Retail development is an ever-evolving industry, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations is crucial for professionals in the field. One of the best ways to gain new insights, network w/ industry leaders, and engage in thought-provoking discussions is by attending retail focused conferences. With so many conferences to choose from though, which ones should you attend?
We did the dirty work for you based on our experience and recommendations from other industry professionals. Below are the 6 of them we recommend attending!
Retail Live hosts a number of smaller conferences throughout the US every year. They are usually territory focused with this one being in the Midwest but do not let the size fool you as a number of high profile retailers attend every event. Top brands like ULTA, Jersey Mikes, Dunkin and Arby's are already registered. Plus this is a one-day only event making it easier on travel time + expenses.
More details: https://www.retaillive.com/event/midwest-2023/
Similar to Retail Live the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) hosts a number conferences every year with their premier event being held at the Javits Center. It is a two-day gathering of dealmakers and industry experts, who are driving innovation and evolution in the Marketplaces Industry. You can expect over 10,000 retail industry professionals to attend this year.
The SiteRise team will be attending this event 😎
More details: https://www.icsc.com/attend-and-learn/events/details/new-york-2023
Known as Retail's Big Show, the 2024 edition of NRF is a 4 day event hosted in NYC. This conference draws normally draws in 5,000+ brands and 40,000+ attendees from all corners of the world. The 2024 roster of speakers is set to feature top executives from renowned companies such as Walmart, Sephora, Crocs, Michaels, Adidas, Target, Ikea, and GameStop.
If you are looking for the biggest bang for your buck networking wise, this is the one conference to attend.
More details: https://nrfbigshow.nrf.com/
Since 1999, eTail has been the gathering place for top retail leaders, serving as the hub for cutting-edge eCommerce and digital marketing strategies. The majority of their events are focused on the digital side of retail but in more recent years a number of traditional brick and mortar retailers are attending as the line between the two have started to blur.
If you are a retailer or vendor looking to meet with DTC brands getting into traditional retail or those moving towards omni-channel commerce, this is a great conference to attend.
The SiteRise team will be attending this event 😎
More details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/
SPECS 2024 will bring together the nation's top retailers and suppliers across the store development industry. Be ready to learn, share ideas, develop business partnerships and find innovative solutions to help you successfully operate and maintain stores in an ever-changing world.
The SiteRise team has attended a number of SPEC events and have also been impressed by the quality of the event and the number of networking opportunities.
More details: https://www.specsshow.com/2024
Bringing together a community of over 10,000 executives, Shoptalk serves as the intersection point for retail, technology, and innovation. This event is known to be more agenda/discussion heavy than others with a number of high profile brand and retailer speakers. The lineup for the next year's event includes executives from Ulta Beauty, Alibaba, Build a Bear, Canada Goose, Crocs, and Victoria's Secret.
The expo/networking area features a bustling showcase of around 900 exhibitors, hailing from technology firms and solution providers.
More details: https://shoptalk.com/us/
Updated October 2023
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