Taos Kids
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
Retail & Hospitality
A whimsical, experience-driven retail environment designed to spark imagination, encourage play, and create lasting memories.
Located within Taos Ski Valley Resort, Taos Kids was envisioned as a retail destination designed specifically for younger guests and families visiting the resort.
The goal was to create a playful, immersive retail environment offering toys, apparel, ski gear, and candy—while also serving as a memorable experience that enhances the overall hospitality offering of the resort.
Irwin Raymond was engaged to design a highly experiential retail environment that encourages interaction, discovery, and emotional connection—all within a compact footprint of approximately 600 square feet.
The Challenge
Designing an immersive retail experience within a small footprint presented both creative and operational challenges.
Key challenges included:
Creating a visually rich and engaging environment within only 600 square feet
Aligning multiple project stakeholders around a unified creative vision
Balancing experiential design elements with functional merchandising and retail operations
Supporting both product sales and guest interaction without overwhelming the space
Creating a memorable destination that complements the hospitality experience of the resort
The store needed to function efficiently while feeling magical, playful, and inviting.
Our Strategy
We approached the project through our experience-driven retail and hospitality framework, designing the store as both a retail environment and an immersive experience.
Our strategy focused on:
maximizing visual engagement through integrated experiential elements
creating interactive moments that encourage exploration and play
designing custom millwork that supports merchandising while reinforcing the playful identity
layering visual interest vertically to maximize impact within a compact footprint
coordinating vendors and managing project execution to ensure alignment and quality
Every design decision was guided by how the space could create joy and memorable experiences for young guests.
The Design Solution
The final environment blends retail, play, and storytelling into one cohesive experience.
Custom mill-work and fixtures create clarity and organization while supporting vibrant visual expression. Interactive design features—including a custom oversized Light Bright installation integrated into the cash wrap, a recessed augmented reality monitor, and a suspended Polar Express model train—create moments of surprise and engagement throughout the store.
These elements transform the environment from a traditional retail store into a playful destination where children and families can explore, interact, and connect.
The space feels dynamic, memorable, and entirely aligned with the spirit of the Taos Ski Valley experience.
The Result
A highly experiential retail environment that enhances the Taos Ski Valley guest experience
A destination where children actively engage with the space—not just shop
Strong retail performance, including consistently selling out of bulk and packaged candy
A memorable environment that strengthens emotional connection with guests
The Director of Retail shared:
“I have opened 130 stores in my career, and I have never been more proud of any of them than this one.”
Parents frequently allow their children to spend time in the store simply to explore and play—demonstrating the environment’s success as both a retail space and an experiential destination.
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Retail store design and interior architecture
Interior design and material strategy
Custom fixture and millwork design
Vendor coordination and competitive bid analysis
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This project demonstrates how thoughtful, experience-driven design can transform even a small retail footprint into a powerful hospitality asset—supporting both guest engagement and retail performance.
The store now functions as a destination within the resort, enhancing both guest experience and brand loyalty.