Retail Design Institute Southwest + Pacific Chapter November Newsletter!

Southwest + Pacific
6 days ago
5 min read

Great seeing everyone who came to last week's Beverly Hills Holiday Lights celebration hosted at Wilson Sporting Goods striking new store on Beverly Drive. It was a festive time with good friends, food and drink, and a dash of holiday cheer. Wilson's store opened earlier in the year and is their newest destination for their brand's sporting gear and apparel in the Southern California area.

After the party, it was off to Rodeo Drive, closed to traffic for the special event, to see live entertainment and fire works.

Thank you to the Retail Design Institute's sponsors, Set + Stage Creative and Niconat.

Did you know the Southwest + Pacific Chapter includes Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Hawaii? It's true! If you know any innovative store experiences, retail companies or consultants in any of these areas please let us know! We'd love to spotlight them in this series... southwestpacific@retaildesigninstitute.org.

Student Event Recap....

Retail Design Institute Southwest + Pacific retail design panel at Santa Monica College

One of Retail Design Institute's core pillars is student support and engagement. Earlier this month the Southwest + Pacific Chapter hosted a retail design panel at the Santa Monica College with the architecture design and fashion students and educators.

The Retail Design Institute partnered with Santa Monica College's Architecture, Fashion and Merchandising programs and NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects). Students were treated to a panel of retail industry design experts about the importance of collaboration in creating a successful design strategy and how to prepare for a career in the field. The panelists included Kimberly Malone and Matt Lalli from Gensler, Constance Bertuccelli from Silvestri California, and was moderated by James Botha from RDC. The students participated in a Q&A session and engaged with the panelists after the discussion concluded.

"This was truly a remarkable group you brought together for us. It was one of the most down-to-earth, relatable, practical, and interesting panels we’ve had. Every single presenter was so generous and genuinely great to hear from. We’re so grateful for all the time and effort put into organizing this panel."

Ann Marie Leahy

Career Services Advisor, Santa Monica College

"Thank you for putting together such a great panel! I also ran into a few students later in the day, and they mentioned how much they enjoyed hearing from the panelists. The conversation really resonated with them and gave them a lot to think about. It’s clear that events like this make a big impact on our students."

Javier Cambron, NOMA, Assoc. AIAArchitecture and Interior Architectural Design ProgramsSanta Monica College - Center for Media and Design

Awards Winner...

Retail Experience of the Year, PUMA 48 Club. Retail Design Institute International Design Awards.

The Retail Design Institute Southwest + Pacific Chapter would like to congratulate Puma for being named the Retail Design Institute's 2024 Retail Experience of the Year in their 54th Annual International Design Awards.

Judges praised the project for its bold fusion of art, sport, and fashion, calling it “an unforgettable sense of discovery and exclusivity.”

Blending technology, art, and fashion, PUMA 48 Club redefines experiential retail through a concept that’s as daring as it is exclusive. Conceived as a hidden-in-plain-sight speakeasy, this one-of-a-kind destination immerses visitors in a world of mystery, discovery, and storytelling, transforming shopping into an unforgettable journey.

The result is a destination where storytelling, design, and digital integration converge to celebrate exploration, innovation, and the spirit of play that defines PUMA’s brand.

PUMA 48 Project Team:

Client: PUMA North America

Designer: EWI Worldwide

Architect: Colkitt

General Contractor: Schimenti Construction

Fixturing, Millwork, Graphics, Lighting: EWI Worldwide

Digital: Recursive

House of Dior opens on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with Monsieur Dior restaurant.

The European House of Luxury, DIOR, re-opens their Beverly Hills flagship on Rodeo Drive in a brand new building, and it is stunning.

Perpetuating the unique ties between the Maison and California, the flagship celebrates Dior’s history and its connection to Hollywood. The setting has been thought up to evoke the serenity of an Eden, each space drawing its inspirations from nature that was so dear to Christian Dior.

Designed by Peter Marino, this “realm of dreams” in the form of an entirely new building for the House of Dior presents a striking dialogue between architecture, nature, and fashion, spread over four floors. Behind the undulating limestone façade, a pared-down and refined atmosphere is unveiled, while a monumental central staircase winds through a lush, three-story garden conceived by Peter Marino and brought to life by landscape architect Peter Wirtz.

Bathed in light and subtly adorned with the codes of the House, the interior reflects an alchemical encounter fusing heritage and creativity where the collections are showcased – from women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, to leather goods, jewelry, Dior Maison, and fragrances. Enriching all these universes, several limited-edition pieces have been specially produced for this extraordinary boutique. Infusing visitors with an extra sense of calm, botanical elements decorate the different spaces and the organic prevalence of plants continually punctuates their tour of the boutique.

On the third floor is Monsieur Dior, a new restaurant led by Michelin-star chef, Dominique Crenn. As the first Dior restaurant outside Paris, the mood embodies French art de vivre, woven with fashion and taste with laid-back Californian ease, including a large patio shaded by the quintessential palm trees of Rodeo Drive.

Enter a raffle and pack your bags for Euro-a-Go Go!

Win a Trip to EuroShop - the World's No. 1 Retail Trade Fair with the euro a go go group in 2026!

The Retail Design Institute is thrilled to offer an exclusive opportunity for our Professional Retailer Members, both current Professional members in good standing and new Professional Members who join during the contest period, to win a fully hosted design experience at euro a go go 2026! The drawing will be on December 18th at 4pm. Winner will be notified by email.

The prize includes hotel accommodations, EuroShop show ticket, ground transportation to and from the show, all meals during the trip, PLUS-a flight to a secondary destination city…London!

To learn how to qualify, contact Cynthia Ortiz, RDI, International President, Retail Design Institute or Ramon Ocampo, RA, NCARB, LEED AP, RDI, President or the NY Chapter. cynthia.ortiz@mbharch.com

As an exclusive partner of Euro-a-Go Go 2026, the Retail Design Institute and the Retail Design Institute NY Chapter are proud to support this one-of-a-kind program connecting the world’s most forward-thinking retail voices.

This special opportunity is open only to professional members who are currently employed by retail brands. (Members working for design firms, manufacturers, consultants, or suppliers are not eligible.)

Come join us!

Retail Design Institute Southwest + Pacific Chapter is a fun place to connect, network, learn and have a good time. Be part of a global non-profit networking organization dedicated to the advancement of retail and retail design. The Retail Design Institute is a collaborative community where ideas, knowledge and a passion for design are shared at local levels.

RDI members enjoy a variety of benefits such as priority access to events, networking and educational seminars, access to member-only areas of the website, job postings, emerging retail trend information and access to other Chapter events.

Join Us!