The Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.), an international not-for-profit trade organization representing the retail environments industry, is now accepting entries for its 2015 Design Awards. Any company involved in a project is allowed to enter into the competition, including retailers, design firms, fixture manufacturers and architectural firms.
At 44 years, the A.R.E. Design Awards is the longest-running industry competition, says the group, offering numerous chances to win and be recognized. The A.R.E. Design Awards feature 25 categories including discount/mass merchant, grocery stores, department stores, pop-up and service retail, specialty retail merchant and sustainability.
Each year, A.R.E. gives special recognition for Sustainable Project of the Year, Fixture of the Year, Visual Presentation of the Year, and Store of the Year. Last year, A.R.E. received more than 250 submissions.
A.R.E. also recognizes individual elements including store fixtures, visual presentations, flooring, in-store communications, lighting and wall treatments. Judging is done by a panel of retail and design experts who look at various criteria including: excellence in design, originality in the use of space and materials and quality in executing the total concept.
“Our Design Awards recognize the best of the best in our industry,” said Todd Dittman, executive director of A.R.E. “We provide an opportunity for firms that have done something special during the year to show it off and be recognized publicly for their creativity and innovation. It’s a prestigious honor that I think gives winners an edge when they compete for business throughout the year.”
Applicants can submit online by clicking here. The final deadline to enter is January 15, 2015. Anyone who enters prior to December 15, 2014, will save $200 on the entry fee. Grand prize winners will be announced at the A.R.E. Design Awards program on Tuesday, March 24, held in Las Vegas during the first day of GlobalShop. All winning projects will be featured in the A.R.E. Winners Book print publication, on A.R.E.’s Web site and in industry media. A.R.E. members qualify for significant discounts on submissions.
