design:retail - August 2014 - (Page 8)

editor's note 008 Global Fever ALISON EMBREY MEDINA EXECUTIVE EDITOR B alison.medina@emeraldexpo.com @dretaileditor Y THE TIME you read this, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janeiro will have a winner. And I, an American raised on three continents, have found myself unapologetically addicted to this globally watched and world-shaking football/futbol/futebol/fußball/ sokker/soccer event. This addiction started back in the summer of 1998, when I was visiting my family stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. The World Cup was taking place in France that year, and I had never before watched a real live soccer match between two international countries while in a global destination myself. What an experience. Not the best outcome for the U.S. team that year either, losing to every team in its group, including Germany (a game I watched in a German bar, surrounded by rabid German fans-yikes!). But, it wasn't the Germans who gave me a story to tell and re-tell for a lifetime. We geared up for a U.S. match against Iran, a nation making its World Cup debut. After the match (and another U.S. defeat), I headed downtown with some American friends to collectively sulk. Our meet-up point was the Heidelberg Bridge, and it was a gorgeous evening on the Rhein. One of my friends brought along a six-pack of Bud Light (odd choice when living in the land of pilsner, but it was on special at the military commissary). Just as we were about to head to a local pub, a tiny green hatchback car slowly passed us on the bridge, then came to a screeching stop about 10 yards in front of us. We stood there, silenced and shocked, as this little hatchback went into reverse, AUGUST 2014 DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM and started creepily backing up in our direction. As the car came parallel to our group, a bearded man of what I deemed to be Middle Eastern descent very slowly rolled down his window. With wide, unblinking eyes, he stared at us. Possibly for a good 10 to 20 seconds. Saying nothing. As a slight panic, and possibly the beer, set in, I instinctively felt myself starting to back away from the vehicle. Suddenly, the man opened his mouth, hesitated, and then said: "American?" My male friend cautiously stepped in front of me, as if shielding me from the question. "Yeah, we're American," he said. "You are all Americans, yes?" the man asked again, pointing to our Bud Light. "Yes," another friend answered, timidly, unsure of whether to continue this conversation or make a run for it. "AMERICANS?!!" he said again, louder and more excitedly. His eyes got a bit wider. Then, suddenly, he broke out in an ear-to-ear grin that not one of us saw coming, followed by a full, from-the-gut belly laugh. "You are Americans! And I am from Iran. We win! TODAY WE WIN!" He laid on the horn and flashed his lights. Then he jumped out of his vehicle and did this goofy little dance right there on the bridge. And then the laughter and smiles consumed us all. The passion of one's homeland is a beautiful and powerful thing. I'll never forget shaking that man's hand, and him thanking us for allowing him the chance to celebrate his victory. We befriended that man that night on the bridge, even oﬀered him a beer. Parties from two countries who, time and time again throughout history would be sworn enemies, laughing and cavorting and getting to know one another, on a German bridge in Heidelberg. Over a Bud Light. Retail and soccer have a lot in common, regarding their joint ability to bring multiple cultures, countries, dialects and customs together for one common goal-making the global world feel smaller, and embracing the diﬀerences as much as the similarities. In this International Issue, we focus on retail that may be located in various regions throughout the globe, but that all practice the same sound retail principles-from Costa Rica to Tokyo to Mumbai. Illustration by JESSE LEFKOWITZ http://www.DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of design:retail - August 2014

design:retail - August 2014
Contents
Editor’s Note
Show Talk
On Trend
We Love This!
Designer Picks
Innovation
Postcard
How’d They Do That?
Have You Heard?
Mingle
The Visual Eye
Searching for Steve Jobs
Global Designer Roundup
ALMACENES SIMAN
The Arvind Store
diptyque
Products
Backstory

design:retail - August 2014