• Programme Overview
• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• World Retail Hall of Fame
• Retail Futures Challenge
• Retail Study Tours

Day One - Wednesday 19 September 2012

Pre-Congress Programme 18 September 2012

Welcome to London - Retail Study Tour

Led by the Stores Editor of Retail Week, delegates can choose from two different Study Tours that will show the very best and latest of retailing in London, one of the true retail capitals of the World.

The tour will visit over 25 stores in:

• West End and Luxury
• Cutting Edge - Shoreditch and environs
• Westfield Stratford

Welcome to London evening reception

Selected West End London stores welcome delegates for drinks and store tours
VIP drinks at Burberry’s Regent Street flagship store

DAY ONE 19 September 2012

07.45-08.45
Breakfast briefings x2

Exclusive Research Launch - How is multi-channel impacting retailers' physical store networks?
The increasing emphasis on multi-channel retailing is changing the dynamics of the global retail industry. Following unique research into the fast-growing e-commerce market, leading global property advisors CBRE and guest retailers will debate what this means for the future of the physical store. How are retailers adapting their property strategies to reflect the new multi-channel mode and what will be the impact on shopping destinations?

 

09.00-09.10
Official welcome and opening of the 2012 World Retail Congress
Welcome to London opening presentation

 

09.10-09.30
Retail's pivotal role in the global economy
As one of the largest private-sector employers and contributors to the domestic GDP of all nations, retail is crucial to the economic and social development of all global markets, as well as often being a key attraction to overseas visitors and investors. Opening the 2012 World Retail Congress with a candid, future-focused view on the global economy and its impact on consumers and retailers will be one of the most influential voices in British business.
Sir Roger Carr, President, Confederation of British Industry and Chairman, Centrica plc

 

09.30-09.50
Retailer keynote address
Going for growth in a world of change
Opening the 2012 Congress, the CEO of the UK's largest retailer and one of the world's fastest growing international businesses will present on the new realities of today's retailing and the challenges Tesco and all others are facing. What will be the winning strategies that deliver growth in a world of change?
Philip Clarke, CEO, Tesco

 

09.50-10.30
The reinvention of retail: how is retailing adapting to a world of unprecedented change?
A vital opening panel discussion that will put at its heart the key issues of how retailing is coming to terms with a world needing fewer shops, where customer loyalty is crumbling, when sales can only be won through discounting and “omni-channel” retailing remains a difficult goal to deliver.
Panel discussion led by Robin Lewis, Publisher and Editor in Chief, The Robin Report and co-author of “The New Rules of Retail”
Philip Clarke, CEO, Tesco
Steve Sadove, CEO, Saks Inc
Rajan Mittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises

 

10.30-11.00
Refreshment break and networking

 

11.00-12.30
The Global report-back
The Congress welcomes some of the world's leading experts for a senior level, strategic debate on the impact of the dynamic shifts in the global economy and the momentous diversity of consumers that retailers are now serving worldwide. Together they will deliver original insight designed to challenge, inspire and set the agenda for the 2012 Congress.
Presentation by Ira Kalish, Director of Global Economics, Deloitte

 

12.30-14.00
Lunch break, including x2 special lunch briefings

 

13.00 - 13.45
How eCommerce is transforming retail
The "channel shift" is now the central theme in many retailers' strategies. This session, featuring one of the world's leading multi-channel retailers, will examine how large retailers, many of whom now measure their online revenues in €billions, are re-inventing the customer experience and redesigning their estates, formats, assortments and supply chains to exploit the potential of "omni-channel"
Tony Stockil, CEO, Javelin Group
Laura Wade-Gery, Executive Director of Multichannel, Marks & Spencer

Exclusive Research - Leading transformation
Effective leadership is the single biggest success factor when delivering a step change in performance. Join us to discuss the results of an extensive research project that has determined what it takes to successfully lead transformation. Hear business leaders describe the strategies, styles and approaches that have worked (or not) for them.
Matt Clark, Director and Head of Consumer, Boxwood

 

14.00-15.15
Choice of 5 sessions, including a workshop in the Customer Experience Lab presentation zone within the networking lounge.

 

Session 1
Country focus - China
Serving the Chinese consumer
China is backing an unprecedented investment in its consumer economy which is resulting in a burgeoning middle class with an appetite for modern retailing and international brands. Whilst representing enormous opportunities for domestic and international retailers, it is also creating enormous challenges in being able to keep track of rapidly evolving consumer trends, regional variations and demand patterns. How are winning retailers adapting to these market conditions and who looks set to win leading shares of the new consumers' spend? A critical session bringing together lead players to provide an inside view.
Panellists include:
Frank Wei, Managing Director, Consumer, Industrials and Services, Warburg Pincus Shanghai

 

Session 2
Special country focus - Brazil
Can the Brazilian miracle continue?
Brazil's long term economic health now looks assured and with it a sustainable growth in consumer spending. How are retailers able to capitalise on the desires and aspirations of the increasingly affluent Brazilian consumers? How can international retailers and brands establish and differentiate themselves alongside the increasingly confident domestic retail sector?
This special country focus session will provide delegates with a detailed look and flavour of one of the most important retail markets in the world today.
Chaired by Marcos Gouvea, Director General, GS & MD
Panellists include:
Daniela Bretthauer, Head of Research for Brasil, Head of Consumer, Retail and Transportation in Latin America, Raymond James Brasil

