Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 3PM | The Venue on Music RowEVENT PROGRAM
3:00PM: Welcome Guests
Arrival & Networking
3:15PM: Welcome Remarks
Todd Sachse & Jeremy Gershonowicz
with Nicole Jarecz (Artist-in-Residence)
3:30PM: Program Begins
Building Adventure:
How Rivian Turns Retail into Exploration
At Rivian, retail is part of the adventure. Join Creative Directors Liz Guerrero (Design & Brand Experience) and Lotte van Velzen (Environments) as they share how Rivian Spaces replace the traditional showroom with immersive environments filled with natural materials, interactive displays, and vehicles staged like they’re ready to head off-road. Guests can explore the technology, customize their vehicle, relax in lounge areas, or attend community events, all in spaces designed to spark curiosity and connection, and transform each location into a destination that captures the brand’s spirit of adventure.
Building Time:
Crafting Emotion at the Breguet Boutique
After 250 years of watchmaking mastery, Breguet, a historic Maison and a cornerstone luxury brand of the Swatch Group continues to elevate how its heritage and innovation are brought to life across boutiques worldwide. From flagship houses in Paris and New York to curated spaces in Zurich and Hong Kong, its boutiques are designed as destinations for discovery, craftsmanship, and connection. Join Vincent Brasesco, Brand President of Breguet U.S. & Canada, in conversation with Geoff Hess, Global Head of Watches, Sotheby’s, as they explore how thoughtful design, exceptional hospitality, and strategic expansion bring Breguet’s legendary craftsmanship and emotional resonance to every location.
Building Cool Beans:
Reimagining the Coffee Shop
Nespresso is redefining what coffee retail can be, from immersive boutiques around the world, to its newest, largest flagship in New York City’s Flatiron district. Join Susanna Forteleoni, Director of Retail, Nespresso USA, in conversation with Cynthia Ortiz from MBH Architects as they explore how design expresses this global retail strategy, blending product, experience, and community. They’ll reveal how elements like hidden coffee bars, lively lounge corners, and interactive storefront displays invite exploration both at the NYC flagship and across Nespresso’s evolving boutique network.
Building Retail Magic:
An Experience with David Gerard
Welcome world-class mentalist David Gerard to the stage for a live performance that blurs the line between illusion, psychology, and storytelling. Through mind-bending demonstrations and audience participation, Gerard will reveal how attention, anticipation, and surprise, shape the way people experience the world. Get ready for mind reading, impossible predictions, and moments that will make you question what you see and think differently about how great retail can capture imagination, create emotional moments, and turn curiosity into connection.
Building Destinations:
The Power of the Experience Economy
The most successful retail spaces today don’t feel like retail at all. Join Hayyim Danzig, Vice President of Construction at Five Iron Golf, Luka Novak, and Doug Schnell, Chief Development Officers at Museum of Illusions and Level99, in conversation with Todd Sachse, CEO of Sachse Construction, as they explore how experiential design turns physical spaces into destinations. From illusion-filled exhibits to technology-driven urban golf venues to immersive, challenge-based entertainment, these brands demonstrate how interactive, social experiences, designed for participation and repeat visits, are reshaping the way people engage with entertainment, hospitality, and retail.