I’m fascinated that so much good retail-store design advice is coming from India. Maybe it’s because U.S. firms outsource all that tech work to the subcontinent. The privileged classes there now have more disposable income. And they like to spend it in great-looking stores where they can buy an international selection of products they find on the Internet. That’s my take, anyway.

This article in The Times of India shows how good store design spans cultures. “…design is a very important element. Shopping today is about creating an experience and these themes are aimed at making our stores destination points for customers,” says the head of Dockers India.

I also like what the author says about how retail spaces “act as a silent salesperson by motivating a customer to buy.” That has been one of the core beliefs of my design strategy for several decades.

The Internet has enabled everyone in retail to learn great design. I try to run a daily Google News search on the keywords “retail store design.” That’s how I found this article. I suggest you do the same with your favorite search engine. You’ll get a fresh perspective on the latest design trends.

If you haven’t clicked through to the article yet, I’ll leave you with a few a gems from Shantanu Saha, head of Indian design firm Idiom. They certainly can be applied to U.S. retailers as well:

“Retail personality cannot be condescending to someone who might not appear to be a potential customer.”

“While a foreigner would be most comfortable in an unassisted environment, warm service is of utmost importance in the Indian retail space.”

Who knew there’s such an emphasis on retail store design in India? Not me. But that’s what I like about this business: You never know where your next great idea will come from.