The pandemic has affected every industry, and retail has been hit particularly hard. Guests Kathy Craft Rich, industrial practice leader at NELSON Worldwide, and Robyn Novak, retail practice leader of FRCH NELSON, talk about what challenges retailers are facing now to keep shoppers safe, as well as envisioning how retail design may change in a post-COVID world. Listen below.
About our guests:
As NELSON Worldwide’s national industrial practice lead, Kathy Craft brings with her more than 30 years of architectural experience in management, construction documents, and construction administration. Kathy is a driving force behind design and architecture and has established a solid reputation with local and national developers, end-users, brokers, and general contractors for delivering as promised.
Former owner and Principal of Craft Architects, Kathy's portfolio includes a pioneering industrial project for Prologis, which was the first multistory warehouse of its kind in the United States at Georgetown Crossroads in Seattle. In addition, she is currently watching NELSON’s Triangle Equities 5-story industrial building go up in Queens. Other noteworthy clients include developers and end-users including: Panattoni Development, Dermody Partners, Trammell Crow Company, First Industrial, Duke Realty, Bridge Development Partners, The Benaroya Company, Seneca Group, Capstone Partners, Black Creek Group, CenterPoint, International Airport Center, Blue Origin, McLendon Hardware, Spectrum Controls, B/E Aerospace, Korry Electronics, CBRE, and Harper Engineering.
As a design leader on the development of multiple domestic and international brand experiences, Robyn creates retail environments that leverage consumer insights and progressive design thinking. She leads a team of retail strategists and designers to develop unique experiences ranging from first-generation retail to scalable design solutions for some of the world’s biggest brands. From retail strategy through conceptual design and documentation.
Robyn’s philosophy is to master form and function in every design solution. She integrates documentation and resource design partners to ensure design intent is maintained throughout the design process. Robyn’s professional experiences include Tiffany & Co., Luxottica, Aveda, Macy’s, Procter & Gamble, J. Crew, COVERGIRL, Hush Puppies, Sprint, T-Mobile, Build-A-Bear, Ballard, Frontgate, American Girl, and Duty-Free Stores.
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About the Author
Robert Nieminen
Chief Content Director
Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.