2024 Agenda

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

OPENING KEYNOTE | Thriving in the Corporate World Through Understanding the Power of Trust and Teamwork

Michael Hingson draws his expertise not only from his personal experiences of more than 40 years in high tech sales and management, and 59 years with guide dog partners – he also survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks, escaping Floor 78 of 1 World Trade Center, a.k.a. the North Tower, in New York City, Sept. 11, 2001. Using the power of trust and teamwork, Michael was able to form teams and keep everyone around him focused during their descent of the tower, alongside his guide dog Roselle. Attend this inspirational and moving session to understand the importance of teamwork and how that concept, coupled with trust, can improve our daily lives in and outside of the workplace.

Takeaways:
-Rediscover the importance and power of teamwork
-Re-examine the concept of accessibility at retail
-Learn how to lean into trust during stressful or challenging situations

Speaker:
Michael Hingson, The Michael Hingson Group, Inc., New York Times Bestselling Author, “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust”

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP | Interactive Deep Dive with Chicken N Pickle

Chicken N Pickle is the definition of experience: A venue for family friendly sports and games, the retailer is redefining what it means to go out for delicious food and entertainment. More than just pickleball and chicken, Chicken N Pickle aims to create an environment where nostalgia, competition and connection intersect. In this hands-on, interactive workshop, attendees will get a taste of what experiential retail can look like and how similar strategies can be applied to your own brand. Understand how to break the mold of typical retail and embrace experience. Most importantly – have fun!

Takeaways:
-Discover new ideas surrounding the concept of “experience” at retail
-Learn how similar strategies can be applied to your own brand
-Engage in hands-on play and network with likeminded attendees

Facilitators:
Kelli Alldredge, President, Chicken N Pickle
Cynthia Ortiz, Intl. President, Retail Design Institute; Business Development Manager, MBH Architects

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP | Move Over Coffee ~ Color has the Power to Energize You!

While music is the soundtrack of our lives, color is the tapestry – it’s the backdrop, influencing us in subtle ways we may not consciously realize. This interactive workshop will uncover how color energy helps us tell our stories, communicating volumes without uttering a single word. Despite the diversity of language and culture around the world, the energetic nature of color remains universal, making it a potent tool for designers and creatives. Attendees will work (and explore) alongside their fellow attendees, fostering collaboration and sharing insights as they apply their newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios. Join this hands-on workshop to discover the secrets of color psychology, and learn how to apply this new understanding to create environments that resonate emotionally and physiologically with their inhabitants.

Takeaways:
-Discover how the colors you chose could provide a better life/mental state for someone else
-Learn what responsibility we have to others in our use of color
-Understand how to transform the human experience using something as simple (and complicated) as color

Facilitators:
Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing & Development, Benjamin Moore & Co.
Faith Huddleston, Studio Leader, Lifestyle & Wellness, NELSON Worldwide

BREAKOUT SESSION | At the Heart of it All: Foot Locker Reimagines the Retail Experience

For five decades, Foot Locker has celebrated sneaker culture and maintained its position as the premiere destination for all things sneakers. As the company continues to progress against its Lace Up Plan, the retailer is “Powering Up the Portfolio,” bringing the “Heart of Sneakers” to life through elevated in-store experiences. In this session, Foot Locker’s Sarah Wexler and Landor’s Jordan Taylor will examine how the brand is aiming to unlock everyone's inner sneakerhead by emphasizing warmth, approachability, and discovery through a reinvented store concept that takes a global approach. With inclusivity in retail spaces as an ever-present discussion, attend this session to learn how retailers can rediscover their brand’s purpose and develop customer experiences to boost community, loyalty and longevity.

Takeaways:
-Learn how retailers can connect with communities to facilitate growth
-Discover how in-store experiences help customers unlock their passion for a brand
-Understand the importance of being an inclusive and empathetic brand

Speakers:
Sarah Wexler, Sr. Director, Global Store Design, Foot Locker
Jordan Taylor, Creative Director, Landor

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

GENERAL SESSION | Still Not Dead – Yet!

