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introduction INTRODUCING SHOPTALK’S 2017 PRELIMINARY AGENDA With just five months to Shoptalk, we’re excited to release our preliminary agenda. Over the coming months, we’ll refine this preliminary version and we expect to release our final agenda in January.
to attract and engage shoppers—they’re also experimenting with new store formats and locations. In 2017, we’ll highlight some of the most innovative store concepts and look at how retailers are adding new services to diversify traditional revenues.
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The proliferation of next-day and same-day shipping options has raised the bar for retailers. Some large retailers are building out their own same-day shipping options with existing logistics partners; others are signing on with startups to accelerate delivery timeframes. And while new technologies like self-driving cars and drones promise to revolutionize delivery longer term, more immediately, gradual improvements in retailers’ own systems and partnerships with startups are enabling products ordered online to be collected in stores in a matter of hours. Join us to hear how retailers and startups are innovating in this key area to compete with fast-moving leaders in the space.
The preliminary agenda builds on the groundbreaking new industry dialogue we started with our inaugural event earlier this year, providing the industry with an important new blueprint during a period of profound and structural change. We’re covering the disruptive trends and technologies that are fundamentally reshaping how consumers discover, shop and buy, while concurrently ensuring practical takeaways that can be incorporated into strategic planning as well as implemented into current tactical execution. Our 2017 agenda runs from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday morning, and includes the world’s best speaker lineup, with nearly half our speakers already confirmed. The formats for 2017 will include main stage and track keynote presentations, main stage and track ‘fireside chat’ interviews, compelling track panel conversations and a new track ‘talk show’ format where we interview a series of executives one-onone. We also have more research presentations planned for 2017 along with our annual Startup Pitch competition. As part of our new Spark Networking Program, we’ve also introduced a track for demos and announcements.
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Startups changing product consumption: Our 2017 agenda will take an in-depth look at how new venturebacked startups are changing both the breadth of products available in the market and how these products are being consumed. We’ll look at innovative footwear companies carving out entirely new niches in the market and food startups disrupting big CPG brands, for example; we’ll also look at a variety of new startups driving product sales through a services model.
The evolution of the retail store: While more than 90% of sales still occur at physical retail locations, stores are changing rapidly and becoming more than just places to make purchases; they’re now entertainment hubs and social destinations where shoppers can explore, learn and connect. Retailers are adding wine menus, cooking lessons and yoga classes
Increasingly sophisticated customer intelligence: 2017’s Shoptalk will take an in-depth look at how companies are deepening their understanding of shoppers. We’ll look at the innovative ways in which retailers are measuring store shoppers, from new in-store analytics solutions to new types of satellite data that yields insights on shopping behavior. We’ll address advances in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in retail and highlight how businesses are becoming even smarter about what their customers are looking for and how they interact.
Online-to-offline migration: For many years, traditional retailers raced to embrace ecommerce as a surefire way to increase sales. Today, however, the tables have turned: It’s now retail stores that are a must-have for the most forward-thinking ecommerce companies. We’ll continue to discuss this topic with some highly successful venture-backed companies as they address their shift from an online-only approach to one that incorporates physical retail stores.
Innovative mobile strategies: While almost every session at Shoptalk 2017 will include some commentary on mobile, in a few sessions we’ll call out specific innovators that are tackling mobile in new ways. We’ll look at what it means to run a truly mobile-centric business—not just one with a mobile offering bolted on. We’ll also look at how marketers are using mobile to reach consumers in new ways, whether they’re browsing in their free time or shopping in a retail store.
In 2017, we’ll continue to explore some of the same themes we discussed in 2016, but with an updated view, including what’s changed in the past year. In addition, we’ve added timely new topics to the agenda that ensure our coverage is comprehensive and relevant. Our 2017 themes include:
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Greater complexity in delivery and logistics:
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Advances in marketing: We’ll also take an expanded look at marketing, with a focus on topics like influence and discovery. We’ll look at businesses that successfully built communities and others that provide innovative
ways for consumers to discover and explore new products. We’ll hear from some of the world’s premier brands that have used different social platforms to engage with shoppers—and how the way they think about social marketing is shifting.
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Merchandising innovation: We’ve added a new track in 2017 to explore some of the most groundbreaking technologies and approaches to merchandising. From sessions that highlight B2B marketplaces enabling retailers to source from a variety of new sellers to others that showcase advances in data-driven, intelligent merchandising, our content will provide a wide range of insights into this key area of retail.
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Culture and leadership: We’re also thrilled to introduce an entirely new track on Sunday to highlight key issues that companies grapple with when it comes to creating company cultures that attract and retain the right talent— we will also look at how companies cultivate leadership across the organization to drive innovation. We’ll have Q&A sessions with CEOs who have run large businesses as well as successful startups, and those who have seen their companies become part of much larger organizations.
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Finally, we’ll also hold several interactive workshops on Wednesday that will include a deeper dive into key areas such as payments, inventory and supply chain and consumer engagement. Since the inaugural Shoptalk in May 2016, we’ve seen a number of advances in the industry. Several of our 2016 speaking companies-including Jet.com, Dollar Shave Club and HookLogic--have been acquired by large players. Our 2017 speaker lineup is already looking just as impressive and we hope you’ll join us to hear from a whole new group of innovators, as well as from many familiar faces who have continued to break new ground in their fields. We look forward to having you with us at our March 2017 event in Las Vegas and our new Shoptalk Europe event in Copenhagen in October 2017. Join us on this incredible journey of disruptive innovation that’s changing everything we know about retail and ecommerce. The Shoptalk Team
Global perspectives: Last year we had a few speakers from outside of the U.S. participate in our discussions, but in 2017 we’ll hear specifically how companies have tackled the challenging task of global expansion. We’ll get a perspective from some of the best-known retailers and startups operating in international markets, and also hear from leading VCs on what they look for in their international portfolio companies as well as how they determine if business models that succeed overseas will resonate in the U.S. market.
