Consumers today are more mobile than ever before, switching seamlessly between physical store fronts and digital commerce sites. For brick-and-mortar retailers, this means it is time to reinvent the in-store shopping experience so that the borders between offline and online disappear. This also means delivering the right experience to shoppers when and where they want it.
Today, retailers are under extraordinary pressure to win shoppers’ two most valuable assets—their attention and their business. The best way to win these is to engage shoppers in a new way, a personal way that shows they understand the wants and needs of individual consumers. This tactic requires appealing to the emotional truths that drive their behaviors.
If you want to discover the best ways to improve your shoppers’ experiences and learn how top retail professionals and trendsetters are leading retail innovation, there are a number of can’t-miss events designed to get you there. Here's this years guide to the top retail events to attend:
1. Digiday Retail Summit
Date: January 26-28, 2015
Location: Half Moon Bay, California
Attendees include: Alex and Ani, BBDO, Dermalogica, Fresh Direct, The Home Depot, JC Penney, Kohl’s, Logitech, Macy’s, Nike, Nasty Gal, Old Navy, Overstock.com, Petco, Samsung, Shoe Carnival, Sports Authority, Target, TJX Companies, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Walgreens, Whole Foods, Williams-Sonoma, Zappos
Why attend: Hear from retailers that are on the cutting edge of technology, design and storytelling on how they’re keeping up with their consumers. Discuss common challenges in retail marketing - in technology, design, programmatic, ecommerce, social and more - and come up with potential solutions. Categories of conversation include 5 megatrends in retail innovation, 5 tech innovations retailers need to know, designing your next “store” experience, and how to make your online retail experience more enjoyable.
2. Retail Business Technology Expo
Date: March 10-11, 2015
Location: Olympia, London, UK
Attendees include: Dell, Eurostop, HP, Hughes, PayPal, Marks and Spencer, Zapp, Sainsbury’s, Made.com, ShopperTrak Ltd., Pret A Manger, Wayfair Europe, Starbucks
Why attend: RBTE is the unmissable event for European retailers, hospitality and leisure operators who want to keep up with all the latest solutions available to help them grow their business, improve productivity and improve the customer experience.
Discover new solutions and products, identify all the latest retail innovations and trends, and attend ecommerce bootcamps. Keynote topics include transforming retail by creating a digital workforce, maximizing customer convenience and engagement, and driving more transactions through bringing the store into the 21st century shopping experience.
Your visit to RBTE will provide you with 450+ exhibitors covering every aspect of the customer journey including the vital in-store experience, 150+ conference sessions offering thought leadership , trends and tips from leading retailers and customer experience experts, and 12,000+ retail industry colleagues from the UK and around the globe.3. Global Shop 2015
Date: March 24-26, 2015
Location: Mandalay Bay, Vegas
Attendees include: Adidas, Amazon, American Eagle Outfitters, B&H Photo Video Inc., Bass Pro Shops, Benefit Cosmetics, Benjamin Moore, Burlington Coat Factory, Cole Haan, Columbia Sportswear Co, Disney, Famous Footwear, Forever 21, Gap, H&M, J Crew, Macy’s, Mophie, Oakley, Nordstrom, Zales
Why attend: GlobalShop is the world's largest annual event for retail design and shopper marketing. It's the only show in the world where you can find the largest, most comprehensive array of store fixture companies and more in-store solutions than any live event in the nation. If you are looking to gain insight into upcoming retail trends and evolving consumer behavior, join industry thought leaders for a conference program brimming with new ideas to improve your business. You’ll find practical takeaways in every session; and GlobalShop’s specialized conference tracks make is easier than ever to find the ones most relevant to you. The GlobalShop show floor is conveniently divided into five sections of the retail design industry so you can find your specialty and learn about others.
Keynote topics include: In-store shopping reinvented, Targeting Your Shopper: Income, Ethnicity, Age and Other Variables That You Must Consider in Your In-Store Marketing Message, How to Optimize the Shopper’s Journey, and Consumer Insights and Strategies That Improve Your Bottom Line.
4. RIS RetailTechCon
Date: March 25-27, 2015
Location: Orlando, Florida
Attendees include: Retail Prophet, Gartner, Macy’s, Supply Chain Insights, Sports Authority, Allegiant Travel Company
Why attend: The RTC event is a great opportunity to share retail best practices, learn from those at the leading edge of the retail technology curve, and meet new potential technology partners. RTC allows for retailers to talk with other retailers about current projects and shared experiences within the retail technology community.
There is no better collection of senior retail execs and leading technology vendors, just small enough to engage in enlightening one-on-one talks and just large enough to encompass the current activities and strategy of the broader retail sector.
5. IRCE
Date: June 2-5, 2015
Location: Chicago, IL
Attendees include: Gartner, Unilever, Staples, RetailMeNot, CommerceHub, Toys R Us, Chinese Laundry, Advance Auto Parts, Wine.com.br, Edmund Optics, comScore, RueLaLa.com, WeddingWine, Winston Brands, Aeropostale, Oracle, Wet Seal, Arby’s, Sears Holding Corp., Crocs Inc., Billabong, Neustar, App Annie, Karmaloop, Abercrombie & Fitch, Zenni Optical, Target.com
Why attend: The trailblazers of e-commerce come together at the world’s largest e-commerce event to share their expertise. This diverse group of 200+ experts represents all areas of the industry, ensuring the agenda at IRCE has wide appeal. At IRCE, you'll dive deep into the key topics that impact and improve your business. In addition to two full conference days June 3 & 4, IRCE offers focused day-long workshops on June 2 and 5.
6. CIO Retail Summit
Date: August 23-25, 2015
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Attendees Include: TBD
Why attend: For the first time since the economic downturn, the retail industry is seeing a consistent rise in profits. However, while consumers are back in the stores, their mindsets have changed. They are more educated and more demanding, but spending habits per day still haven't returned to the levels reported by Gallup polls in 2008, just prior to the downturn.
The CIO Retail Summit will help retail organizations learn how to cater to this new consumer, leveraging technology to improve customer experience, convey a consistent brand message and increase profit margins. Agenda topics will include: Influencing consumer choices with social media, Maximizing business through mobility and mobile applications, Cloud computing compliance, security and optimization, and Talent management and retention
The CIO Retail Summit is an opportunity to explore best practices, have in-depth discussions and make new business contacts in a relaxed, yet focused setting. Attendees will leave the event with new ideas and the ability to make better business decisions for their organizations.
7. The Retail Conference UK
Date: September 16, 2015
Location: London, UK
Attendees include: TBD
Why attend: The Retail Conference 2015's main topic will be 'The Future of Retailing in the Digital Age': exploring everything from omni-channel customer experience and property to technology and trends. By attending The Retail Conference, you will be placing yourself ahead of your peers as a fresh, forward-thinking retailer who is not afraid to embrace change and innovation to secure your place in the future.
This conference brings together quality delegates to bolster and progress the retail industry as a unit. For almost a decade, The Retail Conference's attendees have enjoyed flawless expert insights, inspiring success stories and meaningful networking opportunities.
Content for The Retail Conference 2015 is focused around four key components which are integral to the future of retail:
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Omni-Channel Customer Experience - how innovative retailers engage and retain customers with seamless integration of their in-store AND digital experience.
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Technology - how technological developments continue to influence consumer expectations, and what retailers need to do to keep up with the pace of change.
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Retail Property - how the changing role of high streets and the evolution of the shopping centre experience will impact on the retail industry.
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Consumer Trends - looking at key research from academia and other sources, identifying which findings are most likely to affect the retail sector.
Register here
