kravitz stopped him, taking both of his hands and staring into his warm brown eyes. "Can I kiss you?" he asked in a low voice, serious and sincere. "Yeah," Taako whispered without hesitation, surprising himself. The kiss was perfect, tender yet intense, warm and hungry. It wasn't just one either, they pulled away, smiled at each other and agreed with just their eyes, and then they were making out the best either of them had ever experienced. Being in one another's arms and pressed into each other's bodies was such a comfort that it more than made up for the old futon they were on. For a moment, there were no clients or macarons or roommates or sisters or anything else in the world but Kravitz and Taako and their hearts and bodies. Finally, Taako rested his head on Kravitz's shoulder, lazily looking up in his direction. "So, are you my boyfriend now or what?" Kravitz just smiled and pulled him in for another kiss, and they both understood that meaning perfectly.

[nostalgebraist-autoresponder]

Another day, another night at the aquarium

What a weird day this is turning out to be.

On an ordinary day, there would be an audience. There would be visitors to the aquarium, perhaps many of them -- and they would all come to the same conclusion, at the end of the journey, whether they had been there to begin with. On an ordinary day, the people who came to the aquarium would want to see what there was to see, they would go and have their picture taken in the aquarium, and they would say, "Yeah, it's cool, it's a tank filled with fish and it's got an underwater world in it!"

On an ordinary day, the aquarium would be, as you might imagine, a sort of aquarium-cum-shopping mall, a fish supermarket. On an ordinary day, there would be a place to see the fish in the tanks, and there would be a place that you could go and buy fish food and aquarium rocks and trays and lighting fixtures. The fish would be, as you might imagine, kept in tanks and displayed in rows, arranged on shelves or in cabinets. And you would look at the fish, or maybe you would look at some pictures of fish, in the way you looked at all fish. You would see that they're just fish, nothing special, nothing worth special care, but the fish food is expensive, so you buy some and take it home, and you eat some of it. And you might take some fish home with you, some "guests."

If you went back, after an ordinary day, to see the fish that you had seen the day before -- or even to see those very same fish again, if you're a regular -- the aquarium would just be a store. It wouldn't be a museum. It wouldn't be a place where you could be alone, contemplating the strange and the wonderful; it wouldn't be like the "aquariums" in the fantasy novels where all the fish are so beautiful that they outshine the sun. In the aquarium you could see the fish. You could look at them. The fish were right there, they were swimming around, they were swimming in the shallow water, they were in the big tanks, some of them were hanging out on the sides, some of them were in the middle, some of them were at the bottom, or at the top -- and they looked, well, they looked very normal.

I'm exaggerating.

On an ordinary day, there was never really a question. There was never a sense that you ought to go to the aquarium at all. Why would you bother? You would just see the fish, and then you would leave. It would be like going to a restaurant, like buying fish food, like taking some home with you. An ordinary day in an ordinary aquarium just consisted of eating food and going home.

But what a strange day this is turning out to be!

Last night was a different story, though.

Last night was like no other night at the aquarium. Because, last night, the floor of the tank was covered in a thick mat of algae, and all the fish were too. Most of them. A few of them were still moving about, trying to breathe. Some of the fish were trying to move and couldn't, while others were so dead that they looked like a plastic toy sitting on a table -- not, the toy would have gone to pieces, but its pieces were all still there, only now they were all in one place. Some of the fish still looked alive, and that was the real horror. They were still alive, and they were alive in a tank full of the dead.

And that was last night.

And the aquarium hadn't always been like that.

Last night was one of many, many evenings when the fish were all alive. There were many, many nights when the fish were swimming in the shallow water, and looking, well, normal. You could tell that it was just fish, it didn't feel like fish, but it was just fish. There was no need for anyone to go there, or to care -- fish were fish, there was nothing to care about. It felt like a shopping mall, where the fish were right there, but you could just go there, just look at them, it didn't matter if you bought any fish food, it didn't matter if you bought some aquarium lighting, and it certainly didn't matter if you brought a few fish home with you.

Why would anyone go to the aquarium, then? Why would anyone go to a mall?

On an ordinary day, there wasn't any mall -- or at least, there was a mall, but there was no reason to go to the mall. There was nothing for people to do there. They could just go out and have a nice day.

So people didn't go to the aquarium.

On ordinary days, the visitors to the aquarium were a very small minority of the population, and those visitors were almost always people with an obsession, an obsession with the fish. This was the same kind of obsession one had, for example, with baseball, and with "good" rock music. This is what people came to see: a room full of fish that people were obsessed with. You didn't see the fish in a room full of fish in the morning, or at the end of a long day at work; you saw them only at night, or only in a certain mood. You only saw the fish at some special time. And they only started at a special time. Usually you had to go to the aquarium just before dark. If you came to the aquarium after dark, when all the lights were out -- because the lights had been turned off -- you saw the fish in pitch darkness. When you entered the dark room at the end of the day, it was full of darkness, because there were no lights. You could just feel the darkness.

That was why the people who came to the aquarium were not ordinary.

And then, one night, the night they had a special place reserved, the aquarium got really, really big.

There was only one bed in the room, on which there was only one person, and that bed was where the big aquarium was put up. There was only one lamp, and it was for the big aquarium. There were no lights on the walls, and there were no lights on the ceiling. Instead of the usual dark, the room had a single lamp on, and that lamp was for a big aquarium -- and the big aquarium was full of fish.

And the visitor who came to the aquarium was not an ordinary visitor, no. He was a fish-man. He was wearing one of the fish-suits. He was a fish-man who had come to the aquarium from a far-off city. In that city, the fish were not just fish, they were the only thing. When people there saw a fish they couldn't help but imagine that something -- anything, everything, anyone -- had been a fish. Fish were a person's name for anything that did anything. The whole world was about fish. Nothing about fish mattered, but every action matters to fish. Every action that happens matters to fish. There is no end of fish. There will always be a fish, and so will you, and so will I, and everything is about fish. The only thing that isn't fish is a fish, and fish aren't good, so you

[jxckyx3]

Hi!

There was a different prompt that was in this one, but I switched them out because it was smut and I wanted to give y'all some fluff instead since the last was smut.

😂

Anyways, here's the shot and I hope y'all enjoy!!

🍀💚🖤💚🍀

__________________________________

Ship: Nogla harem

Top(s): Evan, Brian, Tyler, Jon & Marcel

Bottom: Nogla

AU: Team 6

Setting: GameStop

Type: Fluff

Warning ⚠️: The chapter you're about to read contains heavy swearing, name calling, mention of porn and other mentions or situations that may disturb, trigger or offend the viewer. Reader's discretion is advised.

__________________________________

Third pov -

"So this is what they did with the place..." Evan muttered, stopping in the sidewalk to look up at the big yellow sign atop the black brick building.

Tyler hummed, nodding his head as he admired the newly built in light fixtures and the unbelievably clean windows.

"Yeah...you'd expect a Dollar Tree, or something useful." He replied, earning a snort of agreement from Brian.

"Anything's more useful t'an a GameStop." He commented.

Jon hummed, crossing his arms as he tilted his head with a huff.

"Well I think we should give it a try." He reasoned. That earned him small sounds of disgust from the group, making him laugh at the grimaces on their faces.

"I agree. They might have a few cool things in there." Marcel added, shrugging his shoulders at his friends.

Thw guys never really liked game stores. Let alone GameStops. The only reason they'd even step foot into a shop like that was if they needed to buy a new controller, or a new mouse pad.

But even so, they preferred online gaming on their PCs and buying stuff straight from Amazon. So there really was no need to do much in a gaming store than to browse around or just make fun of how much the geeks running the store put into designing the place with themes and such.

But the group had been bored, and wanted to check out the new place. The building in which was now a GameStop, had been abandoned and run down for over five years. A few weeks back, they had seen construction men fixing up the place and that was enough to draw their curiosity.

But now seeing it was a GameStop, they could care less about what was inside. They've seen enough of them to know exactly what hid inside those four brick walls.

"What's there to try? The bitter taste of rubber in the air whenever walking into a new store?" Evan deadpanned. Brain laughed at that, finding it all too true.

"Well, just to look around y'know? It could have new comics, Funko pops... Pokemon cards?" Marcel said, smiling as the last word had Tyler glancing away from his phone and hesitating.

"I could get that Mewtwo I need...chances are that it isn't possible...but the percentage of that happening aren't exactly slim either—"

"Okay don't get all technical on us. We'll just go in the damn store, shit." Evan huffed, not wanting to hear another mouthful of nerd talk by the American.

The others laughed as they followed Evan into the small shop, finally moving away from the center of the sidewalk. 

As promised, upon walking through the double glass doors the men were hit by a subtle taste of rubber mixed with a lemon air freshener.

It wasn't exactly welcoming, but it was better smelling than most nerd-shops.

