Preliminary Agenda

To gain 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 require 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—is the holy grail for brands and retailers who want to understand and reach shoppers with relevant offerings wherever they may be. In this session, an industry analyst will walk attendees through what it takes to successfully create and act on a single view of the customer strategy.

Brands today have a variety of new marketing platforms available to them. Many large retailers have launched online advertising businesses that provide growing opportunities for brands to promote products on their sites. A new generation of social media and content companies offer innovative opportunities. Brands are also experimenting with emerging platforms ranging from voice assistants to augmented reality to direct consumers' attention to their products. This session will explore the latest in marketing tactics and highlight the platforms and partnerships that brands are employing to win over consumers.

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. The most forward-thinking businesses are adapting to these shifts by embracing new technologies, business models and partners. We'll hear from two leading executives as they discuss their strategies and outlook for the evolving retail industry.

This session will kick off with a Shoptalk Original Content presentation providing context on current technology innovation in retail. Then, we’ll hear from 26 early-stage startup companies (pre-Series A, with less than $5 million in funding) that represent some of the most exciting innovations in retail technology. Each company’s Founder and/or CEO will have 4 minutes to present the company’s technology solution and explain how it solves key industry challenges.

One of the biggest challenges brands and retailers face is how to hire the right digital talent. This challenge is especially acute when businesses seek candidates with high-demand technology skills. At the same time, a number of companies are investing in upskilling programs for existing employees across the organization. In this two-part session, hear how companies identify and recruit the best candidates, as well as how they empower their existing workforce to work alongside emerging technologies.

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Senior marketers’ roles and responsibilities have transformed in the past 10 years. A role formerly defined by relationships, experience and intuition is now focused on data, technology and a need to keep up with an ever-changing media landscape. Technology vendors complicate the once-straightforward relationships between agencies, brands and media companies. Automation has displaced human decision-makers in purchasing much digital advertising inventory. Consumers have changed, too, as the mass audience has become fragmented, shifting the goals of marketing from scale and scope to precision and relevance. In this session, C-level executives from brands and retailers will dive into these changes and more as they discuss the future of marketing.

Brands and retailers are partnering with, investing in and acquiring other businesses to keep up with changing consumer demands and add new capabilities. Deals range from striking unlikely partnerships with competitors to investing in tech startups or acquiring digitally native brands. In this Shoptalk Original Content presentation, we'll break down some of the biggest and most significant deals in retail and what they mean for the industry as a whole.

The path to retail leadership is far from straightforward: Leaders today are expected to have a solid understanding of both digital and physical retail, and to be able to discuss the latest technologies and business models that will help propel their businesses forward. At the same time, they must understand the culture and politics of the organization well enough to get buy-in on new initiatives and support when they need it. In this interactive session, two retail CEOs will discuss what it took to make it to the top of their organizations.

Today’s consumers are inundated with brand messaging. To reach shoppers, marketers must go beyond traditional tactics to engage customers, communicate their brand message and encourage shoppers to buy. The most successful experiential marketing efforts have unlocked a new wave of creativity as brands engage consumers—and create social media-worthy experiences—via offerings that range from sponsored popup shops to social contests and more. This session will feature presentations from three companies at the forefront of experiential marketing.

Join us to hear from some of today's leading investors as they highlight which consumer trends, technologies and business models excite them most. Our panelists will address the changes they anticipate in how consumers discover, shop and buy; the current investment landscape; and how they identify the businesses that will define the next generation of commerce.

The retail experience hasn't changed fundamentally in decades, but today retailers are aiming to differentiate themselves through newly designed stores that meet and exceed shopper needs. Many retailers have embraced experiential retail, for example, offering everything from in-store entertainment and activities to tailoring services. Others have rolled out innovative technologies to create more efficient or engaging customer experiences. In this highly visual session, brands and retailers will immerse attendees in transformative store experiences. They'll also share case studies about their successes and learnings from introducing these engaging store concepts.

