RDI’s India Chapter aims to empower retail experience eco-system

The Indian retail industry is witnessing diverse market trends, technological disruptions and shifting consumer behaviour, all of which have a bearing on the eco-system surrounding it, including the retail design and solutions industry.   

The India Chapter of the Retail Design Institute(RDI) has been officially launched, focused on advancing the retail experience design ecosystem, including retail architects, designers, brand strategists, visual merchandisers, service providers and retail professionals. The idea is to empower them to create exceptional retail environments, as shared by the India Chapter of RDI.  

Sanjay Agarwal, President – RDI India City Centre, told Retail4Growth, speaking about the India launch, “India has become the fifth largest retail destination in the world and is expected to reach 2 trillion dollars by 2032. As brick-and-mortar retail expands, it’s imperative that Indian Retail Design sector elevates its standards and is recognized globally. Retail Design Institute India’s Center under RDI, USA umbrella will create a global platform for all stakeholders in Indian Retail design industry including designers, students, store fit out & technology partners, suppliers etc., and provideample opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, foster community building and provide them voice and recognition.”  

Sharing her thoughts on the India launch with Retail4Growth, Cynthia Hirsch Ortiz, International President - Retail Design Institute, New York, said, "It is a significant milestone in our global expansion as we announce the establishment of the Retail Design Institute's newest City Center in India. Under the capable leadership of City Center President Sanjay Agarwal and Vice President Surender Gnanolivu, this new hub represents our commitment to fostering excellence in retail design across the Indian subcontinent.The India City Center will unite design professionals in a collaborative space where creativity, expertise, and innovation intersect. Mr. Agarwal and Mr. Gnanolivu bring exceptional vision and expertise to their roles, and their commitment to establishing design excellence in India's dynamic retail sector aligns perfectly with our global mission. They have onboarded several key members of the board to ensure success and growth across India.” 

“This expansion reflects our ongoing dedication to building a truly global community of retail design professionals. As we continue to grow, we look forward to the unique perspectives and contributions that our Indian colleagues will bring to our international dialogue on retail design excellence," she added.  

RDI India will endeavorto enhance and elevate standards of retail design and display practice in India by enabling the community to access and adoption of best practices, examples and skill fromestablished global practitioners and markets. As the statement from RDI India said, “We believe in the power of design to shape consumer experiences, and we are committed to making a difference through our work. Our wholistic approach will include Design Thinking, Design Deliveries & Process, Ethics & Fair practice, Benchmarking, Quality standards and Knowledge.”  

RDI India City Centrewill be governed by its USA based principal, founded in 1961, based out of New York and serve India and neighboring regions. Headquartered in Bangalore, the RDI India City Centre has representation across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad.  

RDI Member Benefits 

Core Committee / Leadership team

For more information on RDI India City Centre and membership queries:https://www.retaildesigninstitute.org/india