A bevy. It started with Presenting Sponsor Seven Continents’ idea to make the Welcome Reception at its Toronto headquarters an event, complete with Caribana dancers, body painting and a runway show of spring/summer 2011 fashions. (Truly an affair to remember. Check out the video.)

The next morning Bonnie Brooks, president and ceo of The Bay, shared in the opening keynote the bold moves she took in reinventing the world’s oldest department store—including dropping 800 brands. (And adding 250.) 

Closing keynoter Tim Pfeiffer, former senior vp, global design for Starbucks, walked attendees through the iconic brand’s journey to reconnect with customers—by de-branding its stores. 

Breakout sessions in between covered initiatives such as integrating shoppers’ mobile devices into the store experience … using visual merchandising to connect with local communities … and holding events and using social media to engage Gen X and Y consumers.

Just a sampling of the IRDC experience had by more than 300 store designers and visual merchandisers at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle, October 13-15.