Save the Date

Save the date. Thursday, October 25 is the Retail Design Challenge. Plans are underway for signature annual event to celebrate local design firms and showcase their creative talent.

Join member and friends of the Retail Design Institute by rolling up your sleeves for an evening of creative collaboration, education and networking!

There will be a tour of Quiksilver's 585 Boardriders' Store in Venice with store design insights provided by Paul McAdam (senior VP and GM, Retail, Quiksilver Inc.) store features in DDI Magazine's June Issue. The night's event will also include a showcase of Southern California's submissions to the 2011 International Retail Store Design Awards Competition. Also a show reel of the 2011 International Store Design Winning Entries.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Eventbrite closer to the date. Check our website for details.

Please send us an email if you're interested in participating as an individual, a group entrant, or to become a Sponsor!

There will be food, drinks, and DJ. Come and join us for a creative night of design.  

Retail Design Institute Event

Tickets Going Fast!

We hope to see you in 2 weeks. A link to the self-guided tour locations will be sent out via email 1 week before the event, only those who pre-register below.

Register Here

for the

Retail Tour & Social Mixer

in West Hollywood, August 22

Afternoon Tour (Optional) & Evening Mixer from 6:30pm -9:30pm

Take a self-guided afternoon tour of the latest retail spaces in West Hollywood curated by  Trend Habitat, followed by drinks overlooking the Hollywood Hills from the deck of the Essensuals London Salon - a signature brand of the Toni & Guy portfolio.

The evening promises to be a "highlight" networking event with key insights by owner  Kiera Smith & designer James Schnauer of Glow Studio into the design of a new WeHo salon experience. Meet new members and some of the new faces on our local Chapter board.

Enjoy a well deserved drink on the deck of Essentuals' Salon to network with fellow members and guests of the  Retail Design Institute.

Details of the tour will be provided to those who register. Please RSVP with Eventbrite to help us cater to numbers and use social media to coordinate tours with one another.

Free to all Members & Members Guests

Non-members $10

Numbers are limited.

RSVP on Eventbrite only.

Please click here now to register and receive tour details.

The Southern California Chapter would like to thank our host and sponsors for their generous support of the Institute: Trend Habitat and Essenuals London.

Let's Talk Discussion Group Etiquette for LinkedIn

We hope that after all the posts made about LinkedIn, you have made the decision to join the world of professional networking. If you are already a member you may have joined a few groups and may even received a few emails notifying you that there a new discussions in the group. Besides getting industry relevant information, it is also a great opportunity for you the take part in the discussion! Participating in group discussions are a great way to share your expertise, learn from your peers, and grow your network.

With LinkedIn discussions, you are able to view discussion threads, add a comment, start your own discussion,  or share links with other group members. Before joining the conversation it's important to understand the etiquette in participating in LinkedIn discussions.

First, understand what is acceptable for each group. Each group has its own tolerance for promotional content in group discussions. Some groups encourage its members to share links to their own websites, blog posts, or any other group relevant material. However, other groups all that type of posting in moderation. In other words you should use discretion when make a post. The point of the group is not about self-promotion. Before adding your own commentary, review the group's profile for posting guidelines. You can also read existing posts to assess what is acceptable to the group.

Focus on demonstrating your expertise and knowledge about industry relevant topics. The best way to participate in LinkedIn groups is to focus on intelligent, meaningful posts that add value to a discussion. Share relevant information that will benefit other members. Demonstrate your expertise in the industry by answering questions from other members. Whether you are looking for a job or potential clients, sell yourself by showing you expertise rather than posting overt sales pitches or pleas for employment.

Use the promotions tabs for sales pitches. LinkedIn groups offer a "Promotions tab where members can post announcements related to products, services, and events. If you have something to sell, it is preferable to post it on the "Promotions" tab.

There is also a "Jobs" tab. If you want to announce a job opening, talk about the current job market, ask a job related question, or  post a career discussion do it under the "Jobs" tab.

Bottom line, you should be an active LinkedIn user. Make the most of your time on LinkedIn!

Behind-the-Scenes of Lamb & Flag

Thursday night, members and friends of the Retail Design Institute came together to get a behind-the-scenes tour at the new Lamb & Flag fashion apparel concept from Kellwood brands. Gray Winston, Vice President of Kellwood Brands, spoke of the brand’s inception and how it was translated from a concept into the bricks and mortar environment. The event was attended by key retailers, designers, consultants, and suppliers. Aside from  great entertainment and networking opportunities, the event was a great opportunity to learn more about the brand.

“The most important thing was to create 4 main filters for all design - product, marketings, smell, sound, music through to the store design...everything  you see in very intentional” Gary continued in his presentation to the group.

