Over and Over

THE PAST FEW months can be summed up with one word: Busy!

VMSD has been around the globe the past several months, attending the EuroShop trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany; on the whirlwind euro a go go tour of Milan; and to sunny Austin for the inaugural Shop! MarketPlace. By the time this issue is in your hands, dear reader, we will also have been to Lightfair taking place in New York this May. (Be sure to check out our recap of EuroShop and euro a go go on pg. 64 of this issue.)

Our May/June issue features some exciting content, including an in-depth look at fixture trends, footwear retail and the latest in grocery design – as well as our usual lineup of intriguing retail case studies, this time from the likes of a Japanese style restaurant and bar to El Palacio de Hierro’s latest Mexico City outpost.

Now in its 29th consecutive year, we’ve ranked the Top Retail Design Firms of 2023 (pg. 41) based on submitted design firm fees from 2022. Despite the challenges the industry has faced the last few years – even some prior to the pandemic – brick-and-mortar retail is still relevant, as proven by the robust numbers witnessed throughout this annual ranking. (You can view the full Retail Design Firm Resource Guide listing online by visiting vmsd.com/resource-guide.)

You may also notice some new things about this issue, like our “Letters to the Editor” section. This, along with some other “experimental” columns, will become a regular addition moving forward.

Gathered primarily this time from our BrainSquad (vmsd.com/brainsquad), I encourage anyone who has comments about a recent article or story we’ve produced within the past five months to send your thoughts to vmsd@smartworkmedia.com. We’d love to include your feedback in an upcoming issue for the rest of our readers.

This summer, we’ll also be opening registration for both the 2023 International Retail Design Conference and the Shop! Ideation Conference & Retail Challenge – co-locating again this year October 22-24 (Shop! Ideation) and October 25-26 (IRDC) in Minneapolis at the Marriott City Center downtown. This newly renovated hotel will be homebase to a range of inspirational keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, offsite retail tours – and the ever-popular Iron Merchant Challenge. (I wonder what secret ingredient we’ll pick this year?)

Be sure to stay tuned to irdconline.com and shopassociation.org/ideation in the coming months for agenda updates and for the info to register. See you this fall!