IRDC

Coffee, pastries and informal conversation with colleagues from every retail sector.

Since 1907, Neiman Marcus has weathered more ups and downs than most of us can even imagine. In this candid talk, parent company president and CEO Burt Tansky discusses the key factors that have made Neiman Marcus a retail legend for over a century. These points of differentiation can offer valuable insights for any retailer trying to find the right balance to move through the current downturn and into a solid future.

It's a different world for small-box stores: For instance, most don't have free-standing buildings built to their specifications; rather, they acquire existing spaces in malls and strip centers that may not be ideal from a floor space or architectural perspective (odd column placements, poor window plans, etc.). If you're a small space with a large quantity of SKUs and customer traffic, how do you find the space to properly display the product, support the brand, communicate marketing messages and provide service? If you're a chain with a lot of stores that has evolved its design over the years and/or purchased smaller competitors, how do you maintain a uniform brand? This session will address these and other unique challenges and concerns.

One of the most popular and anticipated features of the conference, the IRDC Networking Roundtables are hosted by VMSD Advisory Board members, editorial staff and conference sponsors. Choose from the list of topics when you register for the conference, then bring your questions, ideas and insights to share with your peers. Lunch is served at 12:15; topics begin at 1:00 p.m.

Visual displays have moved front and center as budget-conscious retailers have pulled back on full-blown design initiatives. We're gathering some visual merchandising all-stars to discuss and share the best trends they've seen in the past year, while taking your questions on this important facet of our industry.

As a leading provider of smart-phone technology, BlackBerry has revolutionized the industry and created a legion of addicted fans. This session will walk attendees through the creation of the brand’s retail store in the Atlanta airport, which features a dramatic, thoughtful design and efficient LED technology.

Material selection is serious business, and it’s important to be mindful of constructability, durability, maintenance and cost. But selecting material finishes—particularly for retail and hospitality environments—is primarily a brand decision. This short talk will cover some of the basics around aligning materials with brand image, including how materials were linked to strategic image goals in the rebranding of Nissan car dealerships and other real-world examples.
 

Come hear how Staples implemented GFX Symphony, a web-based asset management tool that aims to enable brands and retailers to execute in-store communication more efficiently.
 

Different countries, different cultures, different challenges for retailers with an eye on that market. This panel of designers representing four key regions—Mexico and South America, Europe and Russia, Asia and India, and the Middle East—will provide an excellent overview on the global retail scene. Get a crash course on shopper needs and design challenges around the world; breakout sessions with case studies specific to each region will follow this general session.

An inside look at new retail projects happening in Mexico and South America.

An inside look at new retail projects happening in the Middle East.

This session takes you from the neighborhood, into the store and onto the shelf, demonstrating how all consumer touchpoints combine to communicate that green strategies are about innovative thinking in addition to protecting the environment. Conscious consumers are redefining value around price, performance, purpose and participation. In the best examples, this plays out through brand, promotion, building, interior, product, packaging and more. Learn how you can tell the full green design story.

Young designers are often the first to go with layoffs. Students in design programs are concerned about the retail career option. Yet the next wave of retail needs the next generation of designers—so how do we best attract and nurture that talent? This panel will discuss practical ways for veteran retailers to work with new designers while also sharing some of the exciting ideas and perspectives this generation brings to the table today.

In today’s climate, “wild” ideas that go beyond the typical M.O. may be the only way to get ahead. This is a fun and informative program to help you and your entire team focus on solutions. You’ll learn quickly that there are great ideas lurking at every level of the store and discover the perfect way to fast-track the best ones—the ones that are good for the designer, the store and the customer--and make them a reality. The result will be a more effective approach to coming up with great ideas to improve designs, solve problems, cut costs and save time.

Take a self-guided tour of America’s first planned shopping center—now a National Historic Landmark—in a tony Dallas suburb patterned after Beverly Hills. The Spanish Mediterranean-inspired architecture is alone worth the trip to Highland Park Village, but its mix of luxury brands and indie boutiques makes it a treasure-trove of inspiration for retail designers. An additional fee of $25 covers bus transportation for the group to/from Highland Park.

Coffee, pastries and informal conversation with colleagues from every retail sector.

The retail brands that make up Urban Outfitters Inc. – including Anthropologie, Free People and, of course, Urban Outfitters – are riding out the recession just fine, thank you. This alone makes them worthy of 2009’s Retailer of the Year Award, but it’s the company’s commitment to innovative, exciting and flat-out beautiful store design and visual merchandising that seals the deal. The store design directors for both Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters will be on hand to accept the award and make a presentation on Urban Outfitters Inc.’s design philosophy and its role in the company’s success.