Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha are the stakeholders of the planet’s future. They consider consumption a matter of ethical, social, and sustainable concern — and this has a major impact on the future of retail. In the second installment of our Future of Retail research, Cushing Terrell's Retail Design Studio in partnership with Associate Professor Rebekah Matheny from the Ohio State University Department of Design, describe insights into how ecofeminism and intersection...

How do we optimize for experience in physical retail environments? By engaging the senses, integrating brand and placemaking, and prioritizing wellness. The physical retail environment has become even more crucial for driving sales, even at a time when there's a preference for the convenience of online shopping. The key to engaging consumers in physical spaces is to design in a way that maximizes in-person experiences. These immersive, unique opportunities to interact wit...

Consumers are time-conscious, and at the same time, they’re shifting to a lifestyle defined by health and wellness. As a result, the concept of well-being is taking on a whole new meaning in the world of retail. Today’s retailers are looking to strike a balance between efficient shopping and the desire to slow down, indulge, and connect. Thus, in this age of convenience, retail design must meet consumers where they are, both physically and emotionally, throughout their shopping journey....

As brick-and-mortar retail becomes more targeted and specialized, we use the term “authenticity” to describe success, but what does it really mean? The reinvention of retail The age of retail disruption has reshaped the consumer journey with an emphasis on immersive experiences and engaging environments. Today’s economy is driven by consumer preference, and as a result, retailers have exciting opportunities to explore new ways of creating memorable moments and a deeper connection with t...

It’s 2019 and the retail landscape is dynamic, complex, and exciting. In late 2016, we saw headlines pronouncing “retail is dead.” 2017 continued the “retail apocalypse” narrative, while 2018 brought positive progression in the “retail revolution.” As we enter 2019, …...