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Many brands are turning to marketplaces as a way to reach shoppers beyond traditional retail sales channels. Some of the most advanced brands are using marketplaces as a means to test new products, launch exclusive items or offload excess inventory. An industry analyst will tee up this conversation by providing an overview on the changing role of marketplaces, including the opportunities and challenges different marketplaces present. This presentation will be followed by a conversation between a leading electronics company and a marketplace.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose AI-based solutions help marketing executives better understand and connect with their customers.

Today retailers are faced with a dizzying array of new fulfillment technologies, processes and vendors to choose from. This session will feature Shoptalk Original Content to help retailers evaluate partners in the fast-evolving landscape of (1) order pickup points (e.g., stores, parking lots and lockers), (2) delivery options (e.g., autonomous vehicles and drones and secure delivery inside unattended homes), and (3) delivery models (e.g., crowdsourced, contractor and full-time employees).

"Experiential retail" has been in vogue for several years. It's become the catchall phrase to describe everything from in-store entertainment such as movies or wine bars, to new product testing features like rain shower sinks that allow shoppers to try out hand soaps. Yet not all experiential retail has the same goal--some experiences aim to provide shoppers greater functionality, often enabling them to test out products, while others offer pure entertainment. In this Shoptalk Original Content presentation, we'll break down the different types of experiential retail and provide a framework for evaluating them. We'll also hear from leading brands at the forefront of experiential retail.

With 650 million consumers across 33 countries, Latin America comprises a highly diverse set of retail and ecommerce markets. Although ecommerce penetration remains below 5 percent of total retail sales across the region, it is growing quickly. Retail leaders have overcome challenges that include limited consumer credit card penetration in some countries and complex tax structures in others, as well as supply chain and fulfillment hurdles throughout much of the region. Hear from three disruptive retail and ecommerce organizations in Latin America as they discuss what it takes to succeed in the region.

New approaches to sourcing and merchandising are becoming strategic imperatives for companies seeking to differentiate their businesses and entice consumers. Retailers are at the forefront of many of these initiatives: Some are using customer insights to identify brands their shoppers want to buy, while also helping them discover new brands; others are leveraging digital merchandising to differentiate their brand proposition from competitors’ online. Meanwhile, brands are increasingly driven to source materials that make their products better for the environment and for society. In this session, we’ll hear about the strategies and technologies companies are using to diversify their merchandise mix and make sure their products and businesses resonate with shoppers.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help retailers connect with consumers in a more personalized way.

Retailers today are exploring a variety of options to streamline the fulfillment process. Some forward-thinking retailers are building next generation warehouses and distribution networks and deploying robotics, AI and automation to move products efficiently from the warehouse to consumers. Others are evolving store layouts and deploying technology and personnel to facilitate in-store fulfillment. This session will feature three examples of next generation fulfillment that highlight the diverse approaches of some of the world's most innovative companies.

Retailers are experimenting with new store formats: Some are opening smaller stores in urban areas that complement their full-size locations while others are launching inventory-free shops that prioritize pickup and other services. Retailers are also tweaking their overall store footprints, sometimes by downsizing the number of stores they operate or by testing new markets with short-term popups. In this session, we'll hear from retail executives who are evolving the sizes and locations of their store fleets.

Retail technology innovation is a global phenomenon. In some markets like China and India, a growing middle class has given rise to new innovative businesses looking to serve these consumers better. In other markets like Israel, a growing number of startups in the local ecosystem are focused on addressing the needs of retailers. This session will include a detailed look at global hubs of retail innovation with experts from around the world.

