ICSC announced a new virtual conference, Now & Next: Retail in the Age of COVID-19 to be held September 29 to 30, 2020. Keynote speakers include Brian Cornell, board chairman and CEO of Target; Mary Dillon, CEO of Ulta Beauty; Sandeep Mathrani, CEO of WeWork; and Judith McKenna, president and CEO of Walmart International.
“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the retail and retail real estate industries, and Now & Next is an essential opportunity to hear directly from experts on strategies for adapting their business and thriving in the new normal,” said Tom McGee, president and CEO of ICSC. “We are excited to have a great lineup of speakers, and our keynotes will shed important light on how their companies have adapted during this unprecedented time – offering lessons for the entire industry.”
The event will bring together leaders at the