Bull’s-Eye on Retail

EXPECT A VISUAL FEAST this October 25-26 as the International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) lands in Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, and one with no shortage of scenic prowess, thanks to its plentiful wetlands, waterfalls, creeks, parks and more. As for retail prowess, it’s got that in spades, too. Major brands headquartered in the City of Lakes include Target, Best Buy and General Mills, alongside the sizable Mall of America – the largest shopping mall in the U.S. at 5.6 million square feet – in nearby Bloomington, Minn. Attendees to this year’s premier educational and networking event, presented annually by VMSD magazine, have the opportunity to experience all that and more, with a packed two-day agenda offering a slew of inspiring keynotes, interactive workshops, networking cocktail parties, riveting roundtable discussions and a mix of guided and self-guided retail tours – based at host hotel the Marriott City Center.

Kicking off day one on Wednesday, Oct. 25, is Lizzie Velasquez, global motivational speaker and anti-bullying activist. In her opening keynote, she’ll discuss her passion for kindness, communication and connection.

ABOVE: Minneapolis is home to major retailers and brands like Target, General Mills and Best Buy, with Mall of America only a short distance away.

Then, prepare to break a few rules with Judy Bell, Founder and CEO at Energetic Retail (Minneapolis), as she leads the interactive workshop “Messy Creativity,” wherein teams will answer questions via a series of words and sketches to challenge their creative process and investigate imaginative wisdom. A little sneak peek from Bell: “I hope that everyone leaves with a little taste of the ‘Kingdom of Oz’ in their pocket.” Other notable speakers during the first day include Albert Gilkey, SVP, Store Design and Construction of Victoria’s Secret, Linda Cahan, longtime industry consultant and owner of Cahan & Co., M&M’S alongside Landor + Fitch, as well as Target.

THIS IMAGE: Five stories tall and 160 feet across, this Bob Dylan mural by Eduardo Kobra is one of many commissioned public works of art throughout the city. 📷 Bill Hickey/Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

Don’t miss the Offsite Retail Inspiration Tours later that afternoon, which include a guided tour of Target’s downtown Nicollet Street flagship, a 90-minute peek behind the curtain at Mall Of America (open to retailers, visual merchandiser and designers only), and a self-guided excursion through the vibrant North Loop neighborhood, where you can explore local retail such as the 22,000-square-foot interior design and men’s apparel haven MartinPatrick3, coffee shops, breweries and more.

That evening, carouse with fellow attendees during the always rousing Iron Merchant Challenge, with a pre-Iron Merchant cocktail reception sponsored by Target. During the Challenge, witness (or join in on the fun) six teams make a mad dash for props and decorative elements to create a faux window display in an hour during the 17th annual Iron Merchant Challenge. The catch? Each team must use the secret ingredient, unveiled on-site at the start of the Challenge.

Thursday, Oct. 26, promises two forward-thinking general sessions. First up, Sarah Quinlan, Chief Economist at New York-based financial services advisory and investment platform The Consello Group, will explore the evolution of the retail economy and discuss what businesses should be doing differently today to succeed and thrive. Then after the VMSD Awards Luncheon, during which the 2023 Retailer of the Year will be recognized, hear Samar Younes, Founder and Chief Imagination Officer at New York-based creative atelier Samaritual, talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and the pivotal role it will play in the future of retail design. There are many more speakers to explore for this year’s conference, so check out the agenda via irdconline.com.

No IRDC is complete without the closing party, and this year, it’s located at The Pourhouse, a prohibition-themed spot inside downtown’s historic Lumber Exchange Building, the oldest high-rise in the city.

See you in Minneapolis!

PHOTO GALLERY (16 IMAGES)
📷 Bill Hickey/Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis