From the initial phase of attraction to long-term brand loyalty, the relationship between a consumer and a retailer is one retailers and design teams must foster throughout its various stages. With the rise of the millennial shoppers – a demographic that expects a curated, personalized experience – acknowledging the consumer on a personal level with immersive in-store touch points has never been more important. Steven Derwoed, vp store planning and merchandising, Macy’s (Cincinnati), Katie Baron, senior vp of retail, Stylus (London), and Eric Kuhn, design leader, BHDP Architecture (Cincinnati) discussed their observations and perspectives on the subject at 2015’s International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) in their panel, “Consumer X: A Love Story.” For more details about IRDC 2016, visit IRDConline.com.