Future Stores 2024
June 03 - 05, 2024
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
Day One: Blended Experiences for the Modern Consumer: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
7:30 am - 8:25 am
Registration & Breakfast In The Innovation Lab
8:25 am - 8:35 am
Welcome Remarks & Ice Breaker
8:35 am - 8:50 am
Chairperson’s Opening Address
JD Dillon -
Chief Learning Architect,
Axonify
8:50 am - 9:30 am
Keynote Panel: State of the Store: What Is the Purpose of Your Brick & Mortar Presence?
Ricky Joshi -
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer,
Saatva
John Boline -
VP Store Design,
Starbucks
Sheri Blattel -
Director, Retail,
Cushing Terrell
Allie Gratton -
Vice President of Client Services,
StoreForce
Stores are back bigger than ever. Consumer shopping is back in-store at pre-pandemic numbers and all things point to stores being integral to retail business growth while a recession looms. Digitally native brands know that to remain in business they must invest in real estate. But we know the stores of the years past have to evolve and brands are reimagining what physical retail looks like.
- Being intentional with the role of the brick and mortar store in a digitizing world
- Operationalizing the store for ecommerce orders
- Understanding the opportunity of physical stores in certain markets
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Keynote Presentation: The Easy Imperative: How Convenience for Shoppers and Retailers has become the Store Tech Essential
Craig Witsoe -
CEO,
Elo
John Hazen -
Chief Digital Officer,
Boot Barn
Rick Walstrom -
Director - Device Engineering,
Target Corporation
In this must-attend keynote, Craig will team up with Rick Walstrom from Target and John Hazen from Boot Barn to address the rise of frictionless customer experiences as a crucial component of retail technology. The session will explore the increasing popularity of technologies like BOPIS (Buy Online Pick-up In-Store), BORIS (Buy Online Return In-Store), SCO (Self-Checkout), and other easy-to-use solutions aimed at enhancing convenience.
As consumers demand more streamlined and easy shopping experiences, retailers are innovating with future store models. The presentation will explore the benefits for retail operators, such as increased loyalty, higher average sales, improved customer satisfaction, and enhanced efficiency. Additionally, the keynote will provide insights into the advantages of seamless self-service technology solutions for both retailers and shoppers, addressing how retailers can harness these easy-to-implement technologies for growth. Attendees will gain an understanding of customer benefits, including time-saving and convenience, which contribute to an exceptional shopping experience.
10:00 am - 10:45 am
Coffee Talk Networking Break & Refreshments in The Innovation Lab
10:45 am - 11:15 am
Fire-Side Chat Interactive: Customer Centric Design in a Changing Retail Landscape
Ruth Crowley -
VP, Merchandise and Brand Strategy,
Hudson Group
While COVID decimated the travel industry, Hudson Group took pause brought on by the pandemic to rethink its retail experience. Ruth Crowley leads Hudson Group’s brand strategy and merchandising and she and her team have been focused on keeping the customer at the center of transformation sweeping retail stores. Ruth will talk through:
- Hudson Group’s new store elements being launched in response to changes in consumer behavior
- Technology as a value add to customer experience without being gimmicky
- Maintaining seamless experiences while adapting to changing shopping environments
11:15 am - 11:35 am
Keynote Presentation: The Modern Store: Unlocking the Power of Technology to Overcome Retail Disruption
Matthew Guiste -
Global Retail Technology Strategist,
Zebra Technologies
Even as we see disruption from the pandemic receding, the retail industry is still becoming increasingly complicated. From shifting customer expectations to inflation and the after-effects of supply chain issues, retailers are still contending with a myriad of challenges that place strain on in-store staff, corporate leaders and profitability.
Matthew Guiste, Global Retail Technology Strategist for Zebra Technologies, will discuss how creating The Modern Store with innovative technology will ensure that your store operations are agile enough to manage retail disruption.
The Modern Store is a vision for how retailers can solve their most pressing challenges. It meets retailers where they are at on their modernization journey and enables them to boost employee engagement and productivity, improve inventory accuracy and visibility, and ensure customers have a seamless in-store experience.
