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In the dynamic landscape of retail, stand-out branding is not just beneficial; it's essential. When the time comes to revitalize a retail hub, several key considerations come into play. Here's an exploration of six innovative approaches to rebranding retail destinations.1. A New Name for a New EraGone are the days when terms like 'plaza' or 'center' could captivate a consumer's attention. Today's retail oases must evoke curiosity and excitement. A prime example is the transformation of Northtown Plaza into "Station Twelve"—a name resonating with the local history of Amherst, New York. This single change promises a renewed allure and a simplified identity that sparks intrigue.2. Honoring Local Vibrance The most compelling brands weave in narratives of the local community. Ask yourself these questions when rebranding:What makes this area unique? What historical anecdotes can flavor the branding? What cultural or leisure activities define the local lifestyle? Could local artists add a touch of authenticity? Ingraining local elements fosters a community's bond with the brand at its inception, enhancing the sense of ownership and pride.3. Crafting Eventful Encounters Bolster the appeal of the shopping center by orchestrating experiential events that turn the space into a communal hub. Aim for offerings that complement digital shopping by providing unique, in-person experiences. For instance, food truck gatherings and outdoor movie nights cater to the local clientele's tastes and preferences, creating a community magnet that far surpasses the draw of online retail.4. Visionary Use of Vacant Spaces Creative repurposing of vacant spaces can transform dead zones into dynamic spots. Co-working spaces, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities are excellent examples of how unused areas can be reinvented to serve community needs. Our initiative at The Shops at Hilltop, infusing co-working realms above retail floors, exemplifies such innovative adaptation.5. Rethinking Retail Layouts Another transformative strategy is to bring what was once inside, out. Reenvisioning large indoor spaces as open-air lifestyle destinations can revamp a mall’s entire atmosphere. This tactic, employed in the redesign of College Mall by Simon Properties, represents a shift towards creating a more engaging shopping experience.6. Streamlined Navigational Flow The ease with which people can find their way around is crucial. Effective wayfinding and signage ensure a seamless entry, visit, and exit from the retail center. Thoughtful placement of exterior and interior signage, like the redesigned monumental signage for Golden Gate, serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose—guiding visitors while enhancing the center's visual ambience, even potentially masking any eyesores such as inconveniently long drive-thru queues.In conclusion, rebranding a retail space requires a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep connection with the local culture. Whether it's through a memorable name, engaging events, innovative space utilization, or seamless navigation, each element plays a pivotal role in writing the next successful chapter of a retail center's story.Feel free to tailor this content to match your style and add any additional elements that you believe would enhance your post further.