The retail economy is constantly evolving, and Sarah Quinlan is back for another year to give the industry an update: In this engaging session, Sarah will discuss the latest challenges, opportunities and strategies for retailers, brands and designers when it comes to the U.S. and international economies. Attend this session to get a better grasp on some of the challenges that may be coming your way toward the end of 2024/early 2025, and what you can do to combat them – and gain a better understanding of the retail economy at large.

Takeaways:
-Gain a better understanding of the current state of the retail economy
-With the economy in mind, strategize new approaches for your brand
-Understand what challenges may be on the horizon for retailers and brands

Speaker:
Sarah Quinlan, Managing Director and Founder, SAQ Economic Advisory LLC

BREAKOUT SESSION | Reaching New Heights in Banking: Putting Customers at the Core

When you’re asked to envision a bank, the buzzword “experiential” might not come to mind. In the case of Fifth Third’s latest reimagined branch at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Intl. Airport’s (CVG) Terminal B, that term was at the concept’s core. With meticulous attention to detail, embracing the notion of experience and supporting an ongoing commitment to design evolution, Fifth Third sought to expand the normal confines of its design to embrace connectivity and interaction. In this session, hear from Fifth Third’s VP Design Lead Vikas Srivastava and BHDP’s Declan McCormack about this new, dynamic store design that elevates an innovative, hands-on customer journey. Uncover how the power of design can transform traditional spaces and leave a lasting, memorable impact.

Takeaways:
-Understand why creating memorable customer experiences is paramount for any store, not just service retail
-Discover the power of transforming traditional environments into dynamic ones
-Learn the importance of cohesive branding and marketing across all channels

Speakers:
Vikas Srivastava, VP Design Lead, Fifth Third Bank
Declan McCormack, Client Leader, BHDP

BREAKOUT SESSION | Designing Strategic Scale into Brand Experience

How can brands spotlight their purpose across various channels and navigate a changing industry? With continually evolving challenges, scaling brand experiences is crucial for maximum impact at every location and investment level. Attend this session to hear from a panel of retail experts from Nike, Hershey's and Levi's as they discuss the opportunities – and pitfalls – of scaling concepts across their fleets. Learn from their practical insights and glean advice that you can apply to any retail scenario, empowering you to make a difference in your brand's journey.

Takeaways:
- Learn new strategies for scalability and how to apply them
- Understand how brands approach scalability at different investment levels
- Hear real-world examples from retailers who have faced similar challenges

Speakers:
Juanita Garcia, Director of Market Place Development, Innovasport
Jesse Moyer, Director, Global Store Design, Levi Strauss & Co.
José Padron, Design Lead, The Hershey Experience, The Hershey Company

Moderator:
Jay Highland, EVP, Creative, WD Partners

NETWORKING LUNCH

VMSD Awards Luncheon

VMSD's annual Awards Luncheon celebrates our competition winners from the past year including our Designer Dozen (featured in our March/April issue), International Visual Competition (July/Aug issue), Retail Renovation Competition (Sept/Oct issue) and the coveted 2024 VMSD/Peter Glen Retailer of the Year Award (Sept/Oct issue).

GENERAL SESSION | From Strategy to Storefront: Google's Approach to Sustainable Retail Design

Sustainability remains a hot topic and more retailers are setting new measures to implement in their stores – but how can companies achieve these standards at their stores? When Google decided to launch into physical retail, its sustainability goals were lofty – enough to create challenges connecting the corporate strategy with the tactical execution of its store design. With the IT corporation’s newly opened Google store on Boston’s Newberry St. as the backdrop, this interactive panel presentation will highlight real-world experiences that bridge the gap between sustainability and store development strategy. From material selection to product circularity, attend this session to understand the importance of prioritizing sustainability in decision making.

Takeaways:
-Gain insight about aligning store development strategy and corporate sustainability plans
-Learn about the importance of material selection and product circularity
-Understand the influence of MEP systems on sustainable design

Panelists:
Jackie Farrar, Head of Retail Design and Development, Google Stores
Mark Brungo, Global Account Director, Gensler
Brian Alessi, Sustainability Director, Henderson Engineers

Moderator:
Brent Felten, Retail Sector Client Relationship Director, Henderson Engineers