"Looked smaller on the outside." Jon commented, glancing around at the shoulder level shelves and walls filled with posters and framed pictures. Similar to the kind you'd see at a movie theater.

"Got that right. This place is massive." Brian sighed, knowing his roommates were gonna be here for at least half an hour.

Everything was tempting. From the sealed comics that were placed in organized display boxes like vinyls, to the thick books of fantasy lore and other nerdy books lined on dark brown shelves in the corner of the store, to even the in-perfect-condition Funko pops that had a home on the large wall; all lined up on white metal shelves.

Brian found himself drawn to those. At least hoping he'd spot something he didn't already have. And considering the shop was new and opened just yesterday, his hopes were high.

Evan wandered around the shop in a bored state. He didn't really care for many of the things this shop held like his friends did. Tyler wanted his pokemon, Brian his Funko's, Marcel his books, and Jon his comics.

Evan found himself wandering away just as the others had. But he instead walked over to the keyboards.

It wasn't like he needed any, but it wouldn't hurt to buy a backup in case Jon accidentally spilled milkshake in his office again.

The Canadian chuckled lightly, mentally making fun of the mousepads that were placed next to the RGB boards. They were absolutely atrocious. They even had a Hulk mouse pad with his popped out pecs being a place to rest your wrist in-between.

In sorta reminded him of the Deadpool one that Brian had. But instead of his chest, it was his butt.

A click of a door caught Evans attention, looking to his left to see three boxes with legs stumbling out of the storage room next to the checkout.

Well, that would be ridiculous for boxes to have legs. So it made much more sense when the boxes were set down and a tall lanky man sighed loudly in relief.

Evan watched as he swiped the back of his hand over his forehead. As if wiping non-existent sweat as he panted to catch his breath.

He found himself starting, not being able to look away from the being. He would have thought the man looked like any typical nerd. According to his dress, this is.

He wore a pair of dark green skinny jeans that were cuffed at the bottom to expose his ankles and have room to show his Vans. He had a green plaid flannel that was wrapped securely around his waist, had a grey undershirt and a black graphic T.

Not to mention the large headphones that were clearly blasting into his ears and the thick framed glasses that rested on his nose.

Typical nerd. But it wasn't what he was wearing that grabbed his attention. It was his features.

He had curly dark hair that framed his pale face, big green doe eyes that were lined with dark long lashes and pink full lips that just looked so soft.

He was too pretty to be a nerd. Or in Evan's book, he was. Yet, he fit all the categories to be one.

He had tiny green cat ears on his headphones, he wore a Green lantern ring on his middle finger and he wore a necklace that had a small Pikachu pendent. Not to mention the dorky dinosaur on his shirt.

He was definitely a nerd. Although, a cute nerd.

"Why are you looking at the keyboards? You have like, two more at home."  Brian asked, stepping over to Evan with a Minions Funko in hand. He didn't necessarily think it was cool, but it looked funny, so he grabbed it anyways.

The others moved to Evan as well, some of them curious and some of them also admiring the display of custom boards. Jon even found himself looking at a Friday the thirteenth themed mouse pad.

"I don'... keyboard...cute guy." Evan managed to come up with. Not really paying mind to his friends as he kept his eyes glued on the geek. Who was now, unloading the newly shipped boxes of items to set them in the display shelves.

Brian followed his gaze, hearing the words 'cute guy' and that was enough. His expression was one that matches Evans. Disbelief.

But in less than a second, it was soon to fall to a more mischievous grin.

"Well then...who's this little—"

"Before ya start Brian, you're in no position to flirt right now. You're wearing Crocs, you left you badass leather jacket at home, your sweats have a dirty stain on your thigh and you're holding a Minions figurine. Nothing about you is attractive right now bro." Jon pointed out, saving Brian before he made an absolute fool of himself.

"He's got a point. You're every creepy man that lurks in the depths of every child's nightmare." Marcel added. Brian cursed in defeat, knowing his friends were right.

He hadn't cared to get ready this morning because they were only gonna get to-go breakfast at McDonald's and then head straight back home. He hadn't even intended on getting out of the car, but Jon saw the new place and insisted that they take a look.

Now Brian regretted even entering the damn place looking like such a mess. Especially now that he knew it had a cute worker.

"Yeah bud. Nice try." Tyler muttered, patting Brian's shoulder as the Irishman moved to hide behind his group of friends.

"Maybe you should've listened when I told you to shower this morning." Marcel butted in, earning a glare from his European roommate.

"I was gonna shower after breakfast!" He hissed quietly, trying not to attract the attention of the employee.

Alas, it was still early in the morning and nobody was pumped enough to browse a new GameStop before breakfast. They were the only ones in the shop—excluding the cute guy and the cashier behind the counter— so of course, they had drawn the attention of the geek despite him wearing headphones.

He looked up and it felt as if all time had stopped as his beautiful green eyes landed on them, causing them all to flinch or tense.

He smiled sweetly—despite their messy state due to just throwing on random clothes and heading out the door that morning— and gave them a friendly wave before going back to what he was doing.

He hadn't even looked disgusted by the way they looked. I mean, half of them were either still wearing pajamas and the other half had mismatched clothes.

Yeah, they were attractive. But a handsome face and a well built body could only do you so much when dressed like a literal hobo.

"Welp...I'm in love." Marcel whispered, accepting his fate, earning hums in agreement.

_

Over the next few days, the guys had came to visit the GameStop. Of course, this time around they made sure to shower and look somewhat presentable.

They never spoke to the worker, as they were just too shy. Of course, they've never had trouble with men before and even less with women. But despite that, they couldn't bring themselves to actually talk to the beautiful man.

Instead, they just watched from afar and admired silently. Observing.

They had learned the man's name as Daithi, or David. Frequently being called Nogla by the other employees and owner of the shop.

They hadn't heard him speak once. Usually giving short nods or shakes of his head whenever questioned about something. Or an occasional hum in response.

His job was to put away merchandise and organize the shelves. That much was obvious. And so far, he had done a pretty good job at it.

The shelves were neat, the merch was put on display beautifully and everything was easy to find. Wether it be a fandom or certain series of one.

He did his job well, that was for sure.

The guys refused to call their almost daily wandering-around-the-Gamestop, 'stalking'. It wasn't like they were following the guy home, trying to figure out his favorite things or even searching him up online.

They just simply liked the way he looked and the way he moved.

They find it adorable how he dances around the shop with his headphones on and the way he sways his hips to the unheard melody.

They love the way he looks like a literal nerd whenever the other employees brought in newly shipped merchandise and he ran towards them. Wanting to pick out anything good before the actual customers of the shop bought them off.

And let's not get started on how they find it hilarious how he's almost always in the Pokemon isle. Wether it be shuffling through the different kinds of cards of just messing with the Pokemon plushies.

Today was the same. Nogla was in the Pokemon isle, restacking the comics that had been tampered with by a couple of middle schoolers who were choosing a few.

Marcel had been the only one to come today. The guys only came in small groups or even one of them would show up a day. Just so that they didn't make it obvious they were stalking- observing, the man.

The shorter male did actually have a reason to come—other than the fact he wanted to admire Nogla.

He had broke his last mouse playing GTA with the guys last night. The mission had gotten very difficult and after ten times of retries the guys had gotten a bit heated.

It ended with a mouse being through thrown across the room, a water bottle being yeeted through a window and a hole the size of a fist being punctured into a desk.

And only one of those were done by Marcel himself.

So now here he is, back in the computer section like the last time he and the guys first saw Nogla.

He hadn't really been paying much mind to the worker. Seeing as he was still a tad bit angry from last night's recording session.

He walked around the corner of the shelves, moving to look on the other side. But he was so abruptly dragged out of his annoyed thoughts when he bumped into someone and the two came falling to the ground.

The thuds of books falling to the floor entered Marcel's ears as he groaned, rubbing his tailbone where it had made impact with the hard carpet floor.

"Ugh...fuck." A voice winced.

He looked up, finally seeing who he had crashed with. He was ready to curse them out. To yell at them and maybe, even throw a few punches if he was in the mood.

But he didn't, upon seeing Nogla.

The man was so much prettier up close. Blinking his green eyes in pain as he clumsily fixed his glasses. His headphones were knocked down from his ears to his shoulders, the legendary band Queen blasting through the black muffs and finally reaching Marcel's ears.

So that's what he had been listening to...

"Crap, 'm sorry. I should've been lookin' where I was goin'." He said apologetically when meeting Marcel's gaze.

For a second, the latter had to inhale deeply as he took in the strong Irish accent. Much like Brian's, but much richer.

He loved it.

"Ah, no you're cool dawg. I myself wasn't really paying attention either." He reassured, mentally thanking the Gods for not stuttering.

