Disruptive Retail Timeline
Founding & early development
Gustie Creative is Founded with a Clear Vision to Design Short-Term Retail Solutions
Karen Herman, Founder of Gustie Creative, wins a Global Entrepreneurship Award in Kansas City for Concept Video on Short-Term Retail Solutions. The video highlights research from the company’s business plan completed in the Kauffman FastTrac New Venture Program.
Accepted into Technology Business Incubator
Karen Herman continues research and development of business model at Research Park at FAU in Boca Raton, FL.
Selected as Google Glass Explorer
Pitch was to use Glass to design Pop Up Stores. Karen uses Glass in client projects and research and development of retail technologies.
Defined Disruptive Retail
Work in R&D leads to defining Disruptive Retail in the global marketplace. Karen wins “Helping Innovators Thrive” award in Boca Raton, FL.
Design Work in the Spotlight
Retail Tech Design Project Featured in AdWeek
Gustie designs the Live Media Trading Room for Zimmerman Advertising in Fort Lauderdale, FL and continues R&D of online design platform, mapping early wireframes for Create Disruptive Retail.
Time Spent on Client Work, Research, and Development of CDR
Fremium strategy to spread understanding of Disruptive Retail
Gustie Creative Launches Create Disruptive Retail as an Online Resource for Brands and Businesses
Gustie launches Create Disruptive Retail as a free online resource available globally to spread the understanding of Disruptive Retail. Karen Herman, CEO of Gustie, is interviewed by NPR and VoyageMIA and becomes a contributing writer to Simply the Best magazine.
Time Spent on Client Work, R&D of Disruptive Retail, Research for Workbook
Sharing insights on the changing retail landscape
The Definitive Guide to Disruptive Retail Experiences
Gustie publishes The Definitive Guide to Disruptive Retail Experiences Workbook. This a guide for business decision makers to grow their brand or business using Disruptive Retail solutions. This book is based on a decade of our CEECDR (Curated Experiential Environments to Create Disruptive Retail) research and can be used individually or in a small group.
Sharing insights on the changing retail landscape
Solutions for Disrupting Disruption, COVID-19 Handbook
Gustie publishes Solutions for Disrupting Disruption, COVID-19 Handbook for Brands and Retailers. This is a highly visual business handbook that offers sharp insights on retail in the era of COVID-19 and highlights traits of the New Consumer that is emerging. This handbook clearly explains digital adaptions in retail and trending Disruptive Retail solutions. It offers best practices and strategic resources for brands and retailers.
Sharing insights on the changing retail landscape
Presents Business Model for Disruptive Retail at Booth School, University of Chicago
Karen Herman was invited to present the Gustie Creative business model for Disruptive Retail to a hand-picked selection of women CEO’s at the Block School, University of Chicago. Content from Create Disruptive Retail on Pop Up Stores and Fashion Trucks was presented and discussed among the group, which included executives from Automattic and Next Realty Group.
Peer Recognition for excellence & innovation
Achieves Milestone and Recognition for R&D
Karen Herman founded Gustie with the clear belief that Disruptive Retail is for everyone including independent brands, small-to-medium sized businesses, creative agencies, real estate firms, nonprofit organizations and economic development teams. The company graduates from Global Ventures with a business model for Disruptive Retail and a dozen successful projects to support proof of concept.
Milestones Achieved
Building an Online Disruptive Retail Ecosystem
June 2026 The Disruptive Retail Field Guide Offers Design Focused Growth for Brands and Businesses in US, Canada and UK
Gustie works with business decision-makers to create unique disruptive solutions that work to expand channels, increase sales, reach new customers and innovate. Gustie offers a one-stop shop of creative, unique, and expert driven services and products that can be used virtually and in individual or group consultations.
Gustie Creative
Gustie Creative is your design partner to disrupt and grow your brand or business with unique solutions to be used when, where, and for as long as you desire.
Disruptive Retail Field Guide
Disruptive Retail Field Guide is crafted in a fun and informative way so you can discover new solutions to grow your brand or business.
Gustie Group
Launching in June 2026, Gustie Group is our disruptive design eLearning platform offering proprietary eLearning modules for individual and group learning.
