Retail Thought Leadership

Lyn Falk, President & Founder of Retailworks, Inc. has 30+ years of retail expertise to share!
Need someone to interview for an article?  Lead an impactful seminar? Serve as speaker at a conference? Look no further than Lyn Falk, retail industry expert and thought leader. 

International speaker, Lyn Falk, has spoken to thousands of business owners, retailers, interior designers and students over the past 30 years, about the importance of design on occupant behavior and the bottom line. She has highlighted her experience, streamlined her research, and distilled the information into inspiring and digestible seminars with action items that will breathe new life into your downtown or business. Her message challenges existing perceptions and strives to inspire new ideas that work in harmony with our rapidly changing world. After you hear her speak, you’ll never look at your built environment the same way again.

Available Services:

– Interviews: Podcasts, Television, Radio, Print or Digital Publications

– Content Creation: Audio, Written (digital or print), Video

– Speaking: Conferences and tradeshows, webinars, retreats, private events

– Seminars & Workshops: Choose your topic and let Lyn handle the rest

Need Lyn’s expertise in another format? Let us know!

Seminar

Use Lyn Falk’s expertise to make your business more profitable!

Seminar & Workshop Topics:

  • Store Designs that Move Minds & Merchandise – Designing a profitable retail interior for YOUR target market
  • Creating a Powerful Customer Experience
  • Turning Vacant Storefronts into Windows of Opportunity
  • Proven Display Tactics and Visual Merchandising Techniques
  • Finding your “Sticky Factor” and Creating a Memorable Brand for your Downtown (it’s more than a new logo!)
  • Creating a Memorable Downtown Experience
  • The New Design Paradigm Based on the Immutable Laws of Nature – Understanding Left-Brain, Right-Brain Decision Making (CEU credits available for Interior Designers)

Or, we are happy to create a seminar to fit your audience’s specific needs.

“You have wonderful ideas and (a) great understanding of business. Finally someone with a design sense and the ability to understand the bottom line is selling product.”

Anonymous

“After your presentation, you made me realize that my self-set goals are attainable – just not over night. You have given me hope. You have given me a light at the end of the tunnel! You are my valium! As I stated, I do not participant in most programs / presentations. I am a skeptic. With your presentation, I was the sponge that saturated every word you spoke. In fact, I have to admit, I was sorry it had to end. I wanted more. I left as a sponge totally saturated and dripping with information. I can’t wait to share everything you presented with our dealers! I have no doubt that anyone who takes advantage of your presentation and personal consult will benefit in increased sales.”

Catherine BeCraft
Proprietor of River District Antique Mall

“The show was a huge success and we received an over-whelming response to your conference session…the presentation was informative and thought provoking. Some comments from attendees were: ‘Execution of topic was delightful and very up beat’ ‘Fantastic sensory stimulation!”

Jeannie Anderson
Conference Coordinator from GlobalShop, Chicago, IL

“Thank you with all my heart for the genuine work you provided our business owners this week. We are so fortunate to have had you come to town and look at us from a new perspective! Your expertise and sincere interest in each business were so apparent. Thank you very much, Lyn!”

Sue Besser
Executive Director of Downtown Rhinelander, WI

“Just wanted to say thanks and let you know we received some great feedback from your workshop and consultations. Local business owners were able to walk away with actionable advice on how to improve sales and profits in their retail stores.”

Greg Bouhl
Director, SIU Entrepreneurship and Business Development, Carbondale, IL

“On behalf of Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, I want to extend a heart-felt thank you for your commitment to making the second “Great Lakes Main Street Virtual Mini-Conference” so successful. Your presentation truly impressed and inspired all who attended. We continue to receive positive feedback and are very grateful for your efforts.”

Dennis Spinner & Abigail Chapman
Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs

“…Thank you for your time and your willingness to share your vast knowledge with our franchises. You were a key component to the overall success of the convention.”