Reinventing Retail Spaces: A Guide to Modern Rebranding

<figure></figure><h2>Introducing Chica Branding &amp; Design</h2><figure id="figure-tapwpipnblo7mfw2k"><img id="tapwpipnblo7mfw2k" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1ctaOdq9amhYkVSxGUndYw3KbEjjxJY9NIn6q36iQetHPH8H0N3tnXpuM1joXjse.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1ctaOdq9amhYkVSxGUndYw3KbEjjxJY9NIn6q36iQetHPH8H0N3tnXpuM1joXjse.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Our creativity is shaped by our education, experiences, and various influences such as culture, music, literature, history, upbringing, and our real-time perspectives on the world. Embracing our creativity, we venture into business to share our passion with others. In the realm of commerce, we compete with fellow designers and creative agencies created with similar aspirations. Globalization has shown us that we are not alone—creative communities exist worldwide, but until now, they have mostly worked in isolation within their local ecosystems.In 2019, a group of design companies in Santiago, Chile, contemplated the concept of creativity as a universal currency with the potential for translation across borders and around the globe. They considered whether advancements in technology, design experience, improved project processes, and refined operational management could enable their creativity and design skills to be 'exported' beyond their country or even their continent. Intrigued by this proposition, the Economic Development Ministry of the Chilean government (CORFO) decided to participate in seeding this venture by exploring the possibility of this and eventually bringing other Chilean design companies together to see what could come out of it.Marawan El-Asfahani, a former co-founder of Oxygen Design Agency and Jacknife Design, and a former RGD board member, now works as a creative industry management consultant at <a href="https://bobbysugar.com/" data-mce-href="https://bobbysugar.com/">Bobby Sugar</a>. He was brought on board to lead, mentor, and facilitate business strategies for this collective of design companies, which later grew to include eleven of the top branding design firms in Chile. What once were competitors now collaborate as a united group.<figure id="figure-ep48sdsim4lo7lmnbg"><img id="ep48sdsim4lo7lmnbg" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0gAjynvYXHRs3AV89OtZuQ0Nud1qxEHttJMIOvBLTGE29D4r6uaZw0CsZKcYlt8I.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Juan Pablo leading Chica during a strategy session." data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0gAjynvYXHRs3AV89OtZuQ0Nud1qxEHttJMIOvBLTGE29D4r6uaZw0CsZKcYlt8I.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Juan Pablo leading Chica during a strategy session.</figcaption></figure>Together with Marawan, these companies explored the possibilities of globalizing their creativity for markets outside South America. They collectively chose to merge all eleven design firms into a single agency called <a href="https://wearechica.com/" data-mce-href="https://wearechica.com/">Chica Branding &amp; Design</a>. As a unified agency, Chica combined their talents, resources, segment expertise, and diverse portfolios, and developed a unified process for working with clients in North America. Managing Partner at Chica, Juan Pablo Schiattino, commented, "Our team is excited to bring our unique South American approach to the Canadian design scene and capture the synergy between these culturally rich regions."<figure id="figure-4pxi9d0m1lo7lp173"><iframe id="4pxi9d0m1lo7lp173" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldA_wc0FecM" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldA_wc0FecM" data-corners="default" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ldA_wc0FecM" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></iframe></figure>Chica prides itself on its diverse, talented team of hardworking, multilingual individuals boasting a wide range of creative skills. This diversity cultivates creativity in every project and offers added value to their clients.<figure id="figure-tsx53k538slo7lphxg"><img id="tsx53k538slo7lphxg" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2fj0FdgeG9RKTWNzDHwrmj6jR7uk0NcULrDtGF0bILilHx6fsLWB0NmWv4UPIxAy.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Bellavista Bella Campaign Branding" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2fj0FdgeG9RKTWNzDHwrmj6jR7uk0NcULrDtGF0bILilHx6fsLWB0NmWv4UPIxAy.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Bellavista Bella Campaign Branding</figcaption></figure>Nine of Chica's graphic designers have been selected as the top female designers in Latin America after a comprehensive two-year survey of over 500 designers across 20 Latin countries. Their exceptional, diverse, and powerful work was showcased in the <a href="https://ec.cultura.gob.cl/la-tina-publicacion-internacional-que-destaca-a-16-disenadoras-graficas-chilenas/" data-mce-href="https://ec.cultura.gob.cl/la-tina-publicacion-internacional-que-destaca-a-16-disenadoras-graficas-chilenas/">La Tina 001</a> publication.Chica provides a range of comprehensive design services, including branding, editorial work, environmental design, illustrations, packaging, and immersive digital experiences. This integrated approach ensures clients receive all their design needs from under one roof.<figure id="figure-3fqdimhp9nlo7ltkxn"><img id="3fqdimhp9nlo7ltkxn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39jDAOBIfYaeLqJpzbEYvr2Yv0kTaIEArf5P0AokUmbaRJQFZGAfcd0zae7lGKBM.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Espérate Campaign Branding" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39jDAOBIfYaeLqJpzbEYvr2Yv0kTaIEArf5P0AokUmbaRJQFZGAfcd0zae7lGKBM.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Espérate Campaign Branding</figcaption></figure>The agency's impressive designs and innovative strategies have earned them favour with global leaders in various sectors such as education, mining, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and media. Their notable clients include Harvard University, Nike, Nestle, Barrick Gold, Latam, MIT, Santander, and Majen.<figure id="figure-j0t9lmljkplo7lurv1"><img id="j0t9lmljkplo7lurv1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32oHwmtwQxONEv8OL6qnnKtzkxfrZ0LnXD5BhxqgoNdYqPZVbiukEZBTfYauFHXN.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="AOA Editorial Design" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32oHwmtwQxONEv8OL6qnnKtzkxfrZ0LnXD5BhxqgoNdYqPZVbiukEZBTfYauFHXN.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">AOA Editorial Design</figcaption></figure>Chica embodies the core values upon which the company was established, drawing inspiration from their South American perspective and experience. Their team and award-winning portfolio beautifully exemplify these values, aligning with every designer's aspiration to contribute distinctive, impactful, and meaningful creative solutions. Chica is "Principal" run but is also run by "Principles".&nbsp;<figure id="figure-t9hksh7kxclo7lvpnp"><img id="t9hksh7kxclo7lvpnp" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24QjH6x8b8cynsClnktkf4sup13YVOD1fMOQ6s36SdiW78Gt7TKITUGMsfK5crHg.jpg" alt="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Majen Cosmetics Branding" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24QjH6x8b8cynsClnktkf4sup13YVOD1fMOQ6s36SdiW78Gt7TKITUGMsfK5crHg.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Majen Cosmetics Branding </figcaption>Chica's mission is to share insights, showcase their work, tell stories and, most importantly, learn from and engage with the creative community, signifying the beginning of their quest to connect creativity on a global level.</figure>

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Reinventing Retail Spaces: A Guide to Modern Rebranding

A Global Perspective on Creativity from Chile