Future Retail Designers Invited to Apply for 2025 Shop! Scholarship + Experience

PAVE Global and Shop! Association are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 3rd Annual Shop! Scholarship + Experience, recognizing emerging talent in retail environments and design.

This scholarship supports leadership potential in Interior Design, Retail Design, Hospitality Design, Visual Merchandising, Architecture, UX Design, Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Design, and similar areas of study. The recipient will receive an invitation to attend Shop! Marketplace 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with airfare, hotel, and daily per diem covered, plus a $600 cash award.

Shop! Marketplace 2025 will be the premier boutique trade fair committed to elevating the in-store experience. Presented by the Shop! Association in partnership with VMSD and SmartWork Media, this three-day event will take place April 8-10, 2025, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event offers a unique opportunity for retailers, brand owners, and design professionals from across the globe to experience cutting-edge education, networking, and discovery of the latest innovations shaping the future of consumer experience.

The PAVE Scholarship Program, now in its fifteenth year, provides financial assistance to students preparing for careers in designing and creating consumer environments. PAVE has awarded students over $254,400 in financial aid grants and scholarships in the past three years, helping to eliminate barriers to studying in these fields and ensuring a strong future talent pool for the industry.

Eligible students must be current 3rd or 4th-year students in a 4-year program or 2nd-year students in a 2-year program as of April 2025, enrolled in a qualifying program within the United States. The total prize package, valued at $1,800, includes a $1,200 grant for conference attendance and a $600 cash award.

Applications must be submitted through Submittable by Friday, February 28, 2025, before 11:59 PM Eastern (8:59 PM Pacific). For more information and to apply please visit www.paveglobal.org/shopscholarship.

Shop! Association is the global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience and is the catalyst for progressive evolution in retail. Shop! represents companies and affiliates worldwide from 25 countries. The association brings value to the global retail marketplace through connecting, networking, research and education programs, events, and industry awards while offering business-focused content, support, and resources to retailers, brands, designers, producers, and suppliers.

Founded in 1992 as The Planning and Visual Education Partnership, PAVE Global is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, with all proceeds benefitting PAVE’s educational programs. The organization enables young talent to build successful careers designing and creating consumer environments. Our vision is to cultivate relationships with students, educators, and the design industry through financial assistance, top-industry thinking, inspiration, and mentorship.