The relationship between consumer brands and retailers is in flux. Brands are shifting resources toward operating their own stores and websites to build direct relationships with shoppers. At the same time, retailers are being presented with a variety of new product options from emerging brands—they're also giving more shelf space to their own brands and allocating more of their marketing budget toward these private label products. In this fast-paced session, we'll hear from a manufacturer and distributor of a portfolio of brands, an established retailer and a startup. They'll discuss in rapid-fire fashion the biggest ways their relationships are shifting, what they need most from each other to succeed and what changes both can anticipate as the retail landscape changes.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help consumers discover and find their products in new ways.

Last-mile fulfillment is one of the most rapidly evolving aspects of the retail supply chain. Consumers are demanding pickup options and delivery offerings that maximize speed and convenience, while retailers have many choices of technologies and solutions to build or buy. In this session, innovative companies will discuss their frameworks for assessing the last-mile landscape, and the tactical choices they have made.

Influencers rose to prominence for their ability to leverage their personalities and authenticity to connect marketers with consumers. Recently, however, brands have reassessed the value of influencer deals. Reports of influencers demanding significant payments to promote products they may not actually use have pushed brands to look toward micro- or even nano-influencers instead. This session features companies sharing how they are successfully identifying and working with influencers who deliver measurable results for their brands.

Global retail sales are forecast to total $28 trillion in 2020. Yet each market presents its own unique opportunities and challenges given the differences in language, regulations, payment types and more. We'll hear brands and retailers discuss what it takes to succeed in international markets, including how to navigate regional differences while maintaining a consistent company culture.

Consumers in every new generation seek brands that reflect their worldview and demand shopping experiences that cater to their unique needs. As the oldest members of Gen Z begin to enter the workforce and do their own shopping, brands and retailers alike are examining the characteristics of this generation. While some qualities that define Millennials, like diversity and a strong sensitivity to authenticity, are likely to characterize Gen Z as well, important differences around politics, economics and shopping behavior are also emerging. In this session, an industry expert will share her research on Gen Z consumers. The presentation will be followed by a conversation among executives at three youth-oriented companies who will discuss their understanding of this new generation of consumers, and how it will shape product and marketing decisions over the next few years.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help retailers build better customer relationships that foster loyalty.

In this fast-paced session, three experts will review a list of 10 significant technologies transforming retail operations in a game-show style format. These experts will debate technologies such as delivery drones, 3D printing, smart displays, cashierless checkout and more. The time-limited format covers a lot of ground, offering thought-provoking insights. The session will also feature polling to let the audience share thoughts.

Social commerce has taken off in markets like China, with platforms including WeChat and Pinduoduo expected to rake in more than $300 billion in sales tied to these efforts this year. While social commerce hasn't yet gained the same level of traction in the US, recent offerings from Instagram, Pinterest and others promise to make it easier for shoppers to discover and purchase products on their platforms. At the same time, innovative startups have built businesses that are designed to seamlessly tie together content-driven commerce and community. In this session, brands and retailers will discuss early learnings from their latest social commerce initiatives, as well as their thoughts on the future of social buying.

Retail sales in China are expected to exceed $5.6 trillion in 2019, surpassing the US as the world's largest retail market. The recency of China's retail explosion had led to newer digital players dominating the market rather than traditional physical retail giants. As a result, China boasts some of the most cutting-edge retail technology and operations in the world, as well as some of the most revolutionary business models. In this session, two insiders will provide an overview of the country's retail ecosystem and innovations.

Efforts to instill customer loyalty can offer significant payoffs since it can cost five times as much to acquire a new customer as to retain an existing one. Loyalty can't be taken for granted, however. Consumers are highly aware of their options, and a desire for novelty can drive them to try a new option rather than sticking with a familiar one. In this session, we'll hear about three distinct approaches to customer loyalty, including the tactics and technologies that have helped them keep people coming back.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help retailers elevate the in-store experience.

Advances in technology have enabled far more streamlined and efficient supply chains. Technologies such as blockchain and IoT are helping retailers improve transparency by providing greater insights into product journeys from manufacturer to consumer; other technology advances help to optimize cargo loads and streamline transportation routes. In this session, hear from three brands and retailers as they discuss which supply chain technologies and processes they're finding most effective in reducing time to market and ensuring their supply chains are ready for future shifts in demand.

