Retail’s finest to take centre stage at 2025 Creative Retail Awards in spectacular new theatre venue

The Creative Retail Awards has announced the 2025 shortlist, showcasing innovation and excellence across the global retail industry. This year’s ceremony will introduce a dramatic new setting, taking place at London’s newly opened Emerald Theatre on 25th September 2025.

With over 20 categories spanning visual merchandising, store design, digital integration and sustainable design, the Awards continue to highlight the strength of the retail design sector. The shortlist also recognises the wider creative design and experience industry, where innovation across hospitality, leisure and lifestyle environments increasingly shapes how brands connect with their audiences.

The shortlist was compiled following a dedicated in-person judging roundtable, where a panel of high-profile industry experts convened to assess and deliberate over a full day. The session involved rigorous discussion and detailed evaluation to ensure a balanced and transparent outcome. The result is a strong and independent final shortlist that reflects standout innovation and execution across the sector.

Antony Behiels, Director at the Shop & Display Equipment Association and event organiser, said: “This year’s shortlist is filled with projects that capture the ambition, energy and ingenuity driving the sector forward. The standard was exceptionally high, and our judges had incredibly hard decisions to make when narrowing it down. Every shortlisted entry deserves recognition for the quality and impact of their work.”

The 2025 event venue, the Emerald Theatre, provides an ideal backdrop for an industry that increasingly draws on theatrical elements to engage customers. From immersive retail environments to experiential displays, the shared language of drama and design connects retail and theatre more closely than ever.

The Creative Retail Awards recognise a broad scope of achievements, with categories covering everything from POP displays and window design to omnichannel innovation and sustainable design. The shortlist spans the breadth of the creative design and experience sector. The event will also include the announcement of the publicly voted SDD Concept of the Year winner, followed by the reveal of the coveted Design Agency of the Year, recognising overall creative excellence across multiple disciplines, and the inaugural Trailblazer Award – celebrating a person, brand or initiative admired for their influence, vision and inspirational impact on the industry.

The complete list of shortlisted entries is available now at www.creativeretailawards.com in a newly released Shortlist Guide, providing a detailed look at the nominated projects.

Tickets for the 2025 ceremony are now on sale. Guests can choose from a range of seating options – including traditional Theatre Seats, Luxe Seating and the Creative Retail Awards’ Signature Sofas – offering a variety of ways to experience the night in comfort and style. Demand will be high, and with availability limited, early booking is strongly advised to secure a place at this unmissable event in the retail calendar. Visit the Creative Retail Awards Box Office at www.creativeretailawards.com/tickets to secure your places today.