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Retail insights from Wharton: Shoptalk will also welcome three different Professors of Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to our agenda. They’ll join us to share and discuss their latest research on how to understand and evaluate shoppers, and will provide a valuable perspective on the industry and innovation in retail from one of the world’s leading business schools.
CONTENTS Introduction
2-3
Agenda At-A-Glance
4-9
Sessions & Descriptions
10-28
250+ Amazing Speakers
29-36
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AT- A - GL A N CE
sunday agenda
REGISTRATION HOURS: 8:00AM - 9:00PM EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: 6:30-8:30 PM
Session 1: 3:00-3:35pm TRACK 1: Pitch Contest
TRACK 2: Global Perspectives
TRACK 3: Culture & Leadership
TRACK 4: Retail Insights from Wharton
Track Room 1
Track Room 2
Track Room 3
Track Room 4
Startup Pitch
Global Expansion: Startup Perspectives
Executive Q&A: How To Drive Innovation At Both Startups & Large Organizations
Business Class Session
Session 2: 3:40-4:15pm TRACK 1
TRACK 2
Startup Pitch
Global Expansion: New Frontiers in Retail
TRACK 3 Executive Q&A: Preserving Culture Through Growth & Acquisition
TRACK 4 Business Class Session
Session 3: 4:20-4:55pm TRACK 1 Startup Pitch
TRACK 2 Global Venture Capital & Investing
4:55-5:20pm 5:20-5:30pm
TRACK 3 Organization & Leadership Workshop
BREAK Opening Remarks
General Session Room
5:30-5:50pm
Keynote
General Session Room
5:50-6:10pm General Session Room
6:10-6:30pm
Keynote
Keynote
General Session Room
6:30-8:30pm
WELCOME RECEPTION IN EXHIBIT HALL
4
TRACK 4 Business Class Session
AT- A - GL A N CE
REGISTRATION HOURS: 6:00AM-8:00PM
monday agenda 6:30-8:30am
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: 10:25AM–7:30PM
BREAKFAST
Session 1: 8:30-9:05am TRACK 1: Ecommerce
TRACK 2: Physical Retail Goes Digital
TRACK 3: Delivery & Logistics
TRACK 4: Research & Market Insights
Track Room 1
Track Room 2
Track Room 3
Track Room 4
Mobile Commerce & Engagement
Technology Advances in Managing the Store
Innovations in Returns
Research Presentations
Session 2: 9:10-9:45am TRACK 1
TRACK 2
New Brand-Retailer Relationships
Executive Perspectives: Store Technology
TRACK 3 Executive Perspectives: Innovations in Delivery
TRACK 4 Research Presentations
Session 3: 9:50-10:25am TRACK 1 Evolving Marketplaces
TRACK 2
TRACK 3
The Future of the Shopping Center
Evolution of Last-Mile Fulfillment: On-demand, Same-day Delivery & Pickup
10:25-11:25am
NETWORKING BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
11:25-11:45am
Keynote
General Session Room
11:45-12:05pm General Session Room
12:05-12:25pm
Keynote
Keynote
General Session Room
12:00-2:00pm
LUNCH IN EXHIBIT HALL
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TRACK 4 Research Presentations
AT- A - GL A N CE
monday agenda 2:00-2:20pm
REGISTRATION HOURS: 6:00AM-8:00PM EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: 10:25AM–7:30PM
Keynote
General Session Room
2:20-2:40pm
Keynote
General Session Room
2:40-3:00pm
Keynote
General Session Room
Session 4: 3:10-3:45pm TRACK 1 Ecommerce
Track Room 1 New Retail Ecommerce Models
TRACK 2 Physical Retail Goes Digital Track Room 2
TRACK 3: Entrepreneurship & Investment Track Room 3
Measuring Store Shoppers
Disrupting the Retail Value Chain
TRACK 4: Changing Consumers Track Room 4 Selling to Millennials
Session 5: 3:50-4:25pm TRACK 1 Mobile-Centric Business Models
TRACK 2 Interactive Store Technologies
TRACK 3 Emerging Direct Business Models
TRACK 4 Transparency & Sustainability
Session 6: 4:30-5:05pm TRACK 1 Content That Drives Commerce
5:00-7:30pm
TRACK 2 Executive Perspectives: Omnichannel Customer Experiences
TRACK 3 New Services That Drive Product Sales
EXHIBIT HALL RECEPTION
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TRACK 4 Gen Z Panel
AT- A - GL A N CE
REGISTRATION HOURS: 6:00AM-8:00PM
tuesday agenda 6:30-8:30am
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: 10:25AM–6:00PM
BREAKFAST
Session 1: 8:30-9:05am TRACK 1: Retail Experiences of the Future
TRACK 2: Marketing
TRACK 3: Entrepreneurship & Investment
TRACK 4: Distributed & Connected Commerce
Track Room 1
Track Room 2
Track Room 3
Track Room 4
Virtual & Augmented Reality in Retail
Marketing Through Social Platforms
Commerce Innovation: Build, Invest or Buy?
