Washington, DC, December 5, 2005 – Retailers from around the world will gather for the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 95th Annual Convention and EXPO, January 15-18, 2006 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.
A series of special forums will provide attendees the opportunity to more closely examine the industry’s hottest topics, including retail merchandising, global retailing trends, the expansion of private brands, and retail’s shifting dynamics and trends.
Conference participants will attend forums in a workshop-like environment with peer-interaction, roundtables and in-depth discussions. Convention forums are designed to provide attendees with the freedom to delve more closely into a specific topic or move from forum to forum and skim information on a variety of topics.
Forum and education opportunities at NRF’s 2006 BIG Show include:
Merchandising Beyond Expectations
Sunday, January 15, 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
This interactive session will provide a window into how retailing will change between now and 2010. Retail executives will share how they are driving their companies to achieve greater success by using innovative approaches that focus on the customer.
Session 1 – Maintaining Strong Profitability with Customer Driven Merchandising 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Speakers: Doug Deruchie, Chief Financial Officer, Reitmans Limited, and Diane Randolph, Director, Merchandising Business Processes, Reitmans Limited
Session 2 – Perfecting the Merchandise Planning Process
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The Surging Growth of Private Brands
Sunday, January 15, 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
The expansion of private brands across all categories, lines of retail trade and countries will cut deeper into the sales of traditional branded goods. This forum will explore how retailers can capitalize on the growth of private brands, identify potential stumbling blocks and provide a roadmap for success.
Session 1 – Retailers’ Private Brand Strategic Alternatives
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Speaker: Dan Stanek, Executive Vice President, Retail Forward
Session 2 – How Private Brands Contribute to Growth: A Retailer’s Perspective
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Speaker: Wilson Zhu, Vice President, Private Brand Development & Global Sourcing, Office Depot
Session 3 – Speed-to-Market and Balanced Private Brand Sourcing Strategies
11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Speaker: Walter Wilhelm, President and CEO, Walter Wilhelm Associates
Global Retail Innovation: Tracking Key Formats, Innovations and Trends from an International Perspective Sunday, January 15, 12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
This forum will cover the topic of innovation from a global perspective as it highlights the key drivers of innovation across North America, Europe and emerging markets. Attendees will hear about the use of technology, business model approaches, the customer experience, products and services, and retail formats across various regions.
Session 1 – North American Innovation
12:00 p.m. – 12:25 p.m.
Speaker: Neil Stern, Senior Partner, McMillan/Doolittle, L.L.P.
Session 2 – European Innovation
12:25 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Speaker: Bruno Christensen, CEO, Retail Institute Scandinavia
Session 3 – Emerging Markets
12:45 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Speaker: Marcos Gouvêa de Souza, CEO, Gouvêa de Souza & MD
Session 4 – Retailer Case Study
1:10 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Speaker: Lovro Mandac, Chairman, Kaufhof Warenhaus AG
Expressing Your Global Voice Beyond Expectations Monday, January 16, 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
In this forum, three sessions look at how experiential retail provides a unique solution for overcoming cultural differences around the globe. Attendees will hear success stories from global marketers about how they have been able to overcome international marketing challenges; and finally how development options, brand globalization and consumer mobility impact real estate choices for the retailer and consumer.
