NRF 2019 to address impact of retailing

"Retail is a dynamic industry, with a far-reaching impact on the global economy and the lives of citizens around the world," NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said. "Our speakers will share their unique perspectives on retail, providing insights on how to create a culture of collaboration, adapt to shifting consumer tastes and redefine business models to shape the future of the industry."

Kicking off the event’s featured speakers, Nordstrom president of StoresJ amie Nordstrom will headline the session, 'Consumer Consciousness: Strategies for Relentless Focus on the Customer', addressing how his organisation expresses the full extent of its brands in local markets and ramps up innovations to serve its customers no matter how they choose to shop.

Immediately following, Yum! brands chief diversity and inclusion officer James Fripp, Ikea US president Lars Petersson, Procter & Gamble Group president for North America and executive sponsor of Gender Equality Carolyn Tastad and PwC Chief Purpose Officer Shannon Schuyler will discuss how diversity and inclusion should be seen as a societal commitment in a session titled 'The inclusion imperative: Responding to and advancing real-time D&I challenges.'

The first day will close with two keynote sessions. In three consecutive fireside chats on 'Company Consciousness: Leading with Conviction', Levi Strauss & Co. president and CEO Chip Bergh, Best Buy Co. chairman and CEO Hubert Joly and Dick’s Sporting Goods chairman and CEO Edward Stack will discuss their principles of purposeful leadership. In the day’s last session, titled 'For the fans: Why open marketplaces matter and breed enthusiast culture.'

The second day of the show will close with two keynotes. In the first session, 'Fortunes in the fundamentals: Leveraging operational prowess as a strategic advantage,' Lowe’s Companies president and CEO Marvin Ellison will share his vision for strengthening the home improvement retailer through a relentless focus on operational excellence and retail fundamentals. The last session, 'Beyond the buzz: State of retail 2019' will feature L2 founder, now Gartner L2, and retail industry provocateur Scott Galloway who will review the biggest trends and challenges impacting organisations and retailers going into 2019. Galloway will later be joined on stage by Forerunner Ventures Founder and Managing Partner Kirsten Green to exchange insights on what they see impacting the retail industry most.

The show’s final day, will open with Macy’s chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette leading a discussion with b8ta CEO and co-founder Vibhu Norby, Marxent founder and CEO Beck Besecker, and Macy’s brand experience officer, Rachel Shechtman, in a keynote panel 'Reimagining the customer journey through the lens of experience'. The group will explore how reimagining experiential retail across stores, online and mobile is a recipe for success to capture the new consumer mindset.

Immediately following, JD.com global business development head for JD FashionHarlan Bratcher and Deloitte Vice Chairman and US leader of retail, Wholesale and Distribution Practice Rod Sides will headline the session titled 'Future now: How China today foreshadows shopping and consumerism of tomorrow'. The two will discuss China’s retail landscape and explore the country’s consumer behavior changes and technological developments that have transformed traditional thinking.

The Tuesday Feature Stage will be presented in partnership with Fast Company and will include TOMS chief giving officer Amy Smith, Patagonia Works and Patagonia, Inc. president and CEO Rose Marcario, Unilever EVP of Food and Refreshment and former Ben & Jerry’s CEO Jostein Solheim, Stitch Fix Chief People & Culture Officer Margo Downs, and Sephora SVP of HR Karalyn Smith, moderated across three sessions by Fast Company Staff Editor Jeff Beer.

IBM Corporation SVP, Global Industries, Clients, Platforms & BlockchainBridget van Kralingen will lead a discussion with retailers on exploring future possibilities by placing trust in their organization’s strengths with the strengths of third parties, resulting in new and unexpected operating models in a keynote session titled 'Trust and courage: Key ingredients for new platforms in retail'. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India