design:retail - September 2016 - 57

057 Chief Creative Officer, Anthropologie Key Projects: Large-format Anthropologie stores, Portland, Ore., Newport Beach, Calif. M ↑ A collection of Peltz's favorite things from her office. Missy Peltz ISSY PELTZ HAS more than 25 years of industry experience, much of it with Anthropologie. Her team is responsible for the oft-admired look and feel of Anthropologie stores, which are known for imbuing customers with a sense of wonder and discovery. Recently, the company started supersizing its stores from around 7,000 sq. ft. to somewhere between 20,000 sq. ft. and 30,000 sq. ft. These large-format stores, opened recently in Portland, Ore., and Newport Beach, Calif., exemplify the company's move toward larger stores that feature expanded sections for "trend shops," dress shops, intimates, shoes and home goods. "The most interesting project that I worked on this year has been 'the reinvention of retail,'" Peltz says. "We have challenged ourselves to look deeper at our in-store experience and re-engage our customer through tactile experiences to combat the digital age. It's been fascinating to explore new merchandising methodologies with the team." Peltz credits her success with trusting her gut and not being overly concerned with trends and what other people are doing. "Design is best when you can realize your own vision," she explains. "I have always been true to my gut and have followed it my entire career. It has not always been the popular or trendiest perspective, but I continue to enjoy and take pride in my work every day. We are all destined to make mistakes and at times those mistakes become catalysts for positive change. Embrace imperfection." CEO, Perennial Group of Companies Key Projects: BAUER's Own the Moment Hockey Experience stores; Royal Bank of Canada go-to-market distribution model; Spencer's, India I T HAS BEEN a busy year for Christopher Lund and Toronto-based Perennial. His comprehensive design firm was integral in creating hockey giant BAUER's first foray into retail with its Own the Moment Hockey Experience stores, which celebrate the sport, emphasize customized fits and even offer an indoor ice rink for those who desire to try out their new gear. For Spencer's, Perennial expanded and differentiated the Indian grocer's presence in its home country with express stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. Given his background in marketing and advertising at the Bank of Montreal, Lund brought real-world expertise to helping Perennial create a go-to-market distribution model for the Royal Bank of Canada. Lund left the client side in 1999, when he decided to make the move to help create and expand the Perennial Group of Companies. "Today, we have several operating companies in different parts of the world that all utilize creativity and innovation to add value to products, retailers and the markets they serve," he says. Having been on both sides of the table, Lund brings a unique perspective to retail design and branding. "Design is at the fulcrum of an organization's business strategy and the desired experiences that customers are looking to embrace," he explains. "Our job is to balance those needs and create sustainably differentiated retail expressions. Success comes from mastering the massively complex methodology required to do this such that the final proposition is beautifully simplistic to all stakeholders involved." Christopher Lund

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