Executive Perspectives: Enabling Commerce Everywhere
Session 2: 9:10-9:45am TRACK 1
TRACK 2
Artificial Intelligence in Retail
Building Loyal Communities
TRACK 3 Product Innovation
TRACK 4 Commerce Through Connected Devices
Session 3: 9:50-10:25am TRACK 1 Experiential Retail
TRACK 2 Brands Take Control
TRACK 3 Venture Capital Investing
10:25-11:25am
NETWORKING BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
11:25-11:45am
Keynote
General Session Room
11:45-12:05pm General Session Room
12:05-12:25pm
Keynote
Keynote
General Session Room
12:00-2:00pm
LUNCH IN EXHIBIT HALL
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TRACK 4 The Future of Social Commerce
AT- A - GL A N CE
REGISTRATION HOURS: 6:00AM-8:00PM
tuesday agenda 2:00-2:20pm
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS: 10:25AM–6:00PM
Keynote
General Session Room
2:20-2:40pm
Keynote
General Session Room
2:40-3:00pm
Keynote
General Session Room
Session 4: 3:10-3:45pm TRACK 1 Retail Experiences of the Future Track Room 1 Monetizing the Store
TRACK 2 Marketing
Track Room 2
TRACK 3: Merchandising Innovations Track Room 3
CMOs on The Future of Marketing
Emerging B2B Marketplaces
TRACK 4: Personalized Commerce Track Room 4 Personalized Shopping Experiences
Session 5: 3:50-4:25pm TRACK 1
TRACK 2
Online Goes Offline
Mobile Marketing & Engagement
TRACK 3 (A) Executive Perspectives: Merchandising Innovation
TRACK 4 Product Customization
(B) Private Label Strategies
Session 6: 4:30-5:05pm TRACK 1 Conversational Commerce
TRACK 2 New Product Discovery Models
TRACK 3 Optimizing Merchandising Through Analytics
5:00-6:00pm
HAPPY HOUR IN EXHIBIT HALL
8:00-10:00pm
POOLSIDE RECEPTION
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TRACK 4 Customer Service & Post-Purchase Engagement
AT- A - GL A N CE
wednesday agenda 7:00-9:00am
BREAKFAST
9:00-9:10am
Final Day Remarks
REGISTRATION HOURS: 6:00AM-11:00AM
General Session Room
9:10-9:30am
Keynote
General Session Room
9:30-9:50am
Keynote
General Session Room
9:50-10:10am
Keynote
General Session Room
10:10-10:30am Special Programming: Shoptalk Workshops
BREAK Session 1: 10:30-11:05am WORKSHOP: Payments
WORKSHOP: Inventory & Supply Chain
WORKSHOP: Consumer Engagment
Track Room 1
Track Room 2
Track Room 3
Mobile Wallets
Building a Responsive Supply Chain
Working with Influencers
Session 2: 11:10-11:45am TRACK 1 POS & Checkout
TRACK 2 Omnichannel Inventory Optimization
TRACK 3 Experiential Marketing: Understanding the Pop-up Opportunity
Session 3: 11:50-12:25pm TRACK 1 Fraud & Security
TRACK 2 Inventory Visibility
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TRACK 3 Customer Intelligence
track & session descriptions Track 1: Pitch Contest SUNDAY, MARCH 19 Innovative early-stage companies present their businesses to a panel of distinguished judges from the investment community to vie for two $25,000 prizes. Each company will have just three minutes to pitch their companies and three minutes for Q&A with the judges. Two winners will be selected from the 15 competing startups: one winner will be selected by our panel of judges and the other through audience voting.
Startup Pitches 3:00-4:40pm
Judges Deliberate 4:40-4:50pm
Winners Announced and Prizes Awarded 4:50-4:55pm
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track & session descriptions Track 2: Global Perspectives SUNDAY, MARCH 19 1. Global Expansion: Startup Perspectives 3:00-3:35pm In this session, we'll hear from well-funded startups as they discuss how they built empires in their own markets and then expanded operations into new countries. From one of the most highly valued startups in Japan to a European venture-backed titan, hear from leaders outside of the US as they discuss what it took to successfully take their business across borders.
2. Global Expansion: New Frontiers in Retail 3:40-4:15pm Join us as we hear from CEOs that have established thriving local businesses in markets from Brazil to China. In this two-part Q&A series, hear what it takes to build and run a business in some of the world’s most challenging retail markets and what global brands need to understand about these countries as they evaluate the potential market opportunity.
3. Global Venture Capital & Investing 4:20-4:55pm In this session, we'll hear from leading venture capitalists as they highlight some of the most interesting companies and market trends in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Our speakers will discuss the opportunities and challenges in investing in these regions, and what they look for in the companies they invest in around the globe.
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track & session descriptions Track 3: Culture & Leadership SUNDAY, MARCH 19 1. Executive Q&A: How To Drive Innovation At Both Startups & Large Organizations 3:00-3:35pm Every organization struggles with creating a culture that encourages innovation. At startups, every hire can have an impact on whether the company is able to commercialize its innovative products and services; at larger organizations, the right processes and organizational structures can drive or inhibit innovation. Hear how executives who have run large organizations and startups have dealt with these challenges, and how their leadership style has evolved as they've learned what their companies need to remain competitive in rapidly evolving markets.
2. Executive Q&A: Preserving Culture Through Growth & Acquisition 3:40-4:15pm Leaders at successful organizations pay careful attention to culture as their companies move from launch to maturity. Some focus on preserving a startup-like culture as they grow organically, others on retaining their company's distinct culture as they become integrated into much larger organizations. This session will include Q&A with leaders of companies that have gone through major changes as they grew--these leaders will discuss how they've created and adapted their cultures to ensure they can attract and retain the right talent.
3. Organization & Leadership Workshop 4:20-4:55pm Join us for a one-hour interactive workshop in which participants will discuss some of their organizations' challenges and will work with others to learn how different companies have tackled these same issues.
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track & session descriptions Track 4: Retail Insights from Wharton SUNDAY, MARCH 19 Join us as we hear from three well-known Professors of Marketing from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Professors Barbara Kahn, Peter Fader and David Bell will discuss their latest research: We'll hear their perspectives on topics that range from using customer lifetime values to predict spending to how consumers react to product displays and retail assortments.