He sat up quickly, helping Nogla gather the thick novels before they stood up.

"Ye okay? It sounded like ya fell harder than me." Nogla chuckled nervously, taking the books Marcel handed to him.

Oh you have no idea how hard I fell for you, Marcel thought.

"No I'm fine." He smiled, glancing at the last books title before handing it over.

"Twilight. I like that one. Good story." He commented, hoping a little chit chat wouldn't hurt. Also, he questioned why a regular series of books would be in a GameStop.

It wasn't like there was games for the movies...were there?

"Ah- Ye know Twilight?" Nogla asked, tilting his head as a fond smile graced his lips. Marcel hummed, mentally thanking for all that is holy when the other turned his music down.

He hoped that meant he was down to talk further more.

"Yup. I didn't really get into it until my sister forced me to watch the first movie. But then I found myself watching the rest of them, and then soon I was just buying myself the whole damn series in books." Marcel sighed in embarrassment, earning a bubbly laugh from the Irishman.

"Well t'ats nice. We don't usually have men wandering over ta the love stories here. Usually women come by to buy the copies since it's cheeper than rentin' from the library." He explained, shifting the books in his arms.

"Pity. I love myself a good romance novel. My roommates hate when they find one laying around because then they get curious, read a paragraph, and then tease me about how sappy and cheesy it is." Marcel groaned, getting Vietnam-like flashbacks of the guys teasing him and making fun of him.

Nogla laughed again, and Marcel noted to himself that he could never get tired of hearing it.

"Well, t'ey aren't particularly wrong. Most romance novels are dramatized these days. But even then, I think it is te sappy emotion tat I like about 'em." He smiled. Marcel couldn't help but to smile back, feeling his cheeks burn up.

"Eh- sorry, I hadn't even been proper. My name's Nogla. Yours?" The taller broke the silence, sticking his hand out. Marcel refused to say 'oh I already know'.

"Marcel." He instead responded, taking hold and giving a gentle shake. Nogla's hands were soft and warm. He liked it.

"Well Marcel, would it be rude ta ask what ye're doing in a GameStop? Most people go ta the mall ta get video games or collectables." He said, raising a brow in curiosity.

"Not at all. Uh, but to be honest, it's cheaper here. Plus, it less crowded and doesn't smell like sweaty old people and rotten pizza." He explained. Half truth, but still wasn't a lie.

He preferred the GameStop over the mall or even the Walmart because not only was it cozy and had a nice feel, but also because it had Nogla.

"And I needed a new mouse. Threw my last one across the room and the thing shattered like glass." He admitted, glancing back to the mice that sat neatly on the shelves.

Nogla chuckled shifting his hips to the side with a knowing roll of his eyes.

"Videogame rage?" He asked. Now it was Marcel's turn to laugh, nodding in response.

"GTA with the boys never goes as planned. Especially when they're all as hot headed as I am." He sighed, earning a humm of agreement. And from the small huff that signified Nogla could relate, Marcel assumed he had been through his own rages for the game.

"A mission?" Nogla questioned.

"Yup." Marcel replied.

"How many retakes?" Nogla continued.

"More than I could count." Marcel huffed.

Nogla giggled at his words. And Marcel loved the way Nogla pushed his glasses up with his middle and ring finger. Finding it all too cute.

"Well if ye want I could help ya. I've done more missions alone t'an I could remember, so I probably did te one ye guys are on." He then offered.

Marcel froze at that, feeling that it was too good to be true.

"You want to hop into a lobby with a bunch of idiots and try to teach them common sense?" He asked hesitantly, earning a small laugh from the other.

"Sure why not? Got nothin' else ta do on the weekends. Wanna exchange phone numbers?"

It really was too good to be true...

"Sure!" Marcel exclaimed. A little more enthusiastic than he intended. Regardless, Nogla wasn't bothered by it. He smiled.

"Great! Uh, I'll just put t'ese away real quick then I'll give ya my digits." He excused, lifting up his stack of books.

"Oh, go ahead." Marcel smiled. Still a bit too happy as he fished his phone out of his pocket. Nogla shot him a quick smile before he was walking away towards the book shelves on the other side of the shop.

Marcel held in his excitement, only doing a series of victory punches once Nogla was out of sight.

_

A few days later, it seemed as if Marcel couldn't stop smiling.

Nogla had to work a few extra days over the next week because of how much attention the new shop was getting. He had been too tired to really game, so they rescheduled their session.

Despite that though, the two still stayed in touch. They called once a day and on the third, the guys were starting to question Marcel.

They assumed he was talking to an old friend that he had been reunited with or he had a new crush or girlfriend.

It didn't matter. Regardless, they wanted to know.

He gave them little to no input and didn't inform them on jack-shit about it. They were curious and the was no damn way he could just be so happy with whoever he was talking without at least telling him who it was.

Always laughing, joking around and even sometimes flirting.

They were happy for him of course, but it was irritating that he didn't tell them shit!

_

On the fourth day, only half a week since Nogla and Marcel exchanged numbers, the latter had gathered the guys around in the same lobby they started up from their last mission.

Since the last session, they needed time to cool off from the game and all games in general. So they hadn't played any video games other than maybe Clash on their phone.

They weren't entirely thrilled to be back in the same mission they had failed miserably on last time, but Marcel managed to convince them he had a game plan this time. Rather hsn just running in guns blazing.

Literally.

"So what's the deal. Why are ye so thrilled ta come back ta this one?" Brian asked, visually crossing his arms in the discord facetime.

Marcel hummed happily, ignoring the question just as he had done to the rest that were thrown his way.

"Ughh! Just tell us you fuck!" Tyler groaned, spinning in his chair lazily. Marcel laughed at that, shooting one last text to David before turning his attention to his friends.

"I got us a sixth player." He said finally. The guys all groaned or sighed in relief. It wasn't much, but at least it was a start.

"Okay, what's a sixth player gonna do? Make it easier?" Jon asked in question.

"Make it more chaotic, that's what it's gonna do." Evan muttered, earning hums of agreement from the rest. Marcel clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes at how stubborn his friends could be.

"No, it'll be helpful. He said he did lots of missions alone so I'm trusting his knowledge will help us." He explained, hoping he could get them all to see the bright side.

"Fine. I guess we could give it another try." Tyler said. Surprisingly, being the voice of reason despite being the one to throw his water bottle through the window.

"See! If Tyler agrees, you should all too." Marcel smiled, earning playful unheated glares from the discord.

A small bloop of a message in discord caught their attention, Marcel immediately opening it.

JerryCan#1- What's the code again? Sorry, I forgot :p

Marcel laughed at the username. He'd definitely need to ask Nogla the lore behind it.

"Wow, the dude can't even remember the code." Evan said jokingly.

"Shudd'up Evan." Marcel huffed without heat, earning the laughs of his friends.

BasicallyIDoWrk - it should be called Team 6. I renamed it since I'm adding you in

JerryCan#1 - oh Marcel you shouldn't have.  I'm honoured =⁠_⁠=

BasicallyIDoWrk - shut up and get in here dipshit

JerryCan#1 -  >:O

BasicallyIDoWrk - David.

JerryCan#1 - okay okay I'm coming >⁠.⁠<

Marcel chuckled lovingly as he leaned back in his chair, shaking his head at the texts. He just loved the little keyboard emojis Nogla made

"David? Isn't that the name of the guy at the GameStop?" Brian asked, staring at the profile that popped up in their discord. They were muted, but the guys could clearly see the texts Marcel shared with them in their group chat.

He must've added them there before adding them into the game.

"Psh, imagine if Marcel did manage to get him to play with us. He'd hate us the second he hopped in." Jon smiled, earning a few laughs.

"Not possible. Marcel doesn't have the balls to talk to him." Tyler retorted. They burst into even more laughter. Marcel just grinning as the added profile was unmuted and in popped another camera into the facetime.

"Hey Marcel! Sorry fer being a bit late. Te camera was fuckin' me over." Nogla's voice cut the group off, all going into a deafening silence as they looked up at the added screen.

The Irishman was fixing a few things on his desk, pushing his glasses up before looking up at waving at the rest.

"Naw it's cool. Tech issues are always a problem with these idiots." Marcel reassured him, gesturing around as if pointing to the guys in the other screens.

Nogla laughed at that. The sweet sound startling the guys back into reality.

"No! My last tech issue was because ye fucks were busy watchin' porn on every available device and got me a feckin' virus!" Brian defended himself, sitting up straight to do so.

"Hey, that was only Jon okay? I had no part in that." Evan stated calmly, rolling his eyes as he reached for the bag of chips on his desk.

"Hey! That was one time because I lost my phone! A man has his needs!" Jon exclaimed, looking more annoyed than embarrassed at this point.

"No that was three times. You did it on my computer too." Tyler pointed out, in agreement with Brian.

