http://www.stores.org

Stores.org is the online version of Stores magazine. Both the website and the magazine are brought to you courtesy of the National Retail Federation (NRF). Currently linked on the website are two very interesting articles from the April 2003 edition. The first article is from the cover of Stores, which deals with the rising cost of health care in the retail sector.

The second article reports on the benefits of online training. CVS, Circuit City and Safeway are just a few top-name retailers making use of this new technology. Missed an issue? Not to worry. Back issues are archived and available back to 1998.

Information Provided By Stores.Org Includes:

• Top 100 Retailers
• Top 100 Specialty Stores
• Top 200 Global Retailers
• Industry Buying Guide
• Retail Industry Calendar

For those of you who really want to keep on top of things, there is even a bi-weekly e-mail newsletter that you can subscribe to! Also included is a link to the latest retail news which is updated daily. The top retailer/stores lists are archived for easy access and navigation. The Industry Buying Guide is your source for contacts for everything for store fixtures, anti-shoplifting equipment, and price verification systems just to name a few. Check out Stores.org and you will always be current regarding the world of retail.

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Monika Earle

Interior Design magazine is truly a worthwhile periodical, and not just a pretty collection of photographs. Although its advertising reveals that it's geared toward the design professional, it has a sort of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Creative" appeal for non-design readers. A recent redesign has updated this magazine to communicate newness, modernity, and clarity. The work of the designers is actually better highlighted and displayed in fabulous photography.

The articles and interviews are short but informative, which make it perfect for keeping on the coffee table to be picked up and enjoyed on a whim. Having a global focus ensures that much ground is covered. The February 2003 issue alone featured the latest and greatest in:

• Hospitality Design
• Office Design
• Residential Design
• Gallery Design
• Design in Florida
• Restaurant Design
• Bar/Lounge Design

Interior Design's utility is evident in regular departments such as: "Update" which lists up-and-coming museum exhibitions and auction events, "Books" containing reviews for those developing their own personal libraries, and "Bios" which gives the backgrounds and phone numbers for the issue's featured designers and photographers. New product announcements keep designers au courant. But no matter if you design to live or live to design, don't miss out on this wonderful magazine!

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Kirstie Harless – S.F.

Alan Fletcher’s visual compilation "The Art of Looking Sideways" takes the reader on a "destination without a journey." Throughout this massive 1064 page book the reader will find images, ideas, quotations, anecdotes, memories, musings and various other philosophies. Although its size is intimidating, the book does not need to be read in accordance to its chapters to be enjoyed.

This book can be opened up to any page and there will be a different perspective offered from the author’s stream of conscious. Starting with thoughts on creation, a huge cosmic photo juxtaposes thoughts on the Big Bang Theory. A few flips of the pages and you will find profound discussions on art, light, color and aesthetics.

Any lover of art would benefit greatly from paging through "The Art of Looking Sideways." Every aspect of visual life is touched upon, if not thoroughly analyzed. Even abstract ideas like emotions, desire, and dreams are explored. In the section of dreams, Fletcher takes interpretations from psychologists, authors, artists and philosophers. He applies this open-minded formula of taking one topic and dissecting it from every angle to give the reader a completely different perspective and the ability to really think about their own perception of life. It is an amazing visual collection of words and photos that is essential to all design majors or anyone interested in the relationship between the written word and the visual image.

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Marytza Rubio – O.C.