1. Business Class Session 3:00-3:35pm
2. Business Class Session 3:40-4:15pm
3. Business Class Session 4:20-4:55pm
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track & session descriptions Track 1: Ecommerce MONDAY, MARCH 20
4. New Retail Ecommerce Models 3:10-3:45pm
1. Mobile Commerce & Engagement 8:30-9:05am Mobile revenues continue to soar and are set to surpass traditional desktop sales at a growing number of retailers. Retailers are trying mobile-first approaches, embracing responsive design, boosting mobile site load times, streamlining checkout and more to convert shoppers to buyers. In addition, retailers are targeting shoppers on their mobile devices and using technologies like geofencing to reach consumers who are near their stores. In this session, retail leaders will discuss innovative strategies that drive consumers to purchase on mobile devices.
2. New Brand-Retailer Relationships 9:10-9:45am The relationship between branded manufacturers and their retail partners is evolving. Brands have long been anxious to ensure their products receive maximum exposure in retailers' stores, but today brands have a far larger set of tools at their disposal to help shoppers discover and explore their products when shopping in stores or online. Brands are also working to unify their content and messaging across every retail channel. In this session we'll hear from some of the world's best-known brands and retailers as they discuss the changing nature of their relationship and the technologies that are enabling them to work together more effectively.
3. Evolving Marketplaces 9:50-10:25am Online marketplaces have evolved well beyond their early days of auctions and pre-owned products. In this session, we'll hear from three companies at the forefront of marketplace innovation: One that has launched a mobile-centric marketplace for fashion apparel, another that operates a series of marketplaces for enthusiasts and a third that put marketplaces on the map over 25 years ago. Join us as we discuss how marketplace offerings are shifting, what consumers are looking for and what the marketplace of the future will look like.
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Ecommerce business models have evolved dramatically over the years and today companies are embracing a variety of different approaches to win over and retain customers. Rentals, subscriptions and recommerce are just a few of the models that have translated into hundreds of millions of dollars of sales for the companies that have embraced them. Hear leading startups discuss how they've redefined ecommerce to build and grow their businesses--and why in some cases they're choosing to move beyond a single strategy to embrace multiple approaches.
5. Mobile-Centric Business Models 3:50-4:25pm For many businesses, mobile isn't a second thought--it's the primary channel through which their customers engage and buy. But what does it mean to be truly mobile-first? In this session, hear from leaders who are building and operating mobile-centric businesses as they discuss how to think about a truly mobile-first offering, and how a mobile-first organization differs from one that simply offers consumers the option to buy via their smartphone.
6. Content That Drives Commerce 4:30-5:05pm Consumers are learning about products and services from a variety of new sources and looking for sites that provide detailed information on--and context for--the products they're buying. A few companies have succeeded in attracting a large audience with compelling content while simultaneously convincing them to buy. In this session, disrupters at the intersection of content and commerce will discuss how they create entertaining digital content that introduces shoppers to new products and services and how they drive consumers to take action.
track & session descriptions Track 2: Physical Retail Goes Digital MONDAY, MARCH 20
5. Interactive Store Technologies
1. Technology Advances in Managing the Store 8:30-9:05am From making pricing changes to counting inventory and from scheduling shifts to training associates, technology is fundamentally changing the way stores are managed and operated. In this session, leading retailers will discuss how they are using a variety of technology solutions to achieve operational efficiencies and to automate tasks that allow associates to better engage with customers.
2. Executive Perspectives: Store Technology 9:10-9:45am
3:50-4:25pm Digital store technologies are becoming increasingly widespread: Today retailers are moving beyond the experimental phase with technologies ranging from interactive displays to virtual dressing rooms, smart shelves, magic mirrors, digital signage and more. In this session, we'll hear from providers of these kinds of cuttingedge technologies as they discuss how customers are reacting to retailers' in-store digital initiatives and how retailers are moving from small-scale pilots to nationwide rollouts.
6. Executive Perspectives: Omnichannel Customer Experiences 4:30-5:05pm
In this session, we'll hear from industry leaders as they discuss the digitization of the store and how they're using technology to make shopping a more engaging, educational experience.
3. The Future of the Shopping Center 9:50-10:25am The shopping center is changing. New tenants like restaurants, spas and gyms are replacing traditional stores--at the same time, new technologies are being introduced by both real estate developers and retailers that make the shopping experience more personalized and enjoyable. Additionally, store formats in shopping centers are shifting as retailers seek new ways to attract and engage shoppers. Join us to hear from leading shopping center developers as they discuss why and how shopping at the mall will look very different in the future.
4. Measuring Store Shoppers 3:10-3:45pm Over the years, retailers have explored different ways of measuring offline shopping behavior, but today a wide variety of groundbreaking technologies are providing retailers with insights into all aspects of how consumers browse and buy. Retailers now have access to consumer shopping data from many sources, ranging from beacons to video monitors and satellites. In this session, we'll hear from three companies at the forefront of offline analytics innovation as they discuss the next generation of customer data.
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Creating a seamless omnichannel customer experience is complex and costly. Retailers must balance the level of consistency their customers demand with their own internal capabilities. Retailers are also seeking competitive advantages with omnichannel initiatives such as endless aisle capabilities and in-store pickup, popular consumer offerings that require high levels of inventory visibility. Join us to hear how leading retailers are tackling these core issues and creating a great brand experience no matter how the customer is shopping.
track & session descriptions Track 3: Delivery & Logistics Innovation MONDAY, MARCH 20
3. Evolution of Last-Mile Fulfillment: On-demand, Same-day Delivery & Pickup
1. Innovation in Returns
9:50-10:45am
8:30-9:05am Returns present challenges for both retailers and consumers, but they are core to the commerce experience. Several early-stage companies are tackling the key pain points of returns by improving reverse logistics and the experience for all stakeholders. Some are building networks of drop-off stores, kiosks and other locations, distributing where consumers can return unwanted products—others are reinventing how returns are processed and recycled. Join us to hear leaders from these innovative companies discuss how they’re rethinking everything about returns.