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.

Creating great shopping experiences requires science as well as art: Today many brands and retailers have developed sophisticated, data-driven approaches to develop and personalize new offerings. Data empowers companies to better understand how consumers interact with their products and their stores, both online and offline. In this session, senior brand and retail leaders will discuss how they're collecting, analyzing and developing insights from customer data to create engaging new retail experiences.

Today's consumers want to shop with brands whose values align with their own. They increasingly expect businesses to take a stand on hot-button issues and play a role in bettering the world. In this session, we'll hear from the leaders and investors behind purpose-driven businesses renowned for their leadership in environmental sustainability, inclusivity and other important issues.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions are optimizing store operations.

This session will feature three presentations by leading research analysts, consulting firms or academics. Each one will highlight new, original research on a critical aspect of the changing consumer and technology landscape in retail.

Many retailers offer omnichannel customer experiences, yet relatively few blend physical and digital channels seamlessly across their organizations. Ecommerce and retail store teams may interact more regularly, but it's still rare to find businesses that have fully merged data streams across business units to create a true single view of the customer, for example. In this session, retail leaders will share how they have addressed internal omnichannel challenges and which approaches worked best on their journeys to become fully integrated organizations.

Consumers, brands and regulators are all increasingly aware of the value of consumer data. Data powers the best, most effective and personalized commerce experiences, helping consumers find exactly what they want and discover new products. Data also enables better customer service interactions and empowers store associates. At the same time, consumers are concerned about how their data is being used, and regulations like the EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA are reshaping the legal landscape. This session features tactical insights from leaders with deep expertise in how brands and retailers collect, use and protect data.

The relationship between brands and retailers is changing dramatically. For some brands, direct businesses now represent a significant percentage of sales--many brands 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 Track Keynote, 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.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions are automating or otherwise optimizing warehouses and fulfillment.

This session will feature three presentations by leading research analysts, consulting firms or academics. Each one will highlight new, original research on a critical aspect of the changing consumer and technology landscape in retail.

The in-store experience is set to change dramatically. Not only are store formats and footprints shifting, but retailers are embracing new technologies that will transform the physical shopping experience. Forward-thinking retailers are also aligning both human and digital resources to make the physical shopping experience more personalized, more interesting and more fun than ever before. In this Track Keynote, hear from some of the most innovative retailers as they discuss what it takes to win over shoppers in stores.

Retailers today have significant opportunities to leverage data to improve their operations--for example, by precisely matching supply with projected demand, tracking items throughout the supply chain and flexibly fulfilling orders from the optimal store or distribution center. This session will look at some of these data-driven opportunities, and examine the solutions and capabilities retailers are utilizing to unlock them.

The retail industry has seen a huge spike in brand creation over the past decade, as new technologies and marketing platforms make it easier than ever to bring ideas to market. The most successful new brands are often those that have disrupted a legacy industry by pioneering an innovative business model or reengineering a product--and have a truly visionary founder. In this Track Keynote, the founders of two groundbreaking startups will discuss their companies’ paths to success and how they were able to differentiate themselves from the competition.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions are using robotics, automation or other technologies to reinvent transportation and delivery.

Since February 2018, the US has imposed or threatened new tariffs on a variety of imports. Combined with retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries, an estimated $630 billion in goods are affected by these new charges. Other global economic forces are also impacting how and where retailers and manufacturers source products. This session will feature three presentations by leading researchers that assess the effects of these changes and show how companies are adapting to them.

The average US consumer spends nearly three hours a day on a mobile device. Given this devotion to mobile, product marketers and retailers must determine the best ways to integrate engaging mobile experiences into the customer shopping journey. Some of the best mobile retail experiences leverage smartphone attributes such as location data, cameras and sensors to enhance the digital or physical shopping experience; others capitalize on a deep understanding of mobile shopping behavior to design engaging experiences. In this session, three leaders will share insights into how they've built mobile offerings that are groundbreaking in meeting consumers' needs.

