"The MiniMACS are cute" at FAO Schwarz

Manhattan-based Lighting Designer Marsha Stern of Marsha Stern Lighting Design and Consulting (MSLD&C) has incorporated Martin MiniMAC wash lights into the Nickelodeon display at the flagship FAO Schwarz Toy Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

"FAO Schwarz is always looking for new toys in lighting, and that’s where I come in," states Marsha. "FAO was looking for a light that wasn’t too big yet something that could attract - a light that could stand alone and think by itself as there wouldn’t necessarily be personnel around to monitor and control the lighting."

FAO is constantly revising their departments in order to keep them new and interesting, and are careful to keep the focus on the most important elements in the store - the merchandise. Keeping with the company philosophy of "designing its stores to interact with customers in a manner which distinguishes itself from other retailers" the Manhattan store features interactive demonstrations, a visual department and areas where kids, as well as grownups, can play with toys.

The Nickelodeon display is a colorful area full of attractive displays and enticing toys featuring Nickelodeon products. The MiniMAC’s are mounted at each corner of the display, providing added color to the merchandise and projecting color wash onto the floor and ceiling.

"The MiniMAC’s are cute," states Marsha, "and they fit in well into the store environment. They are nice and quiet and have all the safety requirements which is important as well." Marsha and FAO Schwarz seem perfect partners as both incorporate a positive and unique attitude toward lighting, with stress placed on creating a fun experience.

When the issue of controllability came up, Marsha says that it was an easy issue to solve. Marsha can control the MiniMAC’ s via a laptop computer using the PC-based Martin LightJockey and playback controller and finds the fixtures easy to control.