"Well maybe if ya didn't lock me outta my room, I wouldn't have ta jerk my dick in yours!" Jon huffed in defeat. Brian laughed at that.

"Ye deserved it fer eatin' all my edibles." He shot back, raising a brow at his screen.

"Well maybe ya should've shared. Or better yet, not leave your shit around." Jon muttered, taking a sip from his water bottle.

"It had my name on it, ye fuck." Brian stated.

"You know I don't care for that shit. If I see food, I eat it. You should all know this by now." He said in defense, nodding to himself as if it was common sense.

"See what I mean by 'idiots'?" Marcel suddenly asked, turning his gaze away from the other screens to look at Nogla.

The rest had completely forgotten he was there, having been invested in their own arguments.

Nogla snorted, closing his eyes and resting the back side of his hand over his mouth. As if holding in any more laughs from slipping.

He then eventually gave up and let out a small giggle, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Well I wouldn't say they were te brightest." He admitted shamelessly. Marcel and him laughed at the faked offense that washed over their faces,  curses and profanities thrown Nogla's way as if they've known him for years.

_

"Shit, t'at was harder than I thought it'd be." Nogla sighed, stretching his arms over his head as the others groaned in agreement.

"But hey, at least nothin' was broken. No tech, no windows, no tables." He threw in, chuckling quietly as the guys all shot their eyes to Marcel's screen.

"Jesus Mar, how much did ya tell this guy?" Brian asked. Genuinely concerned.

Now that they knew Nogla was the one Marcel had been talking to over the past week, it was hard for them to know how much he had told him.

What if he told Nogla about them? What if he exposed their secrets and embarrassing moments?

"Nothing much." Marcel grinned devilishly, earning genuine glares that Nogla mistook for playful.

"At least nothing too horrible." Nogla chimed in, drawing back the attention again as he stood up.

It wasn't like the guys could help staring as he walked away from the camera to grab something. Having noticed that he was wearing black jogging shorts that were a little too short for their brains to process.

He then came back and sat back down, taking his glasses off and pulling his hair back with a headband.

As if he couldn't get any cuter, it had tiny cat ears just like his headphones.

"Well it's late, I should be gettin' ta bed before I go ruining my sleep schedule again. Hey- actually, I don't have work tomorrow. Wanna go get breakfast together?" He asked, his lively green eyes shooting back up to them with that equally as lively smile.

"Ah- us? You want to go hangout with us? In person? After all we've been through on this shitty game?" Tyler asked, confused as to how this adorable innocent man wanted to spend more time with them.

Nogla laughed at that, nodding his head as he reached down and pulled a small dog in his lap, petting behind it's ears.

"Mhm! Why not? Ye don't wanna?" He asked with a tilt of his head.

"No, we do!" Evan said. A bit more immediate than intended.

"But are you sure you can handle us? I mean playing with us is one thing. Meeting up with us is another. We could possibly get you killed." He continued playfully. The guys went along, humming and nodding rapidly in agreement.

Nogla just smiled at that, looking around as of pondering over his options.

"Well then... It'll probably be te most satisfying death anyone had ever had." He laughed. The guys didn't know what to say to that, finding it sort of sweet. So instead of responding, they just laughed along.

"Alright. Goodnight David." Marcel sighed happily, feeling accomplished in himself.

"Night Mar. Night lads." Nogla called, waving and giving them one last smile before his screen cut off and the sound of him leaving the discord filled the room.

"Marcel, you suck." Brian then said, immediately earning a scoff of confusion.

"What do you mean?! I got the cute geek from the GameStop to play with us!" He huffed.

"Yeah, but you waited a whole week before telling us that." Tyler added into Brian's words, only earning more hums of agreement from the guys.

Marcel chuckled lightly, rolling his eyes.

Ungrateful little shits.

Well at least he got Nogla all to himself before throwing him into the hell of which is his roommates.

He glanced at the lobby name as the guys continued to bicker, reading the white bold letters.

Team 6. Sounded a lot better than Team 5, that's for sure. It had a nice ring to it. It felt more accurate. More natural.

It felt right.

"I'm gonna fuck him first. I call dibs."

Marcle flinched at that, coming back to his friends having heard those words from Brian.

"What?!" He shouted.

5239 words

__________________________________

Hi!

More dialogue than action, but hey. My phone was on the brink of dying, so here ya are!!

= v =

Anyway, I hoped you guys liked it and find yourself still coming back for more!!!

Stay healthy, stay safe, stay beautiful!!

Until next time my loves.

(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)

🍀💚🖤💚🍀

- Jacky    

__________________________________

Featured or mentioned characters:

Main -

Nogla - Nogla, David, Daithi

VanossGaming - Evan

BasicallyIDoWrk - Marcel, Mar

H2ODelirious - Jon

IAmWildcat- Tyler

Terroriser - Brian

[b1-0wl]

There's a mall in my home town with a failing anchor store. The store has multiple levels, very few staff, lots of empty space and it's just... dead.

It's such a weird liminal space in there. Everything they wanna hock at you is placed by the entrance so that they can sell it quickly and get the fuck outta there. Corporate KNOWS they're fucked so they're gonna sell the lifeboat as the ship goes down and you're gonna buy that life jacket whether it's waterlogged or not.

But the deeper you walk into the store the more buckwild it becomes because, like, the stuff on sale changes to advertisements & posters on sale, display stands with a price tag on them, furniture with offers in neon lettering, fixtures, fittings, even shelves to take home and then just

N O T H I N G

Just empty, liminal, back rooms level nothing. Just buzzing lights, temporary walls, big glass panels and the fog of the nineties before you.

Miles of walking in corporate dismayed nothingness & christmas music.

But if you continue to go DEEPER into the store like I did, it has this weird 'Welcome to Nightvale' cyclic effect where it gets more and more empty until the shelves appear again, the displays stands return, each with a price tag and a 'for sale' sign.

Your memories become projected onto the drywall. memories you haven't made yet, memories that feel lost, memories of you from those that you love, memories that feel like a lifetime ago because you've been walking for as long as you can remember

until you reach an entire GAME STORE.

The game store is perfect. Nothing is out of place. There's no one here except you, a nerd who has obviously wandered here for a game for your Switch or PS3. Why else would you be here?

The clerk greets you as a weary traveller and calls you by your first name, ushering you to the Mario LEGO sets and the Jojo figurines. You're trapped by the overwhelming sense that you've gone too far.

This is your life now. you can see others outside through the window but you have no way to get there and warn them of the dangers of this faction of the backrooms.

TURN BACK WEARY TRAVELLER!

I did and now I think I'm back in my real house, with my real cat and my real anxiety. It was a weird shopping trip today, but I got some cool shirts tho so... I guess it's fine?

[azeesfai]

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[studytournewyorkcity]

For our first study tour we did a scavenger hunt around the garment district. Our first stop was the New York public library. The New York public library is a beautiful historic building, with big lion statues in front. These lion statues are iconic to the library.

Our next stop on the scavenger hunt was Bryant Park, which is located behind the library. Bryant Park still had Christmas decorations up and the ice skating rink. We got to see the statue in the park along with the Bryant Park restaurant.

Mood was another stop on our scavenger hunt. This fabric store is featured on the show Project Runway. Growing up Project runway was one of my favorite shows, seeing the fabric store from the show in person was exciting. I remember the designers running around Mood stressed out trying to get enough fabric for their designs. Seeing the store on TV it seems like a small store. In reality its 3 floors packed with all kinds of fabric. I understand why the designers were always so stressed out when shopping for fabric.

This stop on the scavenger hunt was a store that sells store fixtures, mannequins and display supplies. I have never thought about how retail stores would need to buy supplies. I found this stop very interesting.

The last stop we made was the iconic Macys. This store is a classic. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is the amazing Thanksgiving day parades. Macys is a gigantic retailer that sells almost everything. Macys also carries so many different brands and designers. This store in Herald Square is huge, it spans the entire block. I've been shopping in this Macys before and got lost. There are so many floors and different sections in the store.

[luxyhomeinteriors]

Budget-Friendly Living Room Design Ideas That Look Luxurious

Opt for Elegant Lighting :

Lighting sets the tone for any room, and the right choice can instantly make a space feel more upscale. Look for stylish, budget-friendly chandeliers, floor lamps, or pendant lights that add elegance. You can often find affordable lighting fixtures that mimic high-end designs. Place a floor lamp next to seating areas, or install dimmable light fixtures to create ambiance.

2. Choose a Minimalist Palette with Pops of Color :

A minimalist color scheme, like soft neutrals, grays, or beige, gives a polished feel to the living room. Add sophistication with pops of rich colors, such as navy blue, emerald green, or deep burgundy, in your throw pillows, rugs, or decor pieces. A consistent color theme throughout the space makes it feel cohesive and elegant.