1. Age - While this proof-of-concept is proving to appeal to a much broader demographic, their core target is age 18-24 college graduates.
2. Style - Referred to as ‘Casual Beauty with an Edge’ demonstrated through a meticulous attention to detail. “We would spend time on 10 tiny things but the customer might only notice 1 of those, so in the store we had to create over 100 to ensure this comes across sufficiently, yet subtly enough for the customer to take away with them”. A tour of the store highlighted this wherever you looked and even areas you couldn’t see. A restroom in the back of house area includes their logo spelt out in the floor where only ‘brand reps’ would see it. On the customer facing side, wood floors are recycled from an old military base - a concrete infill plugging the cracks - delivering a unique experience in the dressing rooms where again the branding is featured on the floor, with multiple lighting effects that can be controlled by the shopper while streaming multi media on the embedded screens. 
3. Aesthetic - This speaks to the store design’s 'Wrecked Elegance’ which could be seen in their use of beautiful wallpaper that's been ripped and torn, or the beautiful chandelier that's slightly aged, through to rough plaster walls that show water stains. It’s something ‘Beautiful with a Twist' referred to as ‘perfect imperfection!’
4. Emotional - The most important differentiator to the store design team. “It’s not as tangible as the others but equally important to the experience. The smell, the way the ‘brand reps’ interact with you, the complimentary bracelet or box of water offered when you're in the dressing room... a lot of our time was spent defining what the emotion filters should be” continued Winston. “The brand menu on the front of store defines 'beautiful' in our eyes, the beauty of not conforming.”

To read more about the event click here.

One Launch, Two Nights, Two Cities

Limited to 40 people by RSVP only, per location...

RSVP on Facebook by clicking "Join" through one of the red links below.

A social mixer event to launch the new website for our members, demonstrate how members can benefit from it's new features, and highlight events we're planning on for the year. Please introduce a friend...non-members and potential new members are welcome to attend. Board members will be happy to answer any questions regarding membership. See you soon!

02/15/12 (Wednesday)

Location: Nadel Architects Los Angeles

1990 S. Bundy Drive, Suite 400

Los Angeles, California 90025
Time: 6pm Light Refreshments; 6.30-8pm Demo & 'Town Hall' Discussion; 8.30pm Finish ; Join us afterwards @ The Arsenal Bar 12012 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064-1127 www.arsenalbar.com
Sponsors: Nadel Architects and ikonic tonic 

Fee: Free to Members & Non-Members. Limited to 40 people by RSVP only.

Click here to RSVP via Facebook for the LA location 

Parking & Access: Street Parking. Parking closes at 6pm. Building lifts close down by 7pm so please ensure entry by this time for access to 4th floor.

02/16/12 (Thursday) 

Location: Little Architects Orange County

1901 Newport Blvd, Suite 300, 

Costa Mesa, California 92627
Time: 6pm Light Refreshments; 6.30-8pm Demo & 'Town Hall' Discussion; 8.30pm Finish ; Join us afterwards @ The Yard House, Triangle Square Shopping Center, 1875 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA www.yardhouse.com for those interested.

Sponsors: Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. 

Fee: Free to Members & Non-Members. Limited to 40 people by RSVP only.

Click here to RSVP via Facebook for the Costa Mesa location 

Parking & Access: Parking to front of building or around to rear in parking structure. Entry through courtyard at front or rear and take elevator to Level 3.

*For any questions about either event, please email: caswpres@retaildesigninstitute.org 

International Store Design Awards Gala

On January 16, 2012 the Retail Design Institute has a grand opportunity for you to be part of the most exciting and significant awards presentation and celebration in retail!

The one night where you can celebrate with the winning teams and key retail design industry players after the most prestigious retail design awards show in the world. For over 50 years, the Institute has set the standard for excellence in store design, and since 1971, in the industry's only peer reviewed competition, we have publicly reorganized those retail projects, which are the best of the year, and the designers and retailers who plan and create them.

The Awards Gala is a one of a kind evening. The event will be held in Manhattan's most exciting venue, the Times Center Stage designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano at 242 West 41st Street at Times Square, NYC.

There will be a chance for networking at the after show reception and buffet with 300+ attendees, award winning architects, designers, retailers and NRF members.

The 2011 Retail Design Institute Member(s) of the year will be recognized. The Award show will also recognize the best stores in the world for the year 2011 in over 18 categories of architecture and design.

This will be a truly remarkable and notable evening! 

Please visit the Retail Design Institute events page to purchase tickets.

Questions regarding this event, please contact Retail Design Institute at LBullis@taminc.com or by phone at 1-914-332-1806 ext. 324

Landing Your Next Job, Courtesy of LinkedIn

In today's economy many students are concerned about landing a job after they have graduated. Hopefully, you have created a LinkedIn profile, after reading previous posts about the benefits of having a profile. Have you ever thought that LinkedIn could be a potential place to land your next job? LinkedIn is becoming a more popular place to find a job. It is also a place to connect with top business professionals.