11:35 am - 12:15 pm
Panel: Making Associates Your Store’s Greatest Strength
Matt Werder -
VP, Retail Operations,
Fleet Feet
Adimika Owens -
Senior Director, Visual Merchandising & Design,
Floor & Decor
Estee Woods -
Head of Product Marketing,
Yoobic
With the shopping experience becoming more and more digitized, the associate’s role in the store has evolved from being transactional to being a key component of the customer experience. Our panelists will discuss:
- Leveraging associates to add the humanizing element to in-store experiences
- Equipping store staff with the tools and information they need for meeting customer demand
- Understanding where automation is needed and where associates can add a personal touch
1:15 pm - 1:20 pm
Transition to Roundtables
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm
Collaborative Roundtables Led by Technology Innovation Partners
Dave Hamilton -
Director Retail Industry Strategy,
Blue Yonder
Allie Gratton -
Vice President of Client Services,
StoreForce
John Yozzo -
Enterprise Account Manager,
Yoobic
Jayna McClaran -
Design and Planning Manager,
formerly at Hertz
Rich Halbert -
Chief Strategy Officer,
WorkJam
Choose one of the below topics to discuss for 40 minutes with 10-15 of your peers.
- Empowering the Associates in the World of Connected Commerce Dave Hamilton, Senior Director Retail Industry Strategy, Blue Yonder, Rich Halbert, Chief Strategy Officer, WorkJam
- Agile Associates and Unified Tech: The Driving Force Behind In-Store Success Allie Gratton, VP, Client Services, StoreForce
- Equipping Frontline Teams to Deliver the Best Customer Experience John Yozzo, Enterprise Account Manager, YOOBIC
- Sustainability in Retail Operations for a More Conscious Customer Jayna McClaran, Design and Planning Manager, formerly at Hertz
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm
Ballpark Networking & Refreshment Break in the Innovation Lab
General Session
2:40 pm - 2:50 pm Track Chair Opening Remarks Melissa Wong - CEO & Co-Founder, Zipline
General Session
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm Fire-Side Chat Interactive: Equipping Employees with the Tools for Exceptional Customer Service Kim Rila - Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner, TheRealReal Philip Amandola - Director, Retail, Casper· Providing employees the tools to offer the hybrid (digital and offline) experiences that customers are looking for
· Empowering associates with the behind the scenes knowledge (such as issues of inventory or supply chain) that equips them for customer interactions
· Using communication and flexible workforce management tools that allow associates to have more power over their workplace experience
General Session
3:20 pm - 3:40 pm Partner Presentation: ALDO Group: Why Flexibility is the Key to Workforce Efficiency and Employee Engagement Kristin Brennan - VP, Marketing, Legion Francois Paquin - Senior Operations Manager, ALDO GroupThe founder of the ALDO Group was determined to create a new kind of business. One rooted in love, respect and integrity. ALDO designs footwear and accessories but ultimately aims to make a difference – not just by making things that look good, but by doing things that do good. By welcoming, celebrating, and showing love to everyone, everywhere.
Delivering a modern, engaging employee experience while maintaining efficiency is key to the ALDO Group’s operations today. In this session, we’ll cover how schedule flexibility, instant access to wages, and a modern, intuitive app can improve employee communication and engagement and reduce turnover while simultaneously transforming workforce management.
General Session
3:40 pm - 4:20 pm Panel Interactive: Designing Dream Retail Spaces that Deliver Optimal Efficiency Monica Sampson - Retail Operations Director, Kaleafa Janeil Mackay - Senior Director, Global Retail, Sports (Seattle Kraken), BDA Lindsay Schofield - Director, Retail, Filson John Boline - VP Store Design, Starbucks- Understanding changing consumer preferences for retail spaces
- Aligning aesthetic design with the optimal store footprint
- Visual merchandising that draws customers in
General Session
4:20 pm - 5:00 pm Future Stores Tonight: Purposeful Store Design for Your Target Customer Kimberley Yaeger - Senior Director, Brand Design, Peet’s Coffee Jeff Fisher - VP, Retail, Blenders Eyewear Jean Vashisht - VP, Business Development, Sleep Country Canada Kambiz Hemati - Founder & Creative Director, Love Coffee Bar- Using store design to communicate brand values
- Creating spaces that allow connection with the community in which your stores are located
- Highlighting new or novel inventory categories that resonate with the markets you operate in
Retailer Only Connections
2:40 pm - 5:00 pm Table Top Connections Kambiz Hemati - Founder & Creative Director, Love Coffee Bar Stephanie King - CEO & Founder, Kitchen & MarketSign up onsite. 15 max. capacity.
Charting Your Retail Career Path
Kambiz Hemati, Founder & Creative Director, Love Coffee Bar
Scaling Thoughtful Retail Experiences
Stephanie King, Founder & CEO, Kitchen & Market