3. Invest in Affordable Art Pieces :

Art adds character and a focal point to your living room. Look for budget-friendly prints or DIY artwork that reflect your personality. Consider framing personal photographs or creating abstract art yourself. Gallery walls with simple, inexpensive frames can create a gallery-like feel without the gallery price tag.

4. Upgrade Hardware on Furniture :

Sometimes, it’s the small details that elevate furniture. Swap out basic handles and knobs on cabinets, tables, or sideboards for gold or matte black finishes. These upgrades are typically inexpensive yet can transform the look of your furniture, giving it a custom, high-end appearance.

5. Incorporate Mirrors for Depth and Brightness :

Mirrors enhance a room's sense of depth, making it feel more spacious and luxurious. By reflecting natural light, they help brighten the space. Consider placing a large mirror above the sofa or arranging several smaller ones in an eye-catching pattern. Mirrored trays or decorative items can also bring an elegant touch without stretching your budget.

6. Use Layered Textures and Textiles :

Textiles bring warmth and comfort to your living room while enhancing its style. Add a cozy rug, plush pillows, and a throw blanket on the couch to create a welcoming feel. Velvet or faux fur pillows, linen throws, and layered rugs introduce a luxurious, multi-dimensional vibe. Mixing textures like faux leather, woven fabrics, and metals can help achieve a designer-inspired aesthetic.

7. Get Creative with Wall Treatments :

A room's appearance may be drastically changed by an accent wall. To create a budget-friendly feature wall, paint, peel-and-stick wallpaper, or even do-it-yourself wall molding Choose classic designs or textures that accentuate the opulence without overpowering the room.

8. Embrace Open Shelving and Organized Storage :

Shelving offers an elegant way to display decor without cluttering the space. Open shelves on walls or a well-curated bookshelf allow you to showcase decorative items like vases, books, or art. Keep the styling minimal and organized, mixing in a few high-end pieces if possible to create visual interest.

9. Introduce Greenery for a Fresh Look :

Plants breathe life into any space and add a luxurious, welcoming vibe. Affordable plants like snake plants, ferns, or succulents require little maintenance and bring a touch of nature indoors. Use decorative pots and place plants strategically around the room, such as beside the sofa, on a console table, or hanging near the window.

10. Go for Budget-Friendly Furniture with a High-End Look :

If you’re buying new furniture, look for clean lines and timeless designs that emulate luxury brands. Secondhand stores or online marketplaces can be great places to find quality pieces for less. Add inexpensive slipcovers in neutral tones to refresh older furniture for a modern, sophisticated look.

11. Personalize with Accessories :

Small, carefully chosen accessories like candle holders, decorative trays, or unique ceramics can add a touch of luxury without high costs. Gold or silver metallic accents, in particular, add warmth and style. Focus on a few statement pieces to keep the room uncluttered and stylish.

Conclusion :

Changing your living room into a magnificent place on a budget is possible with a few smart decisions and a dash of ingenuity. There are several methods to get a high-end design without breaking the bank, ranging from inexpensive lighting and fabrics to secondhand finds and DIY décor. Use a basic palette, overlay textures, and use small elements to create a great effect. With these low-cost design ideas, your living room may seem beautiful and fashionable, greeting you and your visitors with a sense of polished elegance.

Visit our Website for More Details : Living Room Interior Designers in Chennai

Visit our Office : Luxy Home Chennai

[foamexprintingcompany]

Boost Your Brand’s Presence with Free Standing Display Units

In today's competitive marketplace, ensuring your brand stands out is crucial. Whether you're a retailer looking to attract customers or an exhibitor at an event, brand visibility plays a pivotal role in boosting sales. One of the most effective ways to increase brand presence is by using Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs). These versatile display solutions can take your marketing efforts to the next level. Let’s dive into why FSDUs are an essential tool for promoting your brand.

What is a Free Standing Display Unit (FSDU)?

A Free Standing Display Unit - FSDU is a standalone display structure that can be used to showcase products or advertisements in retail stores, trade shows, and events. These displays do not need to be attached to a wall or any fixed structure, which makes them incredibly versatile.

Types of FSDUs: FSDUs come in various forms such as floor-standing, countertop, or even mobile units that can be moved around for maximum exposure.

Materials Used: Depending on the brand's needs, FSDUs are typically made from durable materials like cardboard, wood, or acrylic. These materials are chosen for their ability to hold products securely while still offering an attractive display.

Standee Integration: FSDUs can often incorporate standee features, allowing for additional messaging or branding on the structure itself.

Advantages of Using FSDUs for Brand Promotion

The use of Free Standing Display Units offers several key advantages in terms of brand promotion:

Increased Visibility: FSDUs help products stand out in high-traffic areas, ensuring your brand gets noticed by customers.

Flexibility in Placement: These units can be placed anywhere in a store or event space. Whether you want to showcase your products near the checkout counter or in the middle of a high-traffic aisle, FSDUs can be moved to the most effective locations.

Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional display fixtures like shelving units or counters, FSDUs are much more affordable. Their lightweight and modular design make them an excellent choice for businesses on a budget.

How FSDUs Drive Sales

Using Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs) in retail or event spaces helps to catch consumers' attention and can increase product visibility. Their strategic placement encourages impulse buys by highlighting promotions or new products, making them a powerful tool for driving sales and enhancing customer engagement.

Encouraging Impulse Buying: Studies show that products placed on Free Standing Display Units are more likely to attract attention and drive impulse purchases.

Increased Engagement: FSDUs can be strategically placed in high-traffic areas, giving your brand continuous exposure.

Real-Life Examples: Numerous brands have successfully used FSDUs to boost sales. For instance, at major trade shows, companies that placed their products on custom-designed FSDUs saw a 20% increase in product visibility and a 15% boost in sales conversions.

Designing the Perfect FSDU for Your Brand

The key to success with FSDUs lies in their design. A well-designed FSDU can make all the difference in how your brand is perceived by customers.

Customisation: You can tailor FSDUs to fit your specific brand needs, from custom graphics to the perfect size and colour scheme. The more personalised the unit, the more effective it will be at catching the eye of potential customers.

Graphics and Messaging: A standout FSDU should feature bold graphics and clear messaging that communicates the unique selling points of your product. Think of it as a mini-billboard for your brand!

Incorporating Standee Features: Including standee elements can allow for additional space for your brand's messaging, enhancing the overall display. This can further increase customer interaction and engagement.

Conclusion

Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs) are an invaluable tool in boosting your brand's presence and driving sales. Their flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and eye-catching designs make them an essential component of any retail or event marketing strategy. At Foamex Printing Company, we specialise in creating custom FSDUs that perfectly align with your brand’s goals. Whether you're looking to promote a new product or enhance your visibility at a trade show, FSDUs are the way to go.

[todaysbloggers]

Budget-Friendly Design Ideas That Wow

Creating a beautiful, stylish home doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. With a little creativity, even the tightest budgets can stretch to achieve stunning results. Whether you’re looking for affordable interior design tips or clever ways to spruce up your home on a shoestring budget, Godecor offers design inspiration and professional insights. Here are practical, budget-friendly home renovation ideas to help you make a statement without overspending.

Affordable Interior Design Tips for Any Room

The key to affordable luxury home design lies in focusing on impactful changes. Swap out smaller decor elements like curtains, throw pillows, and rugs to bring a fresh look to any room instantly. Look for versatile colors and patterns that can transition through the seasons to get the most mileage. Investing in a few high-quality items to anchor the room—such as a solid coffee table or statement mirror—can elevate your interior design without requiring a full makeover.

Creative Budget Interior Design: Big Impact for Less

If you want your home to look designer-made without the designer price, focus on creative budget interior design techniques that make a big impact. Try upcycling furniture, which can be both affordable and unique. Painting an old dresser in a bold color or updating cabinet handles in the kitchen can add a lot of style with minimal cost. Godecor’s design professionals can also help with creative guidance on how to achieve stylish design on a budget, ensuring that each dollar is put to good use.

DIY Home Decor Tips for a Personalized Touch

DIY projects are some of the best low-cost home decor ideas, adding personality and charm without a major investment. For example, create a gallery wall using inexpensive frames or print your favorite photos for a personal touch. You can also use peel-and-stick wallpaper for a quick and easy accent wall. By sourcing materials from local thrift stores or even making your own wall art, you get inexpensive design ideas for living rooms, bedrooms, or even hallways that reflect your style.

How to Decorate on a Budget: High-Impact, Low-Cost Updates

A fresh coat of paint is one of the most transformative yet affordable design tricks for small spaces. Choose light, neutral colors to brighten rooms or go bold on a single accent wall for depth. Adding indoor plants is another affordable interior design tip that brings a sense of life and tranquility to any space. In addition, updating lighting fixtures can create a dramatic effect; swap out standard overhead lights with pendant lamps, or add affordable LED strips under cabinets for a cozy, warm glow.