Dan Sterling
CEO of Breadsmith Franchising, Inc

“Lyn Falk is one of our favorite and most requested consultants. She has done a great job with presentations and one–on–one consultations with businesses. I see the results of her work every time I am in a Main Street community that has used her services.”

Jim Engle
Director of Wisconsin Main Street Program

“I love Lyn!…I could not have been more pleased with your selection of Lyn Falk to work with my downtown!…I am not artistically inclined and never held a view of what really can influence a customer or purchase through good design.”

Barb Nelson
Director of Monroe Main Street, Monroe, WI

“You were a real star at the Sentara Healthcare workshop! Everyone is still buzzing about how you took a subject this is so foreign to health care professionals and presented it in such an engaging manner that you had them learning and listening intently. The consensus was that the awareness level you raised, coupled with your expertise, will serve as a catalyst to moving Sentara into the ‘retail mentality’ that they are seeking to create. I look forward to recommending you to other clients…A sincere ‘thank you’ for a fabulous workshop!”

Margie Johnson
Owner/President, ShopTalk

“… have had nothing but positive comments including ‘AWESOME’! Thanks again, you were AWESOME.”

Gil Meisgeier
Director, Portage Main Street, WI

“…those that attended gave huge reviews and marked it as one of the favorites.”

Raghela Scavuzzo
Executive Director, Illinois Specialty Growers Association

“Lyn, I thoroughly enjoyed your workshop today. You gave such food for thought and even confirmed that some of our concept thinking was on the right track — which is extremely motivating when embarking on a new community project!!”

Ellen Gano
Volunteer at Wheeling Heritage, West Virginia

“Thank you so much! You did a great presentation that will benefit our business communities.

I hope to work with you again soon.”

Gretchen M Havreluk
Economic Development Consultant Town of Wilmington, VT

“What a gem we have found in you! You have made such a tremendous difference in our industry, Your expertise in visual merchandising is so valuable…You have given our customers such important guidance with your creative ideas in retailing, visual merchandising and display.”

Janet Sperstad
Education Events Manager, with Aerial Company, Inc.

“I can’t express adequately how much I appreciated your presentation… about retail space design at the AVB Summit in Las Vegas. We are new to this industry, and your insight was impressively informative, extraordinarily helpful, and so inspirational. Your presentation was memorable and invaluable. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!”

Tracy Ainslie
Heartland Homestore, Sturgis, SD

“Thank you again for an incredible presentation and innovation, as you know, I was very impressed and had a hard time holding back my enthusiasm. … you and your team did an inspiring job and this new look will take us to a whole new level of retailing in the drugstore industry, we were also very impressed with your research of the difference between Canadians and Americans, you we’re very accurate.”

Paulette Parry
Director of Marketing, Pharmasave, Vancouver, BC, Canada

What Prior Attendees are Saying!

“this is the best presentation I have attended within this field”

“fantastic, would like to hear more”

“[you] spoke realistically to the small business person”

“I could listen to you for 6 hours”

“very knowledgeable speaker”

“I have lots of ideas to take back”

Past Speaking Engagements

*groups Lyn has spoken to more than one time

International/National

Atlanta Jewelry Show*, Atlanta, GA 2024
AERIAL (Professional Salon Industry)*
America’s SBDC, San Diego, CA, 2022
Aqua International
AR, LA, MS Destination Downtown Main Street Presentation, 2023
AVB Brand Source Summit*, Las Vegas, NV, 2020, 2022

Capital City Distribution (Comic Book Industry)
Chain Store Age Executive SPECS Conference Display & Design Ideas
Empty Storefronts Conference*
Face & Body Conference & Expo (Skin Inc.), San Francisco, CA
Futon Assoc. of North America Expo & Conference
Garden Center Show, Milwaukee, WI 2022, 2023
GlobalShop*, Chicago, IL; Las Vegas, NV
Heart on Main Street Webinar, 2023
Heart on Main Street Presentation at Dallas Market, 2024

Hearth Products Assoc.
Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), Chicago, IL, 2024
InStore Show, Rosemont, IL, 2023, 2024

