DDi - January 2012 - (Page 8)

8 | From the Editor The thing about heritage I n 2012, DDI enters its 25th year of being in print, GlobalShop celebrates its 20th year…and I will happily lavish in my sixth year of marriage. Each of these entities (my marriage included) started as small, new ventures, and have developed over time to be premier. To a degree, everything in this world is judged by how long it has lasted—and how we have made that time count. For myself, I’m a military brat raised on three continents. I attended nine different schools, had eight “best” friends, and have currently lived in 21 houses, condos and apartments in my short life. I should be a paranoid schizophrenic at this point. The actual result? I can walk into any room, not know a soul, and make ﬁve new friends by the time I’m through. This is the beneﬁt a lifelong “new girl” complex will give you. Despite the ups and downs any given life can bring, my heritage is a part of who I am and has guided me through each and every trial. In fact, my history and heritage is the very root of who I am. And I’m proud of it and not afraid to share it. For DDI, our heritage still bleeds out of every page. We were a start-up tabloid magazine pushing product coverage and aiming to be a voice in an industry that so craved connection. When I joined the magazine 10 years ago, I became part of its history—and it part of mine. Our pages have gotten more luxe and our folio has ebbed and ﬂowed over the years, but our mission is the same: to provide excellent service journalism through timely interviews, insights and inspiration—with a bit of artistic ﬂare sprinkled in here and there for good measure—to make your jobs easier. As you’ll ﬁnd in this issue, honoring heritage in the retail environment requires seesawing a ﬁne balance between cherishing the old and adapting to the new. From a department store in Qatar marrying contemporary fashion and electronics with cultural architectural references (51 East, page 30), to a GlobalShop2012 Sponsored by: new-school banking concept in Prague mirrored after the Ancient Greek concept of Agora (Air Bank, page 36), heritage—and how it is being redeﬁned in today’s retail stores—is explored throughout this annual International issue. You’ll ﬁnd our 25th year moniker on the cover of each issue of DDI this year, as we cherish and celebrate the last quarter-century of projects, products, people and solutions our publication has had the privilege of sharing with you. You’ll also ﬁnd a special logo at GlobalShop, honoring 20 years of show ﬂoors, networking parties, conference sessions and business connections the event has brought to this industry. Come help us celebrate! Side note: I just read that the traditional anniversary gift for your sixth year of marriage is “candy and iron.” Apparently I’ll be searching for a chocolate-covered crowbar come May. Alison Embrey Medina Executive Editor alison.medina@ddionline.com | January 2012 www.ddionline.com http://www.ddionline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DDi - January 2012

DDi - January 2012
Table of Contents
From the Editor
From the Show Director
Newsworthy
Shopper Insights
Editor’s Choice
Design Snapshot ICE
Design Snapshot Boxpark and Cashel Mall
Habitat Antique
51 East
Channel Focus: Financial Air Bank
Retail Around the World
GlobalShop Show Preview
Right Light
Product Spotlight
Calendar
Advertisers
Classifieds
Think Tank

DDi - January 2012