A.R.E Awards – Store of the Year

Wenger: Maker of the Genuine Swiss Army Knife Boulder, Colo. by Gensler

Invited to craft the first U.S. retail flagship for the 116-year-old Wenger Brand, designers connected the outdoor adventure-loving community to the brand through materials and graphics. A 15-by-9-foot woven wall sculpture of hand-cut logs of pine wrapped in twine is featured at the rear of the store. In addition, the entire collection of current knives is displayed along with the Guinness Book of World Records’ World’s Largest Knife, creating a destination gathering space. A hand-painted wall art mural based on vintage Swiss travel posters provides a colorful visual focus that directs customers to the back of the store while also referencing the rich history of the legendary brand.

Design by Gensler

The Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) is a Hollywood, Fla.-based non-profit trade association representing the retail environments industry. Our 600 member companies include store fixture suppliers, retail design firms, suppliers of visual merchandising products, and suppliers of materials and equipment for the retail environments industry. Member capabilities include importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, engineering, design, and more. A.R.E. Mission: Advance the industry and the success of our member companies.
Las Vegas (March 29, 2011)—The 57 awards presented by the Association for Retail Environments at a ceremony in the Venetian honor the creators of retail theater worldwide.