2. Executive Perspectives: Innovations in Delivery 9:10-9:45am Ecommerce delivery is increasing in complexity. Not only is there an ongoing shift from in-store retail to ecommerce, consumers are now buying large items, perishables and bulk goods online in greater numbers. They also wait to shop last minute and expect speedy delivery regardless of peak times or bad weather. This is putting tremendous pressure on the infrastructure of leading shipping providers. At the same time, some retailers are investing in their own fleets to increase capacity and stay competitive. In this session, senior executives from a leading delivery service and a big box retailer will discuss the types of investments they are making to keep up with current and expected future demand.
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As today’s consumers expect a greater degree of convenience and a range of delivery and pickup options, last-mile fulfillment continues to be one of most rapidly evolving aspects of the retail supply chain. In this session, leading retailers and startups will discuss their ongoing investments in technology, people and partnerships to improve the last-mile infrastructure and their impact on customer acquisition and retention.
track & session descriptions Track 3: Entrepreneurship & Investment MONDAY, MARCH 20 4. Disrupting the Retail Value Chain 3:10-3:45pm Vertically integrated, direct-to-consumer startups have entered a new stage of maturity. In some categories, multiple highly visible startups have carved out a space for themselves using differentiated product and messaging strategies. A number of these businesses are now being acquired by the very same incumbents whose businesses they disrupted. In this session, leading startups discuss how they are continuing to innovate and stay relevant in the face of growing competition.
5. Emerging Direct Business Models 3:50-4:25pm The success of groundbreaking direct-to-consumer models in verticals such as mattresses and bras has inspired entrepreneurs to deliver enhanced consumer propositions by disrupting new categories that range from pharmaceuticals to flowers. In this session, we'll hear from emerging startups which are disintermediating the value chain in these and other new categories, overcoming inefficiencies in traditional retail and instead tackling everything themselves, from manufacturing to marketing and distribution.
6. New Services That Drive Product Sales 4:30-5:05pm Many big brands are already losing mindshare with millennials. With the rise of on-demand services for tasks such as laundry, house painting and wardrobe styling, consumers are now being even further removed from making brand choices. As a result, brands are now partnering with or offering value-added services with the goal of selling more product. In this session, we'll hear from leading on-demand service providers and brands on the potential of services in driving product sales--and weigh the ultimate impact on brand loyalty.
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track & session descriptions Track 4: Research & Market Insights MONDAY, MARCH 20 Join us as we hear nine different market research presentations that highlight how the world of retail and ecommerce is changing. We'll hear original research on a diverse set of topics such as retail real estate trends, global marketplaces, affluent consumer shopping behavior, retailer delivery performance and personalization.
1. Research Presentations 8:30-9:05am
2. Research Presentations 9:10-9:45am
3. Research Presentations 9:50-10:45am
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track & session descriptions Track 4: Changing Consumers MONDAY, MARCH 20 4. Selling to Millennials 3:10-3:45pm As millennials mature and their buying power increases, retailers and brands have to update their product and marketing strategies to cater to their sensibilities, preferences and evolving needs. This panel features venture-backed startups and established retailers that are successfully targeting millennials with innovative product offerings, frictionless shopping experiences and relatable messaging.
5. Transparency & Sustainability 3:50-4:25pm Concerns about health, environment and worker well-being impact purchase decisions to a greater degree now than ever before. Retailers and manufacturers alike are trying to transform their supply chains through technology and sourcing partnerships in order to address these concerns, while still maintaining profitability. Likewise, many direct-to-consumer startups are now being built on the premise of reaching customers via their core values. In this session, we'll hear from leading startups and established companies on their journey to bring transparency and sustainability to their to supply chains.
6. Gen Z Panel 4:30-5:05pm Meet our panel of trendsetting teen influencers, hand-picked by a leading authority on teen preferences and behavior. Our panel will answer questions on topics such as how they spend their time, how they discover and shop, what they think about brands as well as what their hopes and aspirations for the future are.
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track & session descriptions Track 1: Retail Experiences Of The Future TUESDAY, MARCH 21
4. Monetizing the Store 3:10-3:45pm
1. Virtual & Augmented Reality in Retail 8:30-9:05am The meteoric adoption rate of Pokemon Go last summer helped bring augmented reality (AR) into the mainstream. Meanwhile, there have been a spate of technical developments recently in the form of new platforms and hardware, including dual-camera phones, that are enabling better AR and virtual reality (VR) experiences. As a result, AR use cases in retail are proliferating and VR use cases are quickly emerging. In this session, brands and solution providers at the forefront of this phenomenon will share their experience so far, as well as their vision for the potential of this technology to transform shopping.
2. Artificial Intelligence in Retail 9:10-9:45am It is early days when it comes to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail--however, the opportunities for AI to help drive awareness and sales are potentially far and wide. In this session, technology leaders will talk about the current utility and future use cases of AI. Our speakers are leaders at some of the most innovative AI companies disrupting retail-they will highlight examples of how AI is transforming the industry, from better understanding consumer sentiment to improving search results.
As many retailers face declines in same-store sales, they are exploring alternative ways to boost revenues. For some retailers, this means adding new services that attract shoppers and increase sales. These services range from personal stylists to spas; cooking lessons to yoga classes. At the same time, retailers are increasingly viewing their stores as media platforms--they are developing new types of content for the stores as well as new advertising and sponsorship opportunities for marketers. In this session, we'll hear how leading retailers are thinking about diversifying their store revenues beyond traditional product sales.
5. Online Goes Offline 3:50-4:25pm Over the past 20 years, a number of multi-billion dollar businesses have been built on ecommerce alone. Recently, however, many large ecommerce businesses have moved away from an online-only approach and started to embrace physical stores, pop-up locations and showrooms to enable consumers to engage with their products in person. In this session, we'll hear from leaders of companies that supplemented their ecommerce operations with a physical presence, and what they've learned about using these new locations to drive sales.
