On January 16-19 the best and the brightest in the retail industry will gather at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City to redefine retail. NRF's 94th Annual Convention and EXPO will showcase a series of creative Super Sessions, aimed at exploring today's trends that will be shaping tomorrow's retail environment.
A range of retail experts from a variety of disciplines, such as grocery, discount, restaurant, apparel, and international, will share the changes they are experiencing firsthand within the industry. Session topics include the power of branding, shifting consumer buying patterns, and technology's influence on the retail experience.
This year's exciting and informative Super Sessions include:
Visioning the Near- and Long- Term Retail Future
Sunday, January 16, 2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
One day, nanotechnology-powered implants may "communicate" with package labels to help colorblind customers make appropriate fashion decisions or assist supermarket shoppers in making wise dietary selections. KSA will present ten global trends and share what they mean to retailers today. KSA's strategist Mitch Kates and futurist Ryan Matthews will explore the near- and long-term future of the retail experience
.
Moderator and Speaker: Mitch Kates, Principal, Kurt Salmon Associates
Speaker: Ryan Matthews, Founder and CEO, Black Monk Consulting
The Future of Retail Technology through the Eyes of Industry Leaders
Monday, January 17, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
How do Tesco, Wal-Mart and METRO vision the future of retail technology? What are the latest updates on each company's respective RFID initiatives? What are their priorities beyond RFID? How are they collaborating with suppliers and industry partners? This panel will explore how the customer experience will be enhanced through adoption of new technologies.
Introductions by: John Stine, Worldwide Retail Industry Manager, Intel Corporation
Speakers: Colin Cobain, Director, Technology, Tesco; Linda Dillman, EVP and CIO, Wal-Mart; and Zygmunt Mierdorf, CIO, Metro Group
Maximizing the Power of Your Brand
Monday, January 17, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
While it is often overlooked, a company's brand is the barometer that drives its market value and financial performance. Join Deloitte in a dialogue with leading brand executives as they discuss how their companies built brand success the old fashioned way--they earned it.
Moderator: Tara Weiner, National Managing Partner, Consumer Business Industries, Deloitte
Speakers: Russell Ortiz, Director, Marketplace Management, Nike USA; Dorit Bern, Chairman, President and CEO, Charming Shoppes, Inc.; Burton Tansky, President and CEO, The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.
Keynote Presentation: Mike Roberts, President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's USA
Tuesday, January 18, 8:30 a.m.
With more than 30,000 flagship restaurants serving Big Mac's in more than 100 countries, McDonald's is the world's top grossing fast-food company. Mike Roberts, President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's USA, will speak about the changes he is witnessing in the retail industry as he leads the company's 13,000 restaurants, shed light on McDonald's strategy for growth, and share how the US team has been aligned to successfully respond to customer demand for more menu variety, greater value, and leaner, better tasting food.
Speaker: Mike Roberts, President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's USA
Why Do They Buy? Deep-Rooted Consumer Attitudes Affect Their Buying Patterns
Tuesday, January 18, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Join IBM and noted psychiatrist and author Dr. G. Clotaire Rapaille to explore the hidden cultural forces that determine how consumers buy. Learn how understanding these forces can help retailers lay a lasting foundation for marketing, new product design, creativity and communications.
Introduction by: Steve Ladwig, General Manager, IBM
Speaker: Dr. G. Clotaire Rapaille, Rapaille Institute
CEO Insights: An Interactive Exchange
Wednesday, January 19, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Rooted in the notion that people need to join together to deliberate and discuss common issues, these sessions will provide an opportunity to hear directly from retail visionaries about the trends and challenges facing the industry. Attendees can choose one of three sessions in which a prominent retail CEO will address the audience for fifteen minutes and spend the remaining time answering questions.
Session #1 Speaker: Terry Lundgren, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Federated Department Stores, Inc.
Session #2 Speaker: Thomas McInerney, Chief Executive Officer, HSN
Session #3 Speaker: David Perdue, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Dollar General Corporation
Innovate or Die!
Wednesday, January 19, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
A panel of designers, thinkers, inventors and architects will challenge attendees to look forward to harness innovation that can have a meaningful effect on your business. Using a lively interactive panel format with lots of audience participation, attendees will have an opportunity to be exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking that can move their business to a higher level.
Moderator: Kenneth Walker, President, WalkerGroup/Designs
Speakers: Ronald Johnson, Senior Vice President, Retail, Apple Computer; Bruce Mau, Creative Director, Bruce Mau Design, Inc.; and Professor Patrick Whitney, Director, Institute of Design, IIT
Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2004, Forecasts for 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m
Explore the findings from the 2004 Retail Horizons study co-developed by the NRF Foundation and BearingPoint. Based on over 100 surveyed companies, this third annual "state of the industry" report will uncover year-over-year trends and forward-looking innovations in several critical retailing categories including: store operations, supply chain management, merchandising, advertising and marketing, CRM, online sales, information technology, and human resources.
Moderator: J. Scott Hardy, Managing Director, Retail Practice, BearingPoint
Speaker: Bob Corliss, President, The Athlete's Foot Stores
The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments, more than 23 million employees - about one in five American workers - and 2003 sales of $3.8 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations.