This presentation introduces the Shoptalk Retailer Sophistication Index. The Index is a benchmark created by the Shoptalk Content Team that assesses a retailer’s web, mobile app and offline offerings and back-end technology investments. The results indicate which retailers are excelling in their categories, what best in class looks like, and which retailers must invest more to catch up with customer expectations.

Brands' marketing strategies have always required a tradeoff between mass reach and a focus on specific audience segments. Digital marketing has changed the economics of reach versus precision, unlocking marketers’ ability to segment audiences more granularly. Succeeding at personalized marketing requires mastering the many available data sources, both to target messages effectively and to make the messages themselves relevant and engaging. This session will feature three brands that have adopted sophisticated approaches to creating messages for highly targeted audiences.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help retailers optimize their product and merchandising.

Large brands and retailers are experimenting with new business models including rentals, memberships, services and preowned product sales. These new revenue streams, which often take a page from a slew of direct-to-consumer startups whose growth has skyrocketed, provide established players an opportunity to capitalize on changing consumer preferences and spending patterns. In this session, established brands and retailers that have launched new business models will discuss how they came to the decision to introduce these new offerings, as well as what they've learned so far.

Search used to be a straightforward, text-based activity. Today, however, new areas like visual, voice and natural language search are growing. These new options create potentially more intuitive ways for shoppers to find what they are seeking—and for marketers to position their brands and products. In this session, three leaders will discuss how brands and retailers are updating their search strategies to make sure customers can find them and their products via these new platforms.

Companies today think about data as a fundamental resource and necessary as capital and labor. However, even companies that have built out their data infrastructures often face challenges ensuring that employees have access to, and training to use, the data resources that will improve their ability to do their jobs. This session will examine how retailers and brands are encouraging employees at all levels to leverage data. It will cover tools, training, data democratization policies and other tactics that enable an organization to maximize the value of its data.

Today’s online shopping experiences are increasingly tailored to each individual—consumers now expect retailers to understand their preferences and buying habits. Increasingly, these expectations are crossing into physical stores as innovative retailers adopt new clienteling and customer service technologies and empower their associates to build meaningful connections with shoppers through personal service. In this session, hear from industry leaders as they discuss how they're using personalization tactics online and offline to create more relevant, engaging shopping experiences.

This session will feature presentations from executives at cutting-edge technology companies whose solutions help retailers better hire, train and manage their employees.

Established retailers and brands have taken different approaches to harness today's faster pace of innovation—many companies are investing internally in centers of excellence, launching incubator programs and acquiring innovative startups. While there is no universal approach to nurturing innovation, this session will feature examples and experiences to help companies evaluate their options and choose optimal strategies to stay ahead of the curve.

Diversity and inclusion are becoming bigger strategic imperatives in the retail industry and beyond. Brands and retailers with a diverse workforce have the advantage of evaluating business problems and opportunities from multiple perspectives. They also have a more thorough understanding of their consumer base. With nearly half the members of Gen Z identifying as a racial or ethnic minority, organizations that prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives will also have a huge leg up in recruiting the next generation workforce. In this session, we'll hear from brands, retailers and investors that are leading the industry in this area.

A wide variety of new technologies are transforming the customer experience in physical stores while also helping to streamline operations. From groundbreaking monitoring technologies that capture data in areas such as inventory and foot traffic, to revolutionary self-checkout solutions and digital signage, the store is getting smarter, more interactive and more efficient. In this session, leading retailers and real estate companies will provide tactical insights into how they've evaluated, deployed and measured new in-store technologies.

