Thought Leadership
Lyn Falk, Retail Design Industry Expert, President & Founder of Retailworks, Inc.
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!
Learn from Lyn and discover how to take your business to the next level!
Seminar & Workshop Topics:
- Store Designs That Move Hearts, Minds & Merchandise – Designing a Profitable Retail Interior
- Creating an Emotionally Engaging Customer/Visitor Experience
- The 12 Chapters to Retail Storytelling via Brand, Design, Merchandising & Display
- Branding Your Shopper’s Experience, From Beginning to End
- Omni-Channel Retailing – Creating a Consistent, Branded 2-D/3-D Shopping Experience 24/7/365
- Proven Display Tactics and Visual Merchandising Techniques
- Turning Vacant Storefronts Into Windows of Opportunity
- Finding Your “Sticky Factor” and Creating a Memorable Brand/Experience For Your Downtown (It’s More Than a New Logo!)
- 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.
“I’ve booked Lyn Falk for multiple speaking engagements and panel sessions for jewelry industry conferences, and she’s become my go-to expert for retail design, visual merchandising, and in-store branding. She’s incredibly professional and engaging, with a talent for making overwhelming concepts accessible to the audience.
What I love most, besides Lyn being so reliable and on top of things as a speaker, is that attendees always leave with practical takeaways they can implement immediately. Her real-world experience and presentation visuals translate into actionable insights that actually move the needle for businesses. Highly recommend her for any retail-focused event!”
Jen Cullen Williams
Communications Strategist , PR & Media Relations for RX Shows: Functional Fabric Fair | JCK | Vision Expo
“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
“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!!”
“Lyn spoke [to the] …Women’s Focus luncheon about how the design of our business environments affects our customers and ultimately impacts our bottom line. Her examples applied to retail, [and[ corporate…[spaces]. Her presentation was energetic, humorous and educational. The feedback I received from Focus members and guests at the luncheon was extremely positive. I had many requests to have her speak again. I would highly recommend Lyn as a speaker or educator.“
“…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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“Thank you so much! You did a great presentation that will benefit our business communities.
I hope to work with you again soon.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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!”
“…those that attended gave huge reviews and marked it as one of the favorites.”
“… have had nothing but positive comments including ‘AWESOME’! Thanks again, you were AWESOME.”
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
*Repeat speaking engagements
Jewelry
Atlanta Jewelry Show*, Atlanta, GA 2024
Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), Chicago, IL, 2024
InStore Show*, Rosemont, IL, 2023, 2024, 2025
JCK Las Vegas, NV, 2025
Jewelers of America (JA), NYC,
Jewelers International Showcase (JIS), Miami, FL, 2024
Kessler’s Diamonds Company Mtg 2023
Leading Jewelers Guild, Charlotte, NC, 2025; Irvine, CA, 2025
Retail Jewelers Organization (RJO)*, 2024
Shoe
National Shoe Retailer’s Association* Conference – Keynote, Breakout, Las Vegas, NV
National Shoe Retailers Association, Educational Leadership Conference* (FL, AZ)
Pet/animal
Global Pet Expo, Orlando, FL, 2025
Zoo & Aquarium Group Conference, Rocky Mountain Gift Show
Wild Birds Unlimited, Indianapolis, IN
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION/SMALL BUSINESS
America’s SBDC, 2022, 2025
Destination Downtown Main Street Presentation (AR, LA, MS), 2023
Empty Storefronts Conference*
Heart on Main Street Webinar, 2023, 2025
Heart on Main Street Presentation at Dallas Market, 2024
Main Street America Conferences 2014-2023
National Main Streets Visual Merchandising Webinars
Great Lakes Main Street Conference, 2021
Oregon State Main Street Conference, 2021
Southern Illinois University Innovation & Economic Development Department* 2019-2021
Annual Governor’s Conference on Downtown Revitalization* Keynote, Breakouts
Small Business Times Expo
Retail & Visual Merchandising
AVB Brand Source Summit*
Chain Store Age Executive SPECS Conference Display & Design Ideas
GlobalShop*
International Council of Shopping Centers*
NeoCon World’s Trade Fair
The Retail Design & Construction Conference & Expo
Sears, National Visual Presentation Managers Conference*
Shop! Marketplace, Cincinnati, OH 2024
Shopper Brain Conference*
Wisconsin Resale Retailers Association
Interior Design & Architecture
American Institute of Architects (AIA)/Int’l Interior Design Assoc. (IIDA) Wisconsin Convention
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Wisconsin Chapter
Chicago Design Show
Center for Advanced Technology & Innovation
Interior Design Coalition of Wisconsin/Design Coalition
Int’l Interior Design Association (IIDA) – Wisconsin Chapter
Healthcare Design Conference & Expo (previously known as National Symposium on Healthcare Design*)
Metro Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee*
Racine-Kenosha Builders Association
What’s Next Event, ASID Wisconsin Conference
ASID Wisconsin Interior Design Career Day*
Consumer Products, Services & Speciality Markets
AERIAL (Professional Salon Industry)*
Aqua International
Capital City Distribution (Comic Book Industry)
Face & Body Conference & Expo (Skin Inc.), San Francisco, CA
Futon Assoc. of North America Expo & Conference
Garden Center Show, Milwaukee, WI 2022, 2023
Hearth Products Assoc.
International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market
Mercury Marine/Quicksilver Conference
– 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
Sta-Rite – The SPDA Conference
The Institute of Beauty & Wellness 20-Year “All Company” Conference
Marketing, Leadership & Business Strategy
American Marketing Association
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.
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Hallmark Building Supply
Madison Gas & Electric, Marketing Tools Programs*
Ozaukee County WI Women’s FOCUS group
SE2 Leadership Conferences
Wisconsin Credit Union League Marketing Conference
Wisconsin Milestone Conference
Women in Business Conference*
Sustainability, Environmental & Innovation
Invited to Speak at the World Congress on Environmental Design for the New Millennium, Seoul, Korea
Energy Center of Wisconsin, Better Buildings: Better Business Conference*
Urban Ecology Center*, Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance*