VMSD - October 2020 - 36

CHECKING OUT

Bess Liscio
The newest member of VMSD's

editorial advisory board explains why
she enjoys being at a firm that "works
both sides of the lease line."
What were your earliest career aspirations?

As a 6-year-old entrepreneur, I remember imagining 'small businesses' and then creating them out
of whatever was around the house. First came a
sidewalk fruit stand made out of cardboard boxes,
selling fruit my mom just purchased from the market. The next weekend was a hot dog stand, where
I convinced my grandmother to be the cook while I
tended to the customers in the stand I just created.
The dry-cleaning business surprisingly didn't work
out ... wonder why! Now that I look back on it, I was
creating pop-up retail!
When and why did you focus on retail
design?

I didn't really. I think the choices I made along the
way is how that happened. Focusing on art and art
history in high school, I then attended Humber College and got a degree in visual merchandising. The
curriculum was unique as it included small business
courses, English with public speaking and visual
merchandising philosophy. It was a wonderful fusion
of art, science and business.

OCTOBER 2020

VMSD.COM

You first job out of college was at
Eaton's (Toronto), where you worked at
one of its stores before moving to
headquarters. What did you take away from
those experiences?

I first worked in the display department at the Eaton's
at Yorkdale Mall. In those five years, I was a sponge
and learned so much about how to merchandise
everything from furs to furniture and lingerie to
lamps. I quickly came to understand the meaning of
teamwork, the power of visual merchandising and
how it contributed to the success of store sales. My
boss became my mentor. I eventually moved to the
head office and became corporate visual presentation director, and with a strategic team, managed all
110 stores from coast-to-coast in Canada. The past
18-plus years taught me how to creatively storytell
and visually build in-store experiences with multiple
vendors and brands while keeping the Eaton brand
authentic.
GH+A operates in three main markets:
shopping center design, retail interiors and
food spaces. Do you work in all of those?

I'm focusing on growing all strategic retail initiatives
from cannabis to clothing, permanent to pop-up
spaces. GH+A has more than three decades of experience built on successful relationships with clients,
consultants and major developers. Our reputation
and diverse portfolio have opened doors to many
opportunities on 'both sides of the lease line.' [

A Few of Her
Favorite Things
What's your idea of
a perfect Sunday
afternoon?
Toronto is filled with so many
different ethnic neighborhoods with
amazing restaurants and shops.
Almost ever y Sunday, I would
pick a new spot I have never been
and walk the neighborhood, have
brunch and wander the one-of-akind boutiques. Be a local.

Your secret talent?
I'm a master suitcase packer! Secret
tricks to packing more, no wrinkles
... always carry-on! Can't wait to
travel again.

Are you a cat person, dog
lover - or neither?
Sorry cat people, but dogs for sure.
I had an 11-year-old Rhodesian
Ridgeback when I lived in
Columbus. RIP Moo Moo; miss him
so much.

Morning person/nightowl?
24/7/365 all-day high energy.
Drives my friends and family crazy.

Favorite beverage?
Aperol Spritz (at the moment).

Favorite food?
A fabulous charcuterie board.

VADI M D ANI EL , M O NTR EA L

G AV I N ALE XANDE R / GAVSYM E DIA, LONDON

Interview bybyCarly
Hagedon
Interview
Matthew
Hall

http://www.vmsd.COm

VMSD - October 2020

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