VM+SD International Retail Design Conference

Are you responsible for creating and maintaining retail environments? Are you interested in learning about new trends and ideas in retail? Interested in meeting and mingling with your peers in one of the world's premier shopping destinations?

Then make plans now to attend the fifth annual VM+SD International Retail Design Conference at Fairmont Chicago, September 21 — 23, 2005.

IRDC is a hotel-based educational event especially programmed for designers and builders of retail environments. The conference features general sessions with keynote speakers, concurrent break-out sessions, roundtable discussions and numerous net-working opportunities including the IRDC Party: Cool Jazz Night at Marshall Field's, Chicago's legendary department store.

The conference kicks off Wednesday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m. with a visually dynamic presentation with a global perspective by Christian Davies, creative director, FRCH Design Worldwide (Cincinnati), entitled “The State of the State of Retail.”

Davies session is followed by a unique, interactive session called “Retail Unbound” conducted by MJ Munsell, Joan Insell, and Crystal Inge from Callison Architecture (Seattle). Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the future of retail and brainstorm with their peers and industry experts.

Thursday morning features a keynote talk by Chicago-based Will Ander, senior partner, McMillan/Doolittle, based on his book “Winning at Retail: Developing a Sustained Model for Business Success.”

Tom Cole, vice chairman, Federated Department Stores (Cincinnati), anchors Friday morning. Federated will be recognized as the 2005 VM+SD/Peter Glen Retailer of the Year.

Choose from seventeen break-out session featuring topics such as color trends, retail technology, visual merchandising, marketing to women, retail lighting design, European retailing trends, designing/marketing to minorities niches, big box retailing in urban settings, store renovation, award-winning store design projects, reviving brands and how to do retail design presentations.

Stay in Chicago an extra day and research the Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue, one of the best shopping streets in the world.

For complete event details and online registration, visit (IRDC). Group rates are available.