GROWING RETAIL BRANDS

In 2023 the Velocity Institute is committed to growing Retailer-owned Brands (private labels, private brands, store brands, own brands) through an expansion of our event and experiential offerings. The slate of events includes seven cities: Toronto, Canada, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Austin, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, and two Live Online Summits.

This year the Retail-owned Brand industry will not have to wait for a once-a-year gathering, the Velocity Institute is taking some of the best elements of live and virtual events and bringing them to industry significant experiences around the world.

Registration is now open for all 2023 events.

Velocity Innovate 2023

April 18, 2023

Free Online Event

This 2-hour fast-paced FREE online event is hyper-focused on innovation and private brand. Highlighting the trends, strategies, and emerging insights private brand retailers and manufacturers need to innovate and manage their brands and products.

Velocity Florida Meet Up

March 23, 2023

Oakland Park, FL

This networking event is designed to bring the industry together over a craft beer or cocktail to reconnect and re-engage.

VELOCITY CONFERENCE + EXPO 2023

May 16-18, 2023

Charlotte, NC

In 2023, our marque event the Velocity Institute Conference +Expo will feature an exclusive lineup of speakers from the world’s top retailers, as well as challengers and thought leaders. Each discusses cutting-edge strategy, branding, sourcing, trends, and insights.

Velocity will also feature a curated Innovation Expo designed to highlight the solution partners and manufacturers driving the industry forward.

10TH ANNIVERSARY VERTEX AWARDS CEREMONY –NORTH AMERICA

Velocity Conference + Expo | 5.17.23

Charlotte, North Carolina

Celebrate the winners of the 10th Anniversary Vertex Awards at a ceremony in Charlotte, NC at the end of the day at the Velocity Conference + Expo.

10TH ANNIVERSARY VERTEX AWARDS CEREMONY + CELEBRATION – EUROPE

Amsterdam, Netherlands, 5.22.23 | FREE

This event will bring the industry together in Amsterdam to celebrate the winners of the 10th Anniversary Vertex Awards. Attendees will mix and mingle over cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres to accept trophies, network, and celebrate great design.

Toronto Meetup

Toronto, Canada, 6.8.23 | FREE

This networking event is designed to bring the industry together over a craft beer or cocktail to reconnect and re-engage.

CHRISTOPHER DURHAM President VELOCITY INSTITUTE

Velocity Sustainability Summit

September 27-28, 2023

Austin, TX

Our goal is to ask questions and challenge existing answers – about private brand: sustainable packaging, equitable sourcing, and authentic marketing – and we are not the only curious ones. The fourth annual Sustainability Summit is a day to find the answers that help you get closer to what “sustainable” means to you and your customers. And how it can create loyalty, differentiation, and profitability

Velocity Bold Bash

Chicago, Illinois | 11.13.23 | FREE

End the long day on the PLMA trade show floor with a cocktail and a conversation. Meet and mingle with the private brand industry at Kings Dining & Entertainment Rosemont steps away from the PLMA Trade Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center.

State Of The Industry 23

Virtual | 2.14.23 | FREE

This 2-hour fast-paced FREE online event will dive deep into the current state of the private brand industry. Presentations and panels will include insights from exclusive consumer and industry research as well as executive insights from retailers, manufacturers, and solution partners.

Christopher Durham

Christopher Durham is the president of the Velocity Institute. Prior to this he founded the groundbreaking site My Private Brand. He is the co-founder of The Vertex Awards. He began his retail career building brands at Food Lion and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Durham has worked with retailers around the world, including Albertsons, Family Dollar, Petco, Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy, Metro Canada. Durham has published seven definitive books on private brands, including Fifty2: The My Private Brand Project and Vanguard: Vintage Originals.