6. Conversational Commerce
3. Experiential Retail
4:30-5:05pm
10:50-10:25am Stores are introducing innovative ways to get customers in the door-from immersive product experiences to live concerts and viewing parties, from co-located work spaces to limited run theme-based setups. These tactics are designed to cut through the clutter and engage customers, increase brand affinity and eventually sell more product, whether in the store or online. In this session, leading retailers will discuss this exciting transformation of stores from a place to transact into a place for cultural and lifestyle experiences.
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Within the last year, chatbots and virtual assistants have taken the industry by storm. Established and emerging brands alike are trying to figure out their bot strategy, amidst a growing number of options in platforms, vendors, partners and formats. This session features executives from a leading messaging platform, an AI solution provider and a consumer-facing personal assistance app. The speakers will lay out the near-term value proposition of conversational commerce and help us make sense of the frenzy of activity in this space.
track & session descriptions Track 2: Marketing TUESDAY, MARCH 21
4. CMOs on The Future of Marketing 3:10-3:45pm
1. Marketing Through Social Platforms 8:30-9:05am A growing number of opportunities are available to brands looking to promote their products and services using social platforms, and today brands are using these platforms to drive both online and offline sales. In this session, we'll hear from leading retailers and branded manufacturers as they discuss how they use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Twitter and more to raise awareness of their offerings and convert shoppers to buyers.
2. Building Loyal Communities 9:10-9:45am Creating and sustaining a deep emotional connection between a brand and a consumer is isn't easy, but those brands that do manage to build their own community stand to gain tremendously from the relationship. In this session, we'll hear from brands that have successfully built a loyal following by (1) identifying the shared values among a core group of customers, (2) relentlessly pursuing community as a core business strategy and (3) fostering exclusivity among members and rewarding engagement in novel ways.
3. Brands Take Control 10:50-10:25am Both branded manufacturers and their retail partners are anxious to establish deep relationships with their customers. Most brands still rely heavily on retail partners for sales, but today they are also investing heavily in their own digital offerings—many are expanding the breadth and depth of their site content and building ecommerce capabilities to sell directly to shoppers. This session will look at both sides of the equation: (1) How retailers are ensuring brands have a superior experience on their platform and (2) how brands are balancing their relationships with retailers with their own desire to better understand customer behavior and realize a greater margin on sales.
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A CMO's job is more complex than ever. While they have a huge amount of consumer data at their disposal and the technology to the target the right customers in real time, they are also dealing with a high degree of media fragmentation and intense competition for customers' attention. In this session, CMOs from both established and startup brands discuss how they are cutting through the noise to create meaningful emotional connections with their customers.
5. Mobile Marketing & Engagement 3:50-4:25pm Increasingly, marketers are deploying a variety of techniques that utilize the native features of the phone to engage with customers. These techniques also help marketers reach customers who are blocking ads or spending the majority of their time in a handful of favorite apps. In this session, leading marketers will share their experiences with mobilecentric technologies and tactics such as location-aware messaging, visual search and deep-linking.
6. New Product Discovery Models 4:30-5:05pm With declining foot traffic, the rising cost of customer acquisition and shrinking audience attention spans, retailers have been forced to come up with creative ways to get their products in front of customers. This session features three different examples of innovative product discovery methods: (1) 'try before you buy', (2) immersive product experiences and (3) augmented reality gaming apps. The speakers will discuss the consumer insights that lead to the development of each idea and the efficacy of these tactics in increasing conversion.
track & session descriptions Track 3: Entrepreneurship & Investment TUESDAY, MARCH 21 1. Commerce Innovation: Build, Invest or Buy? 8:30-9:05am As large commerce businesses evaluate their growth strategies and how to remain competitive, they must constantly evaluate whether to (1) focus on internal initiatives and organic growth, (2) invest in partners to get an insider's view of--and access to--their innovation, or (3) outright buy other companies to bring new technologies and expertise in-house. In this session, we'll hear about these different approaches to innovation and debate when it's best to build, invest or buy.
2. Product Innovation 9:10-9:45am Time and again, entrepreneurs have created entirely new products that address key customer pain points or opportunities by using novel and innovative raw materials or by taking advantage of cutting edge design and development methodologies. In this session, the latest generation of product innovators will discuss their journey from idea to a whole new business and the lessons learned along the way. Speakers will highlight product innovation challenges and the unique opportunities that exist in the current environment.
3. Venture Capital Investing 9:50-10:25am Venture capital funding for US-based startups continues on an upward trajectory. Join us to hear from some of today's leading venture capital firms as they highlight which technology trends and business models excite them most. Our panelists will address the changes they anticipate in how consumers discover, shop and buy and discuss how they identify the businesses that will define the next generation of commerce.
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track & session descriptions Track 3: Merchandising Innovations TUESDAY, MARCH 21 4. Emerging B2B Marketplaces 3:10-3:45pm The latest technology-enabled, online B2B marketplaces are making discovering products as well as connecting and transacting with partners in the retail ecosystem easier and more cost effective. In this session, we'll hear from emerging wholesale and liquidation platforms on how they are replacing decades-old offline practices with streamlined digital tools.
5. (A) Executive Pespectives: Merchandising Innovation 3:50-4:25pm In this session the Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer of one of the fastest-growing beauty retailers will discuss the success of their unique high-low assortment strategy, as well as their data-driven approach to growing visits, conversion and loyalty among a broad demographic of shoppers in this highly competitive category.
(B) Private Label Strategies Private label products have evolved from being a cheaper alternative to national brands, to providing a true point of differentiation for retailers. In this session, leading retailers will discuss how they tap into consumer trends and preferences to develop unique private label lines and position them to increase market share and generate loyalty.