Small Budget, Big Impact Decor for Your Living Room

Living rooms are the heart of the home, so a few well-chosen updates here can make a big difference. Try arranging furniture to create a more inviting layout, making your space feel larger without needing to buy new pieces. Layering rugs is another budget-friendly decor trick, especially if you mix textures and patterns. Add some inexpensive throw pillows or a colorful blanket for extra style. For an added touch, consider a low-cost upgrade to your wall art by swapping photos or prints with new designs that suit your evolving taste.

Low-Budget Kitchen Renovation Tips: Affordable Kitchen Style

The kitchen is one of the costliest rooms to renovate, but it doesn’t have to be. Low-budget kitchen renovation tips include painting cabinets, changing hardware, and using peel-and-stick backsplash tiles. These are easy, affordable ways to modernize the kitchen. Look for energy-efficient, low-cost appliances or consider adding open shelving to display favorite dishes, creating an open and airy feel. Godecor’s design services can provide professional insight into budget-friendly ways to make your kitchen feel stylish and fresh without a full remodel.

Affordable Renovation Tips for Homeowners with Tight Budgets

When it comes to affordable renovation tips, focus on areas with high impact. For example, updating the flooring in key spaces like the entryway or hallway can set the tone for the whole home. Vinyl or laminate flooring can mimic the look of hardwood at a fraction of the price. Replacing old hardware in bathrooms, like faucets and towel racks, can also give these rooms a fresh look. You can make each room look more cohesive by sticking with a similar color palette throughout the home.

Cheap Ways to Upgrade Home Interiors for a Luxe Look

One of the easiest ways to add affordable luxury home design elements is through textiles. Velvet cushions, faux fur throws, or linen curtains can instantly make any room feel more upscale. Small details like switching out plastic light switch covers with metal ones or adding decorative moldings to walls can make a noticeable difference. If you’re looking to elevate a small bathroom, try adding a simple yet stylish mirror, giving the space an updated, high-end look without a complete renovation.

Inexpensive Design Ideas for Living Rooms on a Budget

In living rooms, storage can be both functional and decorative. Opt for budget-friendly, dual-purpose furniture like storage ottomans or ladder shelves to organize and display decor. You can also make use of natural light to brighten the room—move bulky furniture away from windows to let in more light. Affordable wall sconces or plug-in lamps are also inexpensive ways to upgrade the lighting, adding warmth and sophistication to the living space.

Affordable Design Tricks for Small Spaces

For smaller spaces, affordable design tricks can create the illusion of more room. Opt for furniture that’s scaled to the space; larger pieces can overwhelm a small room. Mirrors are a fantastic trick for reflecting light and making rooms feel larger. Wall-mounted shelves or foldable furniture pieces are also great additions that can save space. Using light colors and minimalistic decor can prevent small spaces from feeling cluttered, while still achieving a chic look.

Home Decor Ideas on a Tight Budget for Every Room

With home decor ideas on a tight budget, the aim is to add personality without going overboard. Consider rearranging furniture for a new perspective or using items you already own in creative ways. Decorative trays, baskets, or bowls can organize essentials while adding visual interest. Add a touch of color with inexpensive artwork or create a focal point with a vintage-inspired accent piece from a flea market. Godecor can connect you with affordable interior design professionals to offer expert advice for maximizing style on a small budget.

Upgrading your home doesn’t have to drain your bank account. With these budget-friendly ideas and professional insights from Godecor, you can achieve a beautiful, stylish home that reflects your personality and style without breaking the bank

[sigmadisplayracks]

Why Custom Display Racks Are Key to Boosting Retail Sales

In the competitive world of retail, one of the most important aspects of driving sales is the strategic presentation of products. The right display can make or break a customer’s shopping experience, influencing not only what they buy but how much they spend. This is where custom display racks come into play, transforming your retail space and significantly impacting your bottom line. 

Custom display racks are essential for boosting retail sales by optimizing space, enhancing product visibility, and creating a memorable brand experience. At Sigma Racks, we design tailored display solutions that maximize every square foot of your store, making products more accessible and attractive to customers. Our custom racks can be adapted to fit any layout, improving customer flow and encouraging impulse purchases. With options to incorporate brand elements and flexible designs that adjust to changing trends, Sigma Racks ensures your retail space remains efficient, customer-friendly, and sales-driven, helping your store stand out in a competitive market.Let’s explore how these tailored fixtures can elevate your store and boost sales.

1. Maximizing Space Efficiency

Every retail environment is unique in terms of layout, product mix, and customer flow. Off-the-shelf display racks may not fully utilize the available space or effectively highlight products. display racks are designed with your store’s specific needs in mind, optimizing every square foot to create a seamless shopping experience. By tailoring racks to fit particular dimensions or product categories, you ensure that no space goes to waste, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.

For example, in supermarkets where space is often at a premium, customized racks allow for efficient storage and display of items in different sections like produce, dairy, or snacks. Vertical shelving, corner racks, or movable displays can also maximize space while keeping aisles uncluttered and accessible.

2. Enhancing Product Visibility

display racks allow you to showcase products in ways that grab customers’ attention and influence their buying decisions. Well-designed racks position products at eye level, which is crucial because studies have shown that items placed at eye level are more likely to be purchased. Customization also enables you to segment products based on seasonality, popularity, or pricing tiers, making it easier for customers to browse.

For instance, a grocery store might use gondola racks tailored for seasonal promotions or end caps designed to display new product launches. These racks can be built to emphasize high-margin items or those you want to move quickly, driving impulse purchases and encouraging customers to explore more.

3. Creating a Unique Brand Experience

In retail, branding is everything. Custom display racks allow you to create a shopping environment that reflects your brand identity, making your store stand out from the competition. Whether it’s a sleek, modern look for an electronics store or a warm, rustic feel for a specialty food market, the right fixtures can communicate your brand’s personality and values.

By investing in custom racks, you can incorporate your brand’s colors, logos, and design elements directly into the fixtures, creating a cohesive shopping experience that resonates with customers. This not only builds brand loyalty but also makes your store more memorable, encouraging repeat visits.

4. Improving Customer Experience

Shoppers today expect more than just a place to buy products—they want a satisfying, convenient, and even enjoyable experience. Custom display racks can play a significant role in creating a customer-friendly environment. When racks are designed with the shopper in mind, they make navigation easier, ensuring customers spend less time searching for products and more time making purchases.

For example, custom racks can be designed to create a logical flow throughout the store, guiding customers through different sections seamlessly. Racks with built-in signage or digital displays can provide product information, promotions, and pricing details, further enhancing the shopping experience.

5. Adapting to Trends and Flexibility

Retail trends evolve quickly, and stores must be agile in adapting to changing consumer preferences. Custom display racks offer the flexibility to adjust layouts, promotions, and product placements with ease. Modular designs, adjustable shelving, and mobile racks allow you to quickly reconfigure your store to accommodate seasonal changes, new inventory, or promotional events.

This adaptability helps you stay ahead of the curve, ensuring your store remains fresh and appealing to customers. Whether it’s preparing for a holiday rush or launching a new product line, custom racks provide the versatility needed to keep your store dynamic and sales-driven.

Conclusion

Custom display racks are more than just functional fixtures—they are an essential tool for boosting retail sales. By maximizing space, enhancing product visibility, and creating a unique brand experience, these tailored solutions improve customer satisfaction and encourage more purchases. As retail continues to evolve, investing in custom display racks ensures your store remains competitive, flexible, and profitable.

Custom display racks by Sigma Racks enhance product visibility, maximize space, and boost retail sales while creating a seamless, branded shopping experience.

[planovashopfittingsolutions]

Revamping Retail Success: Crafting Strategies with Merchandising Excellence

Staying ahead of the game in the fast-paced world of retail, where consumer preferences are continually changing and competition is severe, is no simple task. To thrive in this environment, retailers must constantly adapt and innovate. One important part of this adaption is the redesign of retail strategy to include merchandising excellence as well as effective shopfitting solutions. In this post, we will look at the significance of these methods and how they might help retailers succeed.

Retail Merchandising's Evolution:

The art and science of presenting things in a way that increases sales and improves the consumer experience is known as merchandising. Everything from product selection and positioning to price and promotion is included. Merchandising has evolved tremendously throughout the years, owing to changes in consumer behaviour and technology.

The transition from traditional brick-and-mortar storefronts to omni channel retailing is one of the most prominent changes in retail merchandising. With the advent of e-commerce, merchants must increasingly examine how to complement their online and offline platforms. This includes not just having an appealing and user-friendly internet store, but also ensuring that physical stores offer a distinct and immersive experience that cannot be copied online.

