Chicago, IL, Oct. 28, 2020 – Shop! Environments Association, the leading global trade association dedicated to enhancing retail environments and experiences, has announced its full agenda for Shop!X.
Scheduled for a virtual format to be held Nov. 9-12, the 2020 edition of Shop!X will feature educational and networking sessions designed to provide attendees with innovative opportunities to co-create and share insights on the future of retail. Thought-provoking presentations will explore how retail must lay a new sustainable foundation for business in the face of shifting challenges, as well as other key retail trends such as COVID-19, design services, brand values, and corporate transparency.
“Our diverse range of speakers and engaging co-creative sessions will keep attendees excited and engaged in the new framing of the retail industry,” said Bruce Barteldt, incoming Chair of Shop! Association. “Shop!X is an invaluable opportunity for retail professionals to learn more about new industry practices that lead with innovation, while also interacting and working with a potential customer base.”
Attendees can look forward to taking away important business insights from key retail leaders, including:
- The Retail Challenge – A fun, insightful retail design competition that provides real-life ideas and intellectual property for your brand’s in-store experience, while solving some of the industry’s toughest challenges. Team up with some of the best designers and fixture and display professionals from around the globe to co-create innovative design solutions and generate next-level ideas that can readily be put into practice.
- Keynote speaker, Ken Nisch, Chairman of JGA Branded Environments, will discuss how retailers must evolve sustainability programs to include the important components of human interaction and cultural and social ecology in order to survive post COVID. He will also share insights and success stories from his forthcoming book on sustainability, Sustainability for Retail: How Global Retail Leaders Create Successful Environmental, Social, and Cultural Innovations.
- Thomas Hacker, Director of Visual Marketing, and Joy Hicks, Senior Manager Environmental Innovations, The Home Depot; and Bevan Bloemendaal, Vice President, Global Environments, and Colleen Vien, Sustainability Director, Timberland, will share their efforts to not only reduce their environmental impact, but also their strong belief of the community’s social responsibilities and how these retail activities are aligned to be purposeful to meet the needs of customers.
- Taylor St. Germain, Economic Advisor at ITR Economics, will share a clear, impartial, and data-driven perspective of how factors such as COVID-19, the potential second-wave impact, and the re-opened economies will impact companies moving forward, and most importantly how it will affect you and your business.
“ShopX is the premier opportunity for retail professionals across the industry to come together to create and solve problems – connection is more important than ever this year when the industry is experiencing so many shifts,” said Paul Hagar, Shop! Association Executive Director. “We’re proud to be able to assist attendees develop creative solutions to help their businesses for the better.”
Other event highlights will celebrate recent accomplishments in retail, including the Shop! Night of Honors Ceremony, which celebrates new inductees into the Shop! Hall of Fame; the Andrea Martin Volunteer of the Year and Shop! Women of Distinction honorees; and the Women’s League Panel Presentation.
To learn more about the virtual Shop!X event and to register, visit the Shop!X webpage.
###
Shop! Environments Association (shopassociation.org) is the global trade association dedicated to enhancing retail environments and experiences. Shop! represents more than 1,400 member companies and affiliates worldwide from 23 countries. The association brings value to the global retail marketplace through our industry leadership, research programs, industry certification, education and networking events. Shop! produces the award-winning magazine, Retail Environments, offering business-focused content to retailers, brands, designers and suppliers throughout the industry.
CONTACT:
Kara Yacovone
212.297.2106