Chief Global Economist Ira Kalish will explore a multitude of economic factors weighing on the 2021 economy and how those influences are reshaping consumers’ shopping behavior. Kalish will be Joined by Janey Whiteside, Walmart’s Executive Vice President and first Chief Customer Officer. The two will discuss meeting today’s shopper where they’re at, potential business disruptions in the near term and how 2021 is likely to unfold at retail stores across the nation.
In this session, Carrie Tharp, VP of Retail and Consumer at Google Cloud, and Vicki Cantrell, CEO and Founder of Vendors in Partnership will discuss key trends of today's consumers and how Google is helping retailers accommodate a digital-first customer journey. You'll hear insights about recent consumer behavior changes-- and what might stick-- in addition to conversations around digital transformation and how retailers are paving a path forward for success in 2021. Join us for a thoughtful and transparent conversation about today's retail landscape.
Social movements taking place around the world are causing (and in some cases "forcing") retailers to reflect on what they stand for. Being a socially responsible company is no longer a point of distinction, it’s the expectation among stakeholders-- customers, employees and capital investors. This timely discussion is call to action to respond authentically to opportunities with collaborative solutions.
As women move through their careers, they are seeking out mentors to help them advance and overcome gender barriers in the workplace. We know the traditional mentorship format isn't enough — what's missing? This conversation will explore what’s working and what’s not when it comes to preparing women to lead and rise up.
In separate fireside chats, hear from two of the industry’s most insightful leaders who have re-imagined their respective businesses with a stern focus on the customer first and foremost.
The pandemic and rapid growth of e-commerce has put pressure on brick and mortars to reinvent their purpose while digital has needed to quickly develop creative ways to bring new shopping experiences to consumers. We'll explore how live commerce is helping retailers meet the moment.
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It's not just up to consumers to support Black businesses. In this discussion, we'll hear from leaders of brands and retailers who will discuss how they are transforming the landscape for Black businesses throughout the entire supply chain by way of pledges, partnerships, procurement and collaboration.
What brings consumers comfort these days? Chances are most would say one of two things – food and pets. Each category is formidable in its own right, but during times of mandated social distancing and “bubble life,” consumers are drawn to the cozy warmth of their furry friends and the contentment of a great burger and smooth shake.
There has been a huge shift in consumers demanding that brands take a stance on key social issues — namely equality. Marketers and brands across the globe are working overtime to figure out how to communicate this effectively. In this conversation, we’ll draw lessons and insights from this year's most creative retail campaigns and advertisements that drove home the message of equality and inspired people to act.
With e-commerce experiencing a historic surge in demand, the pressure is on for logistics operations and the focus on the last mile is garnering more attention than ever. For companies to prevail, they need to reshape the state of their last-mile strategies. This means increasing supply chain visibility, leveraging new technologies and reinventing logistics ecosystems. In this discussion, experts shed light on ways companies are meeting the moment and the emergence of micro distribution hubs and services.
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The most opportunistic point of view is that "from crisis comes immense opportunity." This year that edict remains more relevant than ever. In this mainstage session, hear how retail has risen to the occasion to re-imagine the experience in the most unusual of times. In back-to-back fireside chats, leaders from high-end luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue and prominent athletic apparel company lululemon share their companies' journeys in thinking differently to meet the immense challenges this year has brought to bear.
Tech advances create unprecedented change across consumer-facing industries. In this session, Euromonitor International provides a holistic view of retail tech adoption. Identify the consumer preferences influencing shopping behavior and the factors pushing industry innovation to pinpoint where retailers should make their tech investments. This session will reveal the tech investments that will best align with consumer expectations in the coming years.
How can retail and tech companies find the best talent while keeping equity and diversity a priority? What is human-centered design and how does it affect people of color? In this discussion, leaders will talk about the women leading in retail tech, techniques for finding the best talent from recruitment to partnerships, and how companies can change their design processes to build more inclusive technology.
Retailers have reimagined the use of the physical store leveraging technologies that not only enable them to inform and provide new levels of convenience to customers but also effectively measure the impact of in-store initiatives. By unlocking the power of in-store tech solutions, brands have the ability to drive customer loyalty and engagement, and heighten brand experience like never before.
If 2020 has taught us nothing else, deft leadership shines brightest in times of immense challenge. In successive fireside discussions, attendees will hear from influential female leaders who continue to steward large organizations with resilience and agility through a year of unprecedented change.
In a drastically and quickly changing retail environment, it's more important today than ever for retailers to lean into innovation in order to be adaptable and remain competitive. Driving technological and innovative change within an enterprise requires smartly designed teams equipped with effective processes and buy-in from leadership. It also requires an investment in research and development to identify new business opportunities and develop new products and initiatives.