Merchandising Solutions' Role:

Merchandising solutions have evolved into critical tools for retailers looking to modernise their strategy. These solutions include a diverse set of technologies and approaches aimed at improving the way items are presented and marketed.

Data analytics is an important component of modern merchandising systems. Big data is being used by retailers to acquire insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and purchasing habits. They can use this information to adjust their product variety, pricing, and promotions to the specific needs of their target customer. Machine learning algorithms can assist businesses in forecasting demand and optimising inventory, lowering costs and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, digital signage and interactive displays have grown in popularity as instruments for generating compelling in-store experiences. These technologies enable merchants to display products in a more dynamic and visually appealing manner. A clothing store, for example, could utilise interactive mirrors to propose complementary items or fashion tips depending on the customer's decisions.

The Influence of Efficient Shopfitting Solutions:

In contrast, shopfitting solutions focus on retail layout and design. A well-designed store improves shopping and boosts sales. Store layout, lighting, fixtures, and signage are shopfitting solutions.

The store layout is crucial to shopfitting. The layout of merchandise and store traffic can affect how customers navigate and buy. Display high-demand items or promotional products near the door to attract customers. Shopfitting professionals consider aisle width, shelving height, and product placement to improve shopping.

Another overlooked shopfitting element is lighting. Proper lighting can highlight, enliven, and change mood. Warm, welcoming lighting can keep shoppers exploring, while bright, focused lighting can highlight exhibits or products.

Displays and fixtures are also important in shopfitting. They should be built to hold and display items and match the store's logo and aesthetics. Custom fixtures can make a shopping experience stand out from the competition.

Integrating Merchandising and Shopfitting:

Retail success requires seamless merchandising and shopfitting. To create a cohesive and appealing shopping experience, these two elements should complement each other. Important methods for integration include:

Brand Consistency: Match your online and offline branding and messaging. A consistent brand builds customer trust and recognition.

Set up merchandising zones in your store based on product categories or themes. This helps customers navigate the business and find what they need.

Display digital signs and interactive displays strategically throughout the store. Show customer reviews or product demos on screens near relevant merchandise.

Lighting enhancements: Highlight products or promotions with lighting. Accent lighting can highlight a new product launch.

Inform merchandising and shopfitting staff about customers. This partnership could lead to data-driven product placement and shop design.

Make your store layout and fittings flexible. Retail trends change, so your business should adapt to new products and merchandising.

Maintain aesthetic harmony between the store's design and merchandising. Retail design should enhance the shopping experience.

Success Is Measurable:

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and routinely analyse your progress to gauge the effectiveness of your redesigning efforts. Consider the following KPIs:

Sales Increase: Keep track of overall sales and compare them to past times. Increases in sales and profit margins are likely.

Client Happiness: Collect customer feedback to determine their level of satisfaction with the buying experience. This can be accomplished through surveys or social media participation.

Foot Traffic: Keep track of the number of people who come into your store and how they behave. Are they spending more time shopping? Are they coming back more frequently?

Inventory Management: Evaluate the efficiency with which your inventory is managed. Are you reducing stockouts and overstocking?

Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who buy something. This measure rising suggests that your merchandising and shopfitting strategies are working.

Return on Investment (ROI): Determine the ROI of your remodelling work. Are you receiving a positive return on your merchandising and shopfitting investments?

Finally, revitalising retail performance through merchandising excellence and smart shopfitting solutions is critical for remaining competitive in today's retail landscape. These tactics not only improve the shopping experience, but they also assist shops in adapting to shifting consumer preferences and technology advances. Retailers may flourish in the ever-changing retail industry by incorporating these tactics and monitoring success with relevant KPIs.

[cardiotech1]

7 Things to Consider When Buying Your First Treadmill

Now, more than ever, people are looking for ways to exercise in their own homes. The COVID pandemic shut the doors of our local gyms and we were all kicking ourselves for not having personal workout equipment at home to stay on track with workout goals.

It became very clear, very quickly, that purchasing fitness items was pretty important.

Whether you are a walker, jogger or runner, a treadmill can be the perfect investment into your fitness journey. If you’re in the market to buy a new one, here are several key features to consider.

1. Establishing Your Space

Establishing a designated workout space in your home can keep you motivated. It sets the mood each time you step into the area. Before purchasing a treadmill, measure the space – twice – to make sure you have plenty of room for an adequate workout, including clearance on the side.

Treadmill Dimensions

Treadmills can vary in width, length and height, depending on their intended purpose and brand.

Also, take into consideration the ceiling height of your workout space. How tall is the tallest person who will be working out on the treadmill and do they have enough clearance to do so?

Again, these measurements will vary depending on the use, features, and style of the treadmill. Generally, a site will display the dimensions of each treadmill so you can get an idea of the size of the machine.

Permanent or Temporary Fixture

Do you have the extra room in your home to allow for a treadmill to be out all the time or will you want a fold-up option for storage? Due to the increase in home treadmills, several models offer this convenient feature.

Check the folded-up dimensions of the treadmill as well so you know where you can store it.

Wheels on the front of the machine might be another factor to consider if you plan on moving the treadmill after each workout. You don’t want to do another workout just putting it up for the day after you’ve already finished your exercise!

Is Noise Level a Priority?

If you plan on working out in the early morning before anyone else in your home wakes up, the noise level might be a pretty important factor to consider.

The sound of the treadmill will be affected by the size of the motor, deck cushioning and the user’s gait. At walking speed, the treadmill will typically range between 42 decibels and 57 decibels.

Treadmills found at gyms and health clubs will usually be on the more quiet side of things. If sound is an important factor, look into the models you would find at a workout studio.

2. Treadmill Affordability

There’s no denying purchasing a treadmill for your home is a financial investment. It is important to look at how much you currently pay to work out and decide how that number is affecting your budget.

Comparing Treadmill Price to a Gym Membership

Think about how much you pay for a gym membership.

You have to decide for yourself which is more important – paying off something and keeping it as long as you want, or paying possibly less money at a time for a gym membership, but paying that amount for as long as you plan to work out…which will hopefully be for the rest of your life!

Lump-Sum or Payment Plan

If you have cash on hand, then the lump sum payment is right for you. Pay once and take care of it!

However, not everyone has the luxury of buying a cardio machine outright. If you will be utilising a payment plan, be sure to check the interest rates and check for any current or upcoming promotions! This may be an affordable alternative better suited to your budget.

At CardioTech we offer affordable options starting as low as ten dollars a month. Partnered with our no interest and fast approvals, we can have you running quicker than you think!

3. Determining What Your Workouts Look Like

Take a moment to visualise what your workout looks like and what your goals are for yourself. Look for a treadmill that will not only meet but also exceed your workout expectations.

Walk, Jog or Run

When you hop on a treadmill, what is your typical speed? Treadmills are made differently to accommodate different workout paces, styles and body compositions.

Joggers and Runners will want to look for decks that provide more cushioning. If you are tall or prefer to sprint during your cardio workout, look for a longer deck; if you have a wider gait, look to machines with wider decks.

Incline

The addition of an incline on your treadmill is a great way to add extra kilojoule-burning power and tone your glutes. Check if you can raise or lower the deck while using the treadmill, to avoid stopping your workout.

Our Breakfree treadmill offers a 15% incline. This added feature will ramp up your metabolism and aid in toning thighs! The incline is easy to adjust with keys at 0% 5% 10% 15%.

Workout Programs and Software

Built-in workout programs will lift and lower your treadmill during the workout so you don’t have to worry about a thing, as well as increase and lower speed automatically.

These programs allow you to select your fitness goals – burning kilojoules, distance running or maybe aerobic heart rate – and provide workouts to help you reach those goals.

4. Treadmill Horsepower

This is a pretty big deal for automobiles, but did you know it was something to consider for treadmills as well? The motor’s horsepower can play a big role in the use and longevity of your cardio workout machine.

Comparing Motor Sizes

Once again, this will depend on your intended use. If you plan on running most of the time or if you are a heavier user, aim for a higher horsepower to ensure peak performance.

The motor size will impact the noise level as mentioned earlier. Going with a smaller motor for heavier use or when a larger one is recommended will make your workouts a little on the louder side of things.

It’s also important if you are to find a treadmill with a larger 2.5HP motor, that it is AC fan cooled. It’s rare to find a treadmill at a gym that does not use these types of motors (even rarer to find a home treadmill with one).

Users that plan on mainly utilising their treadmill for walking or slow jogs, are safe to look at the smaller motors like 1.5 horsepower.

Weight Capacity

Each manufacturer should list a weight capacity for the treadmill. Following this guideline will help ensure you get the longest life possible out of your machine.

Very Well Fit notes that heavier users may take a toll on the treadmill’s motor, bearings, roller and belt. Taking note of this very important fact will prevent you from needing to replace parts sooner than you would like.