6. Optimizing Merchandising Through Analytics 4:30-5:05pm The depth of consumer preference data available has grown exponentially. So has the ability to process troves of unstructured data. In this session, leading retailers and startups will discuss how they deploy technology and teams of data scientists to enable smarter decision-making along the entire merchandising value chain--from assortment selection and inventory placement to development of product content and pricing and promotional strategies.
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track & session descriptions Track 4: Distributed & Connected Commerce TUESDAY, MARCH 21
3. The Future of Social Commerce 9:50-10:25am
1. Executive Perspectives: Enabling Commerce Everywhere 8:30-9:05am Retailers and brands must prepare for the inevitable shift of commerce from retail stores, websites and apps to new external platforms such as messaging apps, social networks, and connected devices. In this session, executives from a leading retailer and CPG brand will discuss how they prioritize distributed commerce partnerships, and how they invest in technology and organizational redesign to enable commerce everywhere.
2. Commerce Through Connected Devices 9:10-9:45am From smartwatches and fitness bands to smart refrigerators and home voice assistants, every connected device is becoming a commerce device. Though still in its infancy, commerce via connected devices has the potential to transform shopping by significantly removing friction from the process. Early entrants will have an advantage as they successfully lock customers into their ecosystems while habits are still forming. In this session, device makers and brands discuss the evolving landscape of connected commerce, and the imperative for everyone in retail to start developing a connected commerce strategy.
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As social commerce has become a more than $30 billion global phenomenon, buy buttons have become a widespread phenomenon and the breadth and depth of ecommerce options on social networks have increased substantially. Join leaders from social networks such as Pinterest and Facebook--and brands selling through these platforms--as they discuss the social commerce opportunity. They'll also discuss challenges such as ensuring these new sales channels can access accurate, real-time inventory information.
track & session descriptions Track 4: Personalized Commerce TUESDAY, MARCH 21 4. Personalized Shopping Experiences 3:10-3:45pm Today's shopping experiences are more personalized than ever, and shoppers can now expect retailers to understand their preferences and buying habits. In this session we'll hear from three very different companies providing personalized experiences: one offers personally selected apparel via a monthly subscription service, another provides personalized in-store experiences through clienteling and a third enables shoppers to create personalized images of their homes with new furnishings using the latest AR technology.
5. Product Customization 3:50-4:25pm Consumers are becoming more demanding of the brands they buy from--one of the ways companies are adapting is by offering products that are customized to meet consumers' needs. Whether it's bespoke insoles created through 3D printing, customized fabrics and materials that can be designed by the shopper or lingerie that's created specifically for a woman's individual body shape and size, customized products are tackling the idea that one size fits all. Join us as we hear from leaders creating the next generation of products created specifically for their customers.
6. Customer Service & Post-Purchase Engagement 4:30-5:05pm Customer satisfaction scores are critical to retailers anxious to build a loyal customer base. In this session, we'll hear from a wide range of innovators tackling different areas of customer service. Our speakers will discuss how they are connecting customers with experts on the products and brands they're evaluating and how retailers are using the latest in customer service intelligence to benchmark their performance against competitors. They'll also highlight how retailers are streamlining the post-purchase process and discuss what it takes to delight customers after they've placed an order.
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track & session descriptions Track 1: Payments Workshop WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 In this series of interactive workshops on payment strategies and technologies for retailers, we'll address topics such as mobile wallets, POS and checkout, and fraud and security. Executives from the industry will lead conversations on how to evaluate the myriad options available to retailers and determine the right approach for different types of businesses.
1. Mobile Wallets 10:30-11:05
2. POS & Checkout 11:10-11:45am
3. Fraud & Security 11:50-12:25am
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track & session descriptions Track 2: Inventory & Supply Chain Workshop WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 With shifting consumer propositions, retail supply chains are in dire need of update. In these series of interactive workshops, industry experts will discuss key supply chain issues such as achieving real-time inventory visbility, optimizing inventory placement for omnichannel fulfilmment and building a responsive supply chain to keep up with consumer trends.
1. Building a Responsive Supply Chain 10:30-11:05
2. Omnichannel Inventory Optimization 11:10-11:45am
3. Inventory Visibility 11:50-12:25am
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track & session descriptions Track 3: Consumer Engagement Workshop WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 To connect with today's consumers, marketers have to constantly learn new techniques and work with the latest and emerging platforms. In this series of workshops, we provide actionable advice on some of the more innovative customer engagement tactics such as working with influencers and new social platforms and experiential marketing through pop-up shops.
1. Working with Influencers 10:30-11:05am
2. Experiantial Marketing: Understanding The Pop-up Opportunity 11:10-11:45am
3. Customer Intelligence 11:50-12:25am
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Neil Ackerman Director, Global Ecommerce Mondelez
Yael Aflalo Founder & CEO Reformation
Anil Aggarwal Founder, Chairman & CEO Shoptalk
Pano Anthos Managing Director XRC Labs
Emilie Arel Scott CEO Quidsi, An Amazon Company
David Bell Author, Professor The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Galyn Bernard Co-Founder Primary
Mona Bijoor Founder & CEO Joor
Chad Billmyer CEO Panjo
Rachel Blumenthal Founder & CEO Rockets Of Awesome
Nadia Boujarwah Co-Founder & CEO Dia&Co
Daniel Broukhim Co-Founder & Co-CEO FabFitFun, Inc.