International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market
International Council of Shopping Centers*
Jewelers of America (JA), NYC, NY 2024
Jewelers International Showcase (JIS), Miami, FL, 2024
Sta-Rite – The SPDA Conference
Invited to Speak at the World Congress on Environmental Design for the New Millennium, Seoul, Korea
Mercury Marine/Quicksilver
– Canadian Dealer Conference
– International Sales Conference
– New Zealand Dealer Conference
– Women Marine Professional Seminar
National Booksellers
National Cooperative Grocers Assoc., Albuquerque, NM
National Flag Dealers Association (virtual), 2020
National Main Street Conferences
– Boston, MA 2000, 2023
– Virtual Conference, 2021
– Kansas City, MO, 2018
– Pittsburgh, PA, 2017
– Milwaukee, WI, 2016
– Atlanta, GA 2015
– Detroit, MI 2014
National Main Streets Visual Merchandising Webinars 2016, 2017
National Shoe Retailer’s Association* Conference – Keynote, Breakout, Las Vegas, NV
National Shoe Retailers Association, Educational Leadership Conference* (FL, AZ)
National Symposium on Healthcare Design*
NeoCon World’s Trade Fair
The Retail Design & Construction Conference & Expo
Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO)
– St Louis, MO, 2024
– Virtual, 2020

Sears, National Visual Presentation Managers Conference*
Shop! Marketplace, Cincinnati, OH 2024

Shopper Brain Conference
– New York New York City, NY, 2018
– Amsterdam, Holland, 2019
Zoo & Aquarium Group Conference, Rocky Mountain Gift Show

Regional

American Marketing Assoc.
Chicago Design Show
Chicago Merchandise Mart, Tuesday Design Forum
Chicago’s Center for Green Technology
Chicagoland Home Expo
CSI’s (Construction Specifiers) “Building the Sustainable Future”
East Coast Hobby Show
Environmental Law & Policy Ctr, Chicago Green Restaurant Assoc.
Great Lakes Main Street Conference, 2021
Oregon State Main Street Conference, 2021
Southern Illinois University – Innovation & Economic Development Department* 2019-2021
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Wild Birds Unlimited, Indianapolis, IN

 

 

Click here for list of downtown communities in which Lyn has spoken.

Wisconsin

American Institute of Architects (AIA)/Int’l Interior Design Assoc. (IIDA)
  Wisconsin Convention
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)-Wisconsin Chapter
Annual Governor’s Conference on Downtown Revitalization*
  Keynote, Breakouts
Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation
Energy Center of Wisconsin – Better Buildings: Better Business Conference*
Hallmark Building Supply
The Institute of Beauty & Wellness 20-Year “All Company” Conference
Interior Design Coalition of Wisconsin
Int’l Interior Design Association (IIDA) – Wisconsin Chapter
Madison Gas & Electric, Marketing Tools Programs*
Milwaukee Small Business Times Expo
 
Milwaukee Metropolitan Builders Assoc.*
Ozaukee County WI Women’s FOCUS group
Racine-Kenosha Builders Association
SE2 Leadership Conferences
Urban Ecology Center* – Milwaukee, WI
What’s Next Event, ASID Wisconsin Conference
Wisconsin Credit Union League Marketing Conference
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance*
Wisconsin Interior Design Career Day*
Wisconsin Milestone Conference
Wisconsin Resale Retailers Association
Women in Business Conference*

 

Click here for list of Wisconsin communities in which Lyn has spoken.

Educational Institutions

Created Visual Mechandising Curriculum and taught the class for senior Retail Students at University of Wisconsin – Madison (several semesters)
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI – guest lecturer*
Milwaukee Area Technical College – guest lecturer*
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design – guest lecturer
Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI – guest lecturer*
University of Milwaukee, WI – guest lecturer*
University of Southern Illinois – guest lecturer*

Lyn would be honored to inspire, engage and educate your team.