Agenda

Today's retail environment is marked by high-profile successes as well as a long list of companies that have been forced to close stores. To succeed, retailers are figuring out how to better meet the needs of changing consumers. Shoppers continue to embrace digital channels, seek out healthier, more natural products, and value convenient products and experiences. The most forward-thinking businesses are adapting to these shifts by embracing new technologies, business models and partners. We’ll hear from one leading retailer and one groundbreaking startup that are successfully navigating these changes in consumer behavior as they discuss their strategies and outlook for the industry.

The relationship between brands and retailers is changing dramatically. For some brands, direct businesses now represent a significant percentage of sales--many brands now operate thriving ecommerce sites and a broad network of stores. At other brands, wholesale channels continue to generate the lion's share of sales. In this session, leaders from consumer brands will talk about how they see the retail industry changing and what it means for their brands as they look to partner more closely with big retailers while also creating direct relationships with shoppers.

In this session, a leader at one of the industry's most prominent private equity firms and the CEO of one of the firm's portfolio companies will discuss how they are working together to innovate and define the next generation of grocery retail.

Sentiment among retail investors is increasingly positive, as ongoing consumer confidence and economic growth have made some on Wall Street more confident placing long-term bets on the brands and retailers they feel have sustainable business models. In the second half of this session, we'll hear from some of retail’s biggest private equity firms about how they evaluate which businesses will succeed long term, how they work with their brand and retailer portfolio companies, and what they see as the outlook for the sector.

Brands, consumers and regulators alike are increasingly aware of the value of consumer data. Media coverage of corporate data breaches keeps the topic in the public eye. Moreover, in 2018 many companies implemented the EU’s new GDPR privacy regulations for customers worldwide, setting a new standard for data usage. Even as companies become more adept at using data to deliver more personalized, valuable services, they are also increasingly mindful of the risks of not protecting that data, or of using it without consumer consent.

While the term omnichannel is often used to describe the offerings of large established retailers, startups are also creating some of the most groundbreaking experiences merging digital and physical offerings. Without legacy systems, siloed channels or a fleet of existing retail stores, startups are uniquely positioned to create new omnichannel offerings that meet the changing needs of consumers. From digitally native apparel retailers that provide fittings and fashion advice in physical stores to providers of beauty products and services that can be experienced in dedicated salons or consumers' homes, this session will feature three startups that are at the forefront of blended online and offline experiences.

Retailers are always looking for new ways to expand their portfolio of products and services. Some build these offerings organically--increasingly, however, large retailers are looking to partner with or acquire startups to help extend their offerings. These startups provide innovative products and services that enable retailers to launch new business models or supplement product sales with new services. In this session, hear how startups and large retailers are working together to create a new generation of retail experiences.

Few retailers have developed truly seamless omnichannel experiences—they are still contending with issues such as managing prices, products and promotions across every consumer touchpoint. Retailers are also seeking competitive advantages with initiatives such as infinite shelf capabilities and click and collect, popular consumer offerings that require high levels of inventory visibility. In this session, three retailers will discuss their omnichannel journeys and how they're organizing and developing processes that enable them to excel as they expand their omnichannel offerings.

To gain true insight into user behavior, it is no longer sufficient to understand how a consumer shops online, buys in-store or uses social media—retailers today must now have a full picture of who the consumer is, how he or she shops across different channels and what ultimately impacts his or her decision to purchase. This single view of the customer—also called a 360-degree view of the customer—is the holy grail for brands and retailers who want to understand and reach shoppers with relevant offerings wherever they may be. This session will feature three brands and retailers who are using data effectively to gain a holistic view of their customers rather than one that paints only a partial picture of their behavior.