Ken Cassar Principal Analyst & VP Slice Intelligence
Rainer Castillo Co-Founder Chubbies
Manish Chandra Founder & CEO Poshmark
Suja Chandrasekaran Chief Information Officer Kimberly-Clark
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
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Alice H. Chang CEO Perfect Corp
Marshal Cohen Chief Industry Analyst The NPD Group
Eric Colson Chief Algorithms Officer Stitch Fix
Brian Cornell Chairman & CEO Target
James Crawford CEO Orbital Insight
Healey Cypher Co-Founder & CEO Oak Labs
Zia Daniell Wigder Chief Content Officer Shoptalk
Cara David Managing Director YouGov
Gart Davis Co-Founder & CEO Spoonflower
Randy Dean Chief Business Officer Sentient Technologies
Shawn DuBravac Chief Economist & Sr. Director of Research Consumer Technology Association
Michael Edwards CEO eBags
Kevin Ertell SVP, Digital Sur La Table
Sebastien Fabre Founder & CEO Vestiaire Collective
Pete Fader Professor of Marketing The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Peter Faricy VP, Amazon Marketplace Amazon
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
J. Skyler Fernandes Founder/Managing Director Simon Venture Group
Brent Franson CEO Euclid Analytics
Scott Friend Managing Director Bain Capital Ventures
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Katy Fryatt Head Of Shoptalk Europe Shoptalk
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Michelle Goad CEO & Co-founder PS Dept.
Michelle Grant Head of Retailing Euromonitor International
Nick Green Co-Founder & Co-CEO Thrive Market
Jack Groetzinger Co-Founder SeatGeek
Mindy Grossman CEO & Director HSN, Inc.
Gautam Gupta CEO & Co-Founder NatureBox
Bari Harlam EVP - Membership, Marketing & Analytics BJ's Wholesale Club
Dan Herman CEO & Co-Founder Welcome
Morgan Hermand-Waiche Founder & CEO Adore Me
Jim Hilt CMO & EVP Ecommerce Express
Cathy Hotka Principal Cathy Hotka & Associates, LLC
Ryo Ishizuka Co-Founder & CEO Mercari
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Josh Jacobs President of Kik Services Kik Interactive
Sid Jatia VP, Omnichannel Digital Under Armour
Jonathan Jenkins Founder & CEO WithMe, Inc.
Barbara E. Kahn Patty & Jay H. Baker Professor of Marketing The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Matt Kaness CEO ModCloth
Andy Katz-Mayfield Co-Founder & Co-CEO Harry's
Dave Kimbell Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer Ulta Beauty
Eric Kinariwala Founder & CEO Capsule
Dana Klein VP, Ecommerce Reebok North America Adidas Group
Michael Klein Head of Industry Strategy — Retail Adobe Systems
Michelle Lam Co-Founder & CEO True&Co.
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Stephenie Landry VP, Amazon Prime Now Amazon
Aimee Lapic SVP & CMO Banana Republic
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Ronen Lazar CEO & Co-Founder INTURN
Bill Lee VP Smart Home Product Marketing Samsung
J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Jordy Leiser Co-Founder & CEO StellaService
Jeremy Liew Managing Director Lightspeed Venture Partners
Kasey Lobaugh Principal / Chief Retail Innovation Officer Deloitte Consulting LLP
JT Marino Co-Founder Tuft & Needle
Sandeep Mathrani CEO General Growth Properties
Billy May SVP-Digital, Ecommerce & Corporate Development Abercrombie & Fitch
Ben McKean Founder & CEO Hungryroot
Kevin McKenzie Global Chief Digital Officer Westfield Corp
Eric Migicovsky CEO Pebble
Uri Minkoff Co-Founder & CEO Rebecca Minkoff
Tami Mohney SVP & CMO Modell's Sporting Goods
Tobin Moore CEO & Co-Founder Optoro
Scott Morey EVP General Growth Properties
Chris Morton CEO & Co-Founder Lyst
Sucharita Mulpuru Chief Retail Strategist Shoptalk
Jose Nino VP of Commerce, Digital Marketing Perry Ellis International
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Brian O’Malley Partner Accel Partners
Katherine Power Co-Founder & CEO Clique Media Group
Jeff Raider Co-Founder & Co-CEO Harry's
Mohan Ramaswamy Partner, Strategy Work & Co
Ram Rampalli Global Head of Content Acquisition Walmart
Michael G. Relich COO Crate and Barrel
Steve Rempel SVP & CIO Rite Aid Corporation
Eric Salo EVP & Chief Strategy Officer The Macerich Company
Stephan Schambach Founder & CEO NewStore
Rob Schmults SVP Ecommerce & CRM Talbots
Kegan Schouwenburg CEO & Co-Founder Sols
Ken Seiff Managing Partner Beanstalk Ventures
Davis Smith Founder & CEO Cotopaxi
David Sobie CEO & Co-Founder Happy Returns
Ethan Song Co-Founder, CEO & Creative Director Frank + Oak
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J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Made In USA
Anne Marie Stephen Founder & CEO KWOLIA
Thoryn Stephens Chief Digital Officer American Apparel
John Strain Chief Digital & Technical Officer Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Raj Subramaniam EVP, Marketing & Communications FedEx
Peter Szulczewski CEO & Co-Founder Wish
John Tabis Founder & CEO The Bouqs Company
Dana Telsey CEO & Chief Research Officer Telsey Advisory Group
Rachel Tipograph Founder & CEO MikMak
Alan Tisch CEO & Co-Founder Spring
Rakesh Tondon Co-Founder & CEO LE TOTE
Hans Tung Managing Partner GGV Capital
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Tim Tuttle CEO & Founder MindMeld
Nic Vu SVP Adidas Group
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Phil Wahba Senior Writer Fortune Magazine
Mark Walker CEO JackThreads
J US T A FE W OF OU R
250+ AMAZING SPEAKERS
Oliver Walsh CMO Aritzia
JuE Wong President, Elizabeth Arden Brand Elizabeth Arden
Deborah Weinswig Managing Director Fung Global Retail & Technology
Ken Worzel EVP, Stratey & Development Nordstrom
Ben Zifkin CEO Hubba
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Andrea Weiss Founder The O Alliance
Steph Wissink Senior Analyst Piper Jaffray Company
Will Young Director Zappos
Janie Yu Partner Fung Capital
Joey Zwillinger Co-Founder Allbirds
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