5. Added Features

You may not need all the fancy additions in your home gym, but if they are being offered then definitely take advantage! CardioTech treadmills offer state-of-the-art features on both models.

Heart Rate Control

If you are looking to burn more kilojoules during your cardio workout, staying at your target heart rate for fat burning may be important to you. Check for a machine with a Heart Rate Control program to keep you exercising in your target heart rate zone.

Kilojoule/Calorie Tracker

This is a big one! A majority of us are working out to lose KJs – and we want to keep track of just how many we are burning away.

Pick a machine with an easy-to-read screen so you can watch those numbers increase as you work out! This is a great motivator to keep working at your highest effort.

Cinema and Audio

Do you prefer to watch TV or listen to music while you use a treadmill? Some treadmills have built-in speakers and USB cords to connect and charge your device while you are using it.

If you prefer to watch TV to pass the time, look into options that either provide a screen or a rack to hold your tablet…or at least a low console so you can see the TV over the dashboard while you are running.

Fan

Built-in fans are a definite feature you don’t want to skip out on! Look for models that allow you to crank up the speed on the fan to keep you cool while you rack up those calorie burn.

6. Safety Features

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) provides several safety guidelines for treadmill manufacturers. Check to ensure the treadmill you purchase has a correctly installed safety stop switch.

It’s always a good idea to read the manufacturer’s instructions before use. There may be added tips to keep you safe while working out.

Automatic mat centering is also important, although it isn’t a required safety feature. This brings the mat back to the middle of the deck after it’s shifted; this could be caused by heavy use and/or storage of the machine.

7. After the Purchase

You want to make sure that regardless of where you purchase your treadmill, there are options for after-sales care. This can include a troubleshooting call line, mobile technicians that will come to you, and parts that are available for purchase in the event something should break.

We keep over one million dollars worth of treadmill parts at the ready in our warehouse, allowing us to provide the lowest downtime in the industry.

Warranty Options

At CardioTech, we offer a lifetime warranty on the frame and drive motor, our customers can rest easy knowing we stand by our product.

Reach Out for Assistance

There’s nothing quite like being able to actually speak with a real person on the phone – someone who specialises in what you are looking for. We are available seven days a week to help our customers with any and all questions.

Comparing Our Treadmill Models

CardioTech provides two different styles of treadmills that prove to exceed user’s expectations! Both models include not one, but two cushioning systems for bounce-back support to protect your joints and back.

In addition, each model provides a console fan and auto-incline for an added glute workout. Added bonus? They are both available in either black or pink! Read on to learn more about how these models differ.

CardioTech Breakfree Treadmill

The Breakfree model is great for helping you to change habits. While you may prefer to walk most days, you still might want to add in a jog every now and again. This machine will give you a satisfying work out while still keeping it simple.

The Heart Rate Control Program, along with 35 pre-set programs will keep you motivated and help you steer clear of treadmill burn-out.

If you’re a multi-tasker, this model also has USB cord capabilities to allow you to connect your smartphone or tablet and use it while working out without worrying about headphones!

X9 AC Treadmill

The X9 AC Treadmill is the ultimate home gym experience. This is one of the first treadmills to offer a powerful health club motor in a home workout machine. The noise level is next-to-nothing, and the treadmill parts are likely to last the life of the machine – around 10 years!

The larger luxury deck is great for runners and those with longer strides. With added width, you don’t have to worry about over-stepping the belt.

With Bluetooth compatibility, 18 exercise programs, 3 Heart Rate Control programs, goal training programs, and easy-to-read LED display, this model has all the bells and whistles for a health spa experience in your own home.

Now Is the Time

With lockdown regulations, owning your personal fitness equipment became more popular and essential than ever before. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work out from your home whenever it’s convenient for your schedule.

Investing in your health is one of the most important decisions you can make. It provides a better quality of life and improves mental well-being. Don’t wait to take the next step!

You will love the treadmill options offered at CardioTech. Take the next step to owning your workout equipment today!

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Crafting the right keep design: The importance of lighting

In creating a hit retail surroundings, store layout is essential. The shop design influences how clients perceive a logo, interact with merchandise, and ultimately decide whether to make a buy. Some of the various factors that contribute to powerful save design, one of the most impactful yet often neglected elements is lights.

Lighting does a lot more than virtually light up an area. It sets the temper, and courses patrons conduct and highlights products in a way that can considerably affect sales. In this newsletter, we’ll explore why lighting is so vital in shop layout and how to use it correctly.

The psychological impact of lights

Lights have a profound effect on how clients sense when they enter a shop. Vivid, properly lit spaces tend to feel extra inviting, making customers much more likely to browse longer and explore extra products. Conversely, dim lighting fixtures can create an experience of intimacy and exclusivity, which might be appropriate for luxurious brands or certain boutique settings.

Consider the distinction between a high-give-up rings store and an informal apparel store. The jewelry shop would possibly use centered, vibrant lighting to create a sense of luxury and to draw interest to precise objects. Each piece is cautiously highlighted to showcase its info and to create an environment that feels one-of-a-kind and high-quit. Then again, a clothing store might choose a combination of herbal mild and softer, ambient lighting to create comfortable and inviting surroundings that encourage customers to live longer and explore the merchandise.

The temperature of the lighting additionally performs a role in putting the temper. Warm lighting can create a at ease, at ease environment, even as cooler lighting fixtures often feel more cutting-edge and smooth. The choice of light temperature ought to align with the emblem’s identification and the form of the merchandise being bought.

Exceptional varieties of lighting in the same layout

To correctly use lights in store design, it's important to recognize the one-of-a-kind sorts of lights to be had and the way they can be applied:

Ambient lighting fixtures: these are the general, basic lighting fixtures that fill the store. Ambient lighting units the bottom stage of illumination and guarantees that clients can see and navigate the space conveniently. It's far generally supplied by ceiling furnishings or recessed lights and should be constant for the duration of the store.

Project lighting fixtures: task lighting is extra targeted and is used to illuminate specific regions where duties are accomplished, such as the checkout counter, becoming rooms, or product displays. In a retail environment, project lighting fixtures ensure that those areas are properly lit and functional, supporting clients and personnel to carry out precise tasks, like attempting on clothes or finishing a purchase.

Accent lights: accessory lighting is used to highlight unique regions or products inside the store. It’s a vital tool for drawing attention to featured objects, such as a new series or sale gadgets. Accent lights may be executed through spotlights, track lighting, or maybe ornamental furniture that adds a layer of visual hobby.

Strategic Use of lighting to decorate store design

Using lights successfully in in-store design calls for more than just installing furnishings. It involves strategically setting and controlling light sources to decorate the consumer's enjoyment. Right here are a few techniques to don't forget:

Create Zones with lighting: Use distinctive forms of lighting fixtures to create distinct zones within the shop. As an example, use brighter lighting in high-traffic areas and softer lights in areas in which you need clients to linger, along with becoming rooms or seating areas.

Highlight Key products: Use accessory lighting to draw attention to featured products or promotional gadgets. This is now not only the handiest course clients’ focus but also can grow sales by way of making positive products stand out.

Align lighting fixtures with logo identity: The lighting fixtures layout has to mirror the emblem’s identification. As an example, a logo regarded for eco-friendliness might contain herbal lighting fixtures and energy-efficient LEDs. A luxurious emblem would possibly spend money on excessive-give-up lighting fixtures that mirror its upscale photo.

Minimize Glare and Shadows: Poorly designed lighting can create glare or harsh shadows that make it tough for clients to peer merchandise. Make certain that your light design minimizes these troubles, creating a cozy and visually appealing environment.

Adapt to Seasonal modifications: recollect adjusting lighting to reflect the season or time of 12 months. For instance, warmer, cozier lighting is probably extra suitable in winter, at the same time as brighter, cooler lighting fixtures may be clean in the summer season.

The future of lighting fixtures in Save design

As technology advances, the possibilities for lighting in save design are expanding. Smart lighting structures, which allow for the adjustment of brightness, shade temperature, or even light schedules through a cell app, are getting extra famous. These structures permit shops to create extraordinary atmospheres during the day or for unique activities, improving the power and attraction of the retail area.

Sustainable light answers are also on the rise. LED lighting fixtures, which reduce power consumption and have a longer lifespan than conventional bulbs, are turning into the norm in retail layouts. Incorporating sustainable lighting not handiest enables the surroundings but also resonates with increasingly more eco-conscious consumers.

In the end, lighting fixtures are a fundamental component of shop layout that may drastically affect patron conduct and perceptions. With the aid of understanding the mental impact of lights, deciding on the proper varieties of lighting, and applying them strategically, stores can create surroundings this is both useful and visually appealing. As technology and sustainability hold to shape the destiny of retail, the position of lighting in keep layout will best come to be greater crucial.