Mashable has published an article about some essentials to landing a job on LinkedIn. There are 13 essential tips you should consider when it comes to your profile.

Complete your profile 100%. It is not unusual for an potential employer r headline to run a Google search for your first and last name. More often then not, a LinkedIn profile with be one of the top five results. Make sure your profile is complete and accurate.

Add a compelling headline. You want your profile to stand out from the other possible candidates. Your headline is the first thing that will be seen by a hiring manager, therefore, create a compelling headline that will set you apart. Make sure your headline is clear and concise. You are telling people who you are and what you do.

Add all past and current work positions. It's important to include your past and current work experience.  The hiring manager could have hired another individual from the same company you have listed in your work experience. 

Give and receive recommendations. The more people that can vouch for you, the better. The best way to receive recommendations is to give them first. Take the time to right recommendations for people you know, trust, and like. The more you give, the more you receive. 

Connect with everyone. Some say that you should only connect with others you know. Then what become of networking? The point of networking is to connect with others and then those connections grow into new connections. Therefore, connect, connect, connect!

Be concise in your message. Provide a preview for people so they know what is coming next. Get them facts about yourself, like the skills you possess and inject your personality into your profile. Make sure to add honors or awards that you have received. Provide information so other can connect with you.

Stay active. Nothing is worse than letting a potential employer see your profile stagnant. Each time you take action on your profile, it shows up on the home page of everyone you are connected to. This creates a chain reaction by allowing your picture and name to be seen by all your connections, possibly causing them to keep you in mind if a job opening becomes available.

Join niche groups. Groups are a great way to find a job boards with new jobs being added on a regular basis. As a member you are given an advantage because you are able to send messages to almost everyone without upgrading your account.

Create a group. Why not create a group instead of just being a member? Being a creator of a group has its perks. You are able to send messages once a week to all your members, and you're perceived as a leader or decision maker.

Add your honors and awards. Adding your honors and awards is just another way to add to your profile. Employers want to hire winners and those who like to excel.

Answer questions. You an add an 'Answers' widget on the right-hand side of your LinkedIn home page with the industry topic you know most about. When a question pops up answer it! Provide as much information as possible. Really give your two cents when answering the question.

Import your blog and Twitter feeds. There are many ways to add to your profile. Social networking is becoming more popular, why not link your Twitter account or blog?

Connect with others. When you help two people without asking for anything in return, you leave a lasting impression on all involved. This will help amplify your own job prospects, as people will be more likely to help you achieve your goals in the future.

To read the complete article click here.

Let's Talk Cover Letters

Cover letters where a topic of conversation on Linkedin Today. The first line of the article is great, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

Normally the first thing a potential employer sees is a cover letter when reviewing a job applicant. A cover letter is your first chance to make an impression when applying for a job. If proper care isn't taken to proofread and correct all mistakes in your cover letter then I could be your first chance to make a bad impression. Here are some common mistakes that are made when it comes to cover letters:

NOT WRITING ENOUGH: Normally writing too much is a common mistake. However, writing too little can be just as damaging.

PERSONAL STORIES: It isn't bad to give a little history about yourself, however, it's best to save those stories for the interview.

SOMEONE ELSE'S WORDS: Employers receive an influx of cover letters from job seekers that have obviously used the same template. The line must be drawn when it come to using other's words on your own cover letter.

ARROGANCE: "It's one thing to promote yourself favorably in a cover letter, but watch that it doesn't degenerate into overt bragging."

JOKES: Breaking the ice isn't a bad thing. However, having jokes in your cover letter may not be the best idea. It is usually a "turn-off" to potential employers. 

Cover letters are very important when you are in the market for a new career. Once the letter has been sent out there is not an "oops" button to take everything back. Therefore, make sure to proofread your cover letter before you send it out. Remember, "it's never too early to make a bad impression."

To read more about other mistakes made on cover letters click here.

A Student's Best Friend

Hey Students!

Do you have a Linkedin profile? If not, we highly recommend that you get one. Linkedin is a professional network that allows you to connect with colleagues, business prospects, classmates, or people in your industry. It allows its users to create a profile that lists your work history, skills, current projects you may be working on, and much more!

Linkedin has a great feature for students. It could even be considered a "hidden gem." Linkedin offers a place for student to find an internship. Some of the companies that have posted internships include Gucci, Martha Stewart, Ford, L'Oreal, and many more.

Take the time to create a Linkedin profile if you don't have one already. Make sure you keep your profile up-to-date!

