The fresh smell of fresh baked bread and fresh ingredients nearly knocks you off your feet when first stepping foot inside Panera Bread Company. As I began to walk around, I noticed the store keeps a consistent scheme of earth tones both inside and outside the building. Aesthetically pleasing shades of red, orange, yellow, green and brown make up a majority of the palette found on the walls, menus, furnishings and exteriors. The layout of the store is divided into multiple eating and lounging areas with the choice of booths or tables. The lounge area is outfitted with comfortable leather chairs and accompanying end tables and lamps. This area offers the same luxuries found at home so customers can relax, enjoy something from the menu or study. All food and drinks are prepared directly behind the counter so customers can seen their order as it's prepared. Menus behind the counter are well lit as are the seating areas with low hanging light fixtures providing just the right amount of light. Unlike many food establishments, Panera is able to provide the conveniences of fast food, but the atmosphere and quality of a premium restaurant.
I found the employees inside Panera just as enjoyable as the atmosphere. Employees working at Panera are fairly young and range anywhere from 18-30 years old. Employees are approachable and very accommodating. Customers visiting inside Panera range anywhere from small children to senior citizens. Social-economic classes also represent a very wide gap.
Overall, Panera delivers at creating an ambiance which fills the customer's senses with the additional perks of a typical fast food establishment. As an added bonus, free Wi-Fi access is provided to all patrons (which I used to post this blog!). I enjoyed my experience at Panera and would go back again.
Brand Tags: Panera
Here's panera breads color pallet. They are all pale,warm, and bright colors reflecting the outdoors. I think that Panera does a wonderful job to bringing the outdoors in with its huge glass windows and color scheme.
http://www.colourlovers.com/wallPaper/1024x768/p/98516/COLOURlovers.com-Panera_Bread.png
I've never really considered the atmosphere of restaurants and how they create their own "brand world". But you're completely right. Panera engages all senses. Consumers get to inhale the wonderful aroma of fresh bread as well as get to see, taste, and hold it. And with friendly employees, it's difficult to not go back.