Retail Landlords Want Property Redesigns Now

Retail property owners and developers are serious about creating more experiential designs. David Sheldon, VP of brand strategy at Retail Design Collaborative, says that every one of his clients is seeking advice creating future-proof retail projects. We sat down with Sheldon for an exclusive interview to talk about what his clients are requesting and how he is approaching the new retail model.

GlobeSt.com: The evolution of retail is making all of the headlines, but is it translating into the design conversations that you have with your clients?

David Sheldon: These conversations are coming up in every single discussion that we have with landlord/developer clients. They are coming up in every discussion that we have with our brand clients as well. Everyone is talking about this, and we are engaging every single time. What remains to be seen is how far a landlord or developer wants to push to make a change. We talk about the future of retail every day in our office. This is a very relevant constant dialogue. It is not rhetoric; it is very real. I would say that is anything in the evolution over the last five years has taught me anything it is that if you can match vision with the right demographic, the right tenants and the right brands, and the right contextual surroundings, you can create something that is differentiated and has longevity.