VM ID

Opening set-up at Aimee Boutique in Ottawa 🤍

We supported with hands-on visual merchandising ex*****on, helping bring the retail concept to life on the floor.

In women’s fashion boutiques, it’s easy to overpack. But when racks are tight and tables are crowded, even strong product starts to lose impact.

For this space, the focus was simple: give the product room. Clear zoning. Thoughtful colour grouping. Breathing space between garments. Feature moments that allow key pieces to stand on their own.

When good product is presented with intention, it naturally feels more elevated.
More from this project is live in our gallery at vm-id.com/gallery





RetailExecution

We were honoured to contribute another article to Magazine, this time focusing on what retail spaces need to prioritize as we move into 2026.

The piece was distributed at , where many of the conversations on the floor echoed the same themes we’re seeing across independent and brand-led retail.

The article looks at how physical retail continues to evolve through balance, not trends alone. Experience and clarity, storytelling and function, inspiration and conversion. These elements are becoming increasingly important to how retail spaces need to perform.

For retailers and designers planning new spaces or refreshes this year, the focus isn’t on doing more. It’s about being more intentional with how space supports the customer journey.

There are many thoughtful pieces throughout this issue. If you’re flipping through the magazine, our article can be found on page 80, and it’s also available online via RetailStyle Magazine at torontomarketweek.ca/magazine/winter-2026

As we settle back into the new year, it’s a good moment to revisit some of the holiday projects that brought neighbourhoods together through retail.

Gingerbread Lane was a holiday window display initiative designed to spotlight local talent and encourage walkability along Yonge–St. Clair. The Yonge-St Clair BIA invited local bakeries to create gingerbread houses, which were displayed in storefront windows across the neighbourhood and voted on by visitors throughout the season.

Our role was to design and execute the window display framework that brought the program together. We developed the visual concept, sourced the supporting materials, and installed the displays so the already beautiful gingerbread houses were elevated, clearly visible, and not missed by passersby.

Rather than treating each storefront as a standalone window display, the focus was on alignment across the street. This allowed the neighbourhood to feel cohesive and intentional, while supporting independent retailers and participating businesses collectively.

This project was one of five Holiday 2025 initiatives we reflected on in our January blog, looking at how visual merchandising, window displays, and retail design were used across BIAs, markets, independent retailers, and national brands.

Full holiday recap is now live on the blog.
Photos provided by