A Tale of Two Cities

As you read this column, perhaps during a quick break at GlobalShop 2016, your VMSD team has just returned from Montreal, host city of this year’s upcoming International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), Sept. 13-15. We spent our visit meeting with local retailers and designers to better understand the cultural landscape of this wonderfully welcoming city.

What we found of Montrealers was a pride in their hometown and an excitement about our event that is truly unparalleled in my experience hosting conferences. There is a distinct sense of, “let’s make Montreal the best year of IRDC yet,” that I hope we can properly communicate to our audience as we begin the conversation about IRDC 2016.

What else can I say about Montreal? First, it is home to the second largest French-speaking population outside France and is known the world over for its love of culture and the arts. The city was also named a UNESCO City of Design, and among its government officials is the post of “design commissioner,” whose task is to oversee the development and promotion of design in the city and to raise awareness of the benefits of good design among the private and public sectors. Imagine the possibilities…

One of the many interesting dynamics we’ll explore during this year’s conference is the mutual desire on the part of both Canadian and U.S. retailers and designers to learn from each other’s expertise in navigating consumer trends, shopping behavior and desires in their home countries. Though we are close in proximity, the distinct cultures of these two nations are critical to comprehend for those hoping for success in either (or both).

As always, we are organizing an unmatched array of educational and networking opportunities for IRDC this year. If you haven’t already, sign up to be an IRDC Insider at irdconline.com. We’ll let you know the minute registration opens and keep you up-to-date on news leading up to this annual can’t-miss event. I hope to see you in Montreal this September!

For more information about VMSD's 2016 IRDC in Montreal is scheduled to be announced this spring. Stay tuned for more details, or sign up to become an IRDC Insider to be notified via email.