Who is this Track Relevant for?

This track is designed for Merchandising Executives across all forms of Retail Environment.

Relevant titles include C-level, SVP, VP, Director and Manager of Merchandising and Store Operations.  

Market sectors include: Traditional Retail, Multichannel & Online Retail. 

Theme of the Track

Consumer-Centric Merchandising:  Updated Trends to Traditional Approaches of Retail Merchandising

From localized assortments to retail pricing strategies, retailers need to develop retail merchandising strategies that attract and retain customers. Having the customer at the epicenter of your merchandising strategy ensures the necessary connection for building top-line sales.  The consideration and addition of new data points into merchandising planning and execution are what separates top retailers from the rest of the pack.  In addition, we will also investigate how the alignment of technologies and strategies across the organization help shape a better approach to consumer-centric merchandising.

Topics for this Track include:

Consumer-centric merchandising

• Why becoming demand-driven matters for retailers
• What does consumer-centric merchandising look like
• Emerging trends in assortment management and space execution
• What is lifecycle pricing and why is it important
• The role of demand forecasting in consumer-centric merchandising

Key Components of the Program

The program consists of a number of distinct elements to deliver a wealth of strategic and operational insights, unearth potential new solutions and facilitate networking with high profile industry peers.  You’ll have full access to:

Keynotes Addresses – These are in a panel discussion format with a range of senior level executives across different industries and departments for a lively debate.  These will be delivered to the whole group of attendees across all three co-located executive conferences.

Plenary Presentations – Thought leaders from the industry share perspectives on trends and best practices from their experiences in the field.  These peer led sessions are Track specific for focused content directly relevant to you. 

Case Studies – Hear directly from customers who have implemented solutions to address key operational issues in your field in these fact rich operationally focused sessions.

Targeted Research Meetings – Let us know what solutions you have an active interest in researching and we’ll connect you with the solution providers best positioned to meet your unique needs.  Alternatively, review the full range of solution providers and let us know which you’d like to meet and we’ll arrange the appointment.  

Birds of a feather Round Table Discussions – Set over lunch, these informal sessions are designed to connect you directly with peers in the same industry and department as you for brainstorming, benchmarking and expanding your network of influential contacts in the industry.

Catered Networking Functions – Enjoy the convenience of onsite 5 star catering throughout the event and meet a bunch of interesting new folks over breakfast, lunch, dinner or Drinks Receptions.

Optional Golf – Enjoy a round of golf on the award winning David Harman designed onsite course with an informal tournament on the Sunday afternoon.  

Educational Program includes

The education program is being finalized.  Specific titles and abstracts include:

Keynote Address

“Successful Business Transformation – What’s your Role?” 

Business Transformation has emerged as a key focus for executive management to better align people, process and technology initiatives with business strategy and vision.  Leaders who have managed successful transformations have taken billions of dollars of waste, cost and complexity out of the end to end business and are now in a position to follow growth and innovation strategies. The reach of such transformations must transcend the various silos in an organization and thus all departmental leaders play an integral role in success. 

This Keynote Panel draws on the perspectives from a diverse group of senior executives at leading organizations to talk about best practice, learning’s, pitfalls and enablers in their journey to business and supply chain transformation. Key topics that will be discussed are relevant to all continuous improvement and transformation projects and leaders. The content will be valuable to bigger global companies as well as smaller local manufacturers and retailers from across the different verticals and markets; from retailer to consumer-driven and industrial build to order manufacturers. 

Best practice topics that will be discussed and debated are;

• Improving demand forecast accuracy through joint value creation initiatives with customers.
• Achieving reliable operations excellence in the extended product supply network.
• Making balanced and balanced trade offs across the business using information, governance, and processes such as S & OP and network optimization.
• Operationalizing demand and innovation across the extended value network.
• Managing risk and complexity.
• Change and performance management and organization design to achieve organization effectiveness.
• Designing, structuring, and developing talent in the global organization.

 Moderator: Roddy Martin, SVP Research, AMR Research