 

Session 3
How to deliver world class service: learning from innovative retail businesses
Providing exceptional customer service is proven to be the key defining strategy of winning or losing customers. This session brings together world-class businesses to share their approaches to customer service and how they modelled their businesses to best serve their consumers.
Garry Hogarth, Chief Executive, Agent Provocateur
Vicente Castellano, Managing Director, Hackett London

 

Session 4
Learning from the new “retail-preneurs”
The enormous changes taking place across all retail markets are already creating a new generation of retail entrepreneurs who are building businesses and brands that meet the challenges and demands of today's markets. How or are they changing the rules of the game and what can be learnt from those at the forefront of retail innovation.
Chaired by: Dharmash Mistry, Partner, Balderton Capital
Panellists include:
Alexis Maybank, Founder, Gilt Groupe
Chris Burch, Founder, C Wonder
Oskar Hartmann, CEO, KupiVIP

 

Session 5
Customer experience lab presentation
New for 2012, the World Retail Congress will launch an experience laboratory that creatively explores the latest ideas and technologies around consumers and the store environment. Each day, the “experience lab” will act as an interactive session space with a different focus each day.

Session one topic: Shopper insights from around the world
A round the world tour to provide updates on the key consumer trends and drivers in each of the major regions. What are the points of difference in each market; what are the lessons for domestic as well as international retailers?
Four retailers from key markets give their personal perspective and experiences
Introduced by: Allyson Stewart-Allen, Director, International Marketing Partners
Panellists include:
Kris Engskov, UK Managing Director, Starbucks
Muwaffaq Jamal, Chief Executive, Panda

 

15.15-15.45
Session changeover and refreshments available

 

15.45-17.00
Choice of 4 sessions, including a final chance to join today's Customer Experience Lab presentation on “Shopper insights from around the world”

 

Session 1
Building brands in a global and digital world: guarding integrity, keeping control, and choosing partners
Brand owners have important decisions to make on how and where to develop their brands while protecting their core values. Different brands take different views on how to control their own destiny: retaining everything vertically in-house; outsourcing selected activities; licensing others to act on the brand's behalf. If partners are needed to take the brand across borders and/or channels - as well as through the supply chain - how do owners ensure their brands are endorsed not diluted by such partnerships. And what about maintaining brand control in the digital world where risks and opportunities confront a very different set of issues?
This session brings together a line-up of retailers and sourcing experts representing alternative approaches to key aspects of their successful business models.
Chaired by Michael Poynor, Managing Director, Retail Expertise
Panellists:
Pete Williams, Founder/CEO, Jack Wills
Andy Marshall, Managing Director, Costa Coffee (EMEA + India)
Rick Darling, President, Li & Fung US
Henry Stupp, CEO, Cherokee Inc

 

Session 2
Operational implications of the empowered mobile shopper
Consumers are using mobile technologies and social networks not just for blockbuster and holiday shopping days but for all shopping occasions. What are the implications for retailers?
IBM's benchmark studies indicate that savvy retailers need to invest in delivering personalized shopping experiences across multiple channels, offering the right kinds of promotions, the right merchandise and the right delivery method, all geared towards satisfying consumers and driving profitable growth. Where do you start? Come hear insights from a panel of distinguished retailers as they analyse what retailers must do to keep pace with empowered mobile shoppers, particularly as we head into the upcoming holiday shopping season.
IBM

 

Session 3
The changing face of retail: what are the new rules governing the future of bricks and mortar for key retail sectors
This important session looks at the critical issue of the future of the physical store; its role, how it connects with shoppers and how many stores will be required in an ideal portfolio. To get to the heart of this issue, we bring together senior retailers from four key retail format or product sectors to present their ideas on whether “fewer and better” will be the future of bricks and mortar, or is there another way?
Chaired by: John Ryan, Stores Editor, Retail Week
Panellists include:
Bonnie Brooks, CEO, Hudson Bay Company and Lord and Taylor
Susan Olivier, VP Consumer Goods & Retail Industry Solutions, Dassault Systemes
Jim Fielding, President, Disney Stores Worldwide
Simon Threadkell, Director Design, Formats , Tesco
Dawn Clark, Global VP Design, Starbucks

 

Session 4
Managing change: how to set an agenda for change and take the organisation with you
With change and how to manage change the biggest single challenge for all retail executives, this session brings together a panel of respected leaders who will share their experiences and key learnings from many years of changing organisations to make them fit for the future. Hear from retailers who have implemented change, can give insight into an on-going change programme and others just starting out on changing a business.
Panel discussion including:
Andrew Jennings, CEO, Karstadt
Ravi K. Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer, OfficeMax
Ian McLeod, CEO, Coles
Paul Charron, former President and CEO, Liz Claiborne
Laurence-Anne Parent, Senior Partner, Advancy

 

Stream 5
Tbc

 

17.00-17.45
Plenary session
The 2012 Congress interview
A major retailer takes to the stage in a one-to-one interview to discuss their career and their thoughts and insights into retailing today. Full details to be announced shortly

 

17.45
Welcome drinks and networking

 

Back to programme introduction »