Let's Talk Social Media Etiquette

In a world of Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube it is important to have proper social media etiquette. You would think it would be common sense, however, common sense may not be as common when it comes to social media. Your manners shouldn't stop with social media.

Here are some guidelines when using social media:

DON'T spam anyone: No one likes spam, agreed?

DON'T keep everything private: Online privacy is important. However, if you are keeping every social interaction private you might as well stick to texting and emailing others. Social media is not an exclusive club.

DO thank someone when you're ReTweet-ed: Remember the magic words "thank you."

DON'T say anything mean to anyone: Reword it so it can be constructive criticism.

DO think before you speak: Yes, social media does allow you to publish your thoughts instantly. However, that does not mean that everything that "pops into your head should be published for the world to see. Think about it before you post something.

DO keep your blog posts short: If your followers what to read a novel they would go buy one.

DO build relationships: It is called "social" networking for a reason.

DON'T use social media to vent: It's not a good look.

DON'T ask to be ReTweeted: Think about the content that you are tweeting, maybe that's the reason you are not being ReTweeted.

DO give back: Social media is a two-way street.

DO try to make your tweets/posts comprehensive: No one want to struggle to understand what you are posting.

DON'T unfollow someone just because they don't follow you back: This is not elementary school. Either step up your tweeting game and post things that will make you "follow worthy," or stop following others to build up your follower count.

Did we leave out any other social media etiquette?

How to Market Yourself

What does "marketing yourself" mean? It is really simply, when you are marketing yourself you are creating your own brand. It doesn't matter is you are running your own business, are an employee or a job seeker, if you market yourself you can achieve success. Marketing requires you developing what you unique talents and abilities are and your ability to communicate them to others effectively. 

Here are some tips to help you develop yourself as a "brand"

Write down a list of your strengths and skills that would be intriguing when networking with professionals. Ask yourself these questions: "What is unique about me?" "What set me apart from others in my field?" "How can I make a lasting impression?" "How can I market myself at every opportunity?"

Develop a concise message that you can share that would takes about 10-20 seconds to deliver. In the business world it is called an "elevator speech." Develop and practice your message.

Remember every time you communicate with others, there is an opportunity to make an impact. Anything you put into writing should be clear, concise and easy to read. Make sure to include the list of strengths you had made earlier.

You communicate by what you wear. So what you wear is important. Dress for the occasion. Choose you outfit wisely. Make use you clothes are ironed and if you are wearing leather shoes polish them.

Make a great first impression. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. People trend to make a first impression of you within the first few minutes of meeting you. When meeting new people use eye contact, a firm hand shake, and don't forget to smile.

Prepare yourself when networking or going on a job interview. It is important to prepare in advance.

Stand out in a crowd. Remember you are presenting yourself a brand. Make sure you are the one they remember!

Association Fair Recap

The first ever Association Fair held Wednesday at FIDM's Los Angeles Campus was a success. Alongside Retail Design Institute, there were other associations such as the Interior Design Society, International Interior Design Association, and Set Decorators Society of America.  

RDI table the FIDM Los Angeles Campus Association Fair

nextGEN President, Jenny Diaz and Communication Chair, Michelle Curry at the RDI table

Joining an association is beneficial to any student's career because it allows for networking with professionals and helps students learn about the different fields in interior design. Being affiliated with an association looks really good on your resume. 

We met some great interior design students which expressed interest in nextGEN. Hopefully they will join!

nextGEN Communication Chair, Michelle Curry speaking to FIDM student about RDI

Thank you Celeste for having us at the first ever FIDM Association Fair. We enjoyed meeting your students.

Our thank you gift from FIDM Advisor Celeste Day-Drake 

Association Fair at FIDM

nextGEN will be at the FIDM Los Angeles Campus for the first ever Association Fair. Interior design students are invited to come and learn about the different interior design professional associations. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the interior design industry and network with professionals. There will be information about various design competitions and internships. Students will learn about the benefits of membership with various design associations.

The Association Fair will be held Wednesday, July 20th, at the FIDM Los Angeles Campus. The event will be from 10am to 12 pm, in the student lounge on the 4th floor. Parking is available in the structure below the building; the parking entrance is on the south side of 9th Street just before Grand Avenue. 

This will be an exciting opportunity to network with industry professionals. Hope to see you there!

FIDM Los Angeles Campus

919 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90015

(on the SW corner of 9th and Grand)

Welcome Students

Retail Design Institute is pleased to announce the nextGEN Student Chapter! The chapter consists of many different schools in Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Visual Merchandising and so much more. We strive to connect students with professionals, students and faculties dedicated in the Retail Design world.  

Please meet our current student members for nextGEN!

There are still positions available so feel free to contact us @ nextgen.retaildesigninstitute@gmail.com

We are planning a few events really soon so stay tune as we announce! Keep designing!