Private label and exclusive products are gaining popularity with consumers. While private brands started out as low-price offerings, retailers today are developing premium private brand products that don’t require consumers to compromise on quality. Additionally, retailers are looking to exclusive products as a way of differentiating their offerings. This session will examine the rising popularity of these brands and dive into the evolving relationship between retailers and traditional brands.

Modern data capabilities enable companies to identify just about any behavioral or psychographic segment imaginable. However, the complexity of creating this type of segmentation--combined with companies' comfort with existing demographics such as age, gender and income--drives marketers to forego more creative audience segmentation. This interactive session will feature companies that have embraced creative approaches to leveraging data and technology to market to customers and prospects with much greater precision.

Since Shoptalk's founding five years ago, we've made it a core part of our mission to highlight prominent female leaders. While the retail industry has also made strides in promoting women’s leadership, the number of female CEOs at retail organizations remains low at just 12%. In this interactive session, we'll hear from top executives as they share how they’re empowering women in their organizations and across the industry to drive female leadership toward parity.

A slew of AI technologies promise to solve various pain points across the retail value chain, from the supply chain to merchandising and marketing. The wide-ranging use cases of AI can be overwhelming for brands and retailers who struggle to understand where AI can have the biggest impact on their business. In this interactive session, brands and retailers will discuss the early successes they've seen from applying AI, as well as where they see the technology having the most significant implications in retail long term.

A growing number of today's shoppers are anxious to understand how the items they buy are produced and the impact the manufacturing process has on the environment. They are concerned about the materials used to create products and the distance products travel from source to shelves. An industry expert will tee up this conversation with a presentation outlining the progress the retail industry has made--and the challenges it still faces--in meeting consumer demands to become more sustainable. The presentation will be followed by an interactive panel discussion among retailers that are leading the industry in sustainability efforts.

Companies that strive to be customer-centric must take an active role in assessing their customers’ needs and expectations before they can meet or exceed them. Customer data and analytics are a critical first step. Mobile, social and other platforms provide immediacy and two-way channels that can help facilitate receiving and acting on crucial feedback. CRM platforms help automate reactions to basic customer needs and escalate significant ones. This interactive workshop session will feature retailers and brands discussing tactics they’ve used to build better, richer customer relationships.

Most traditional retailers and brands have embraced digital transformation initiatives--these initiatives range from adding ecommerce capabilities to digitizing supply chains and physical retail locations. Digital transformation also mandates reassessing organizational structures, processes and culture. In this session, a management consulting firm will present research on the key questions companies must ask themselves as they reorganize for omnichannel. The presentation will provide specific examples of how different types of businesses, from smaller retail chains to multibillion-dollar brands, have successfully reorganized, and address the unique challenges facing each type of company.

The rapid evolution of ecommerce and omnichannel technologies means there is a constantly changing set of technologies to evaluate. To stay ahead of the curve, brands and retailers must ensure they are up-to-date on the latest technologies including ecommerce platforms, user experience solutions and fulfillment partners. They must also ensure the technology partners they choose are able to adapt with them as their business grows and transforms. In this interactive session, three companies will discuss how they identified, assessed and selected the solutions they are using to enable their ecommerce and omnichannel offerings.

The previous three days included insights from hundreds of speakers on dozens of topics, from the future of brands to the new retail organization. Since it's impossible to have attended every session or heard every speaker, this interactive workshop will offer an overview of what attendees may have missed. It will provide a summary of the most critical insights from speakers and offer takeaways for brands and retailers looking to understand the disruption of retail. The audience will also have an opportunity to share their biggest learnings from Shoptalk, as well as highlight other topics they’d like to see addressed in the future.

Consumers have long sought out customized products, from having clothes altered to ordering custom upholstery for furniture. Recent technology developments have made it more economical for companies to deeply personalize products and to create offerings tailored to an individual’s specific needs or preferences. This interactive workshop will examine how companies are thinking about customizing products to meet consumers' unique needs, with examples illustrating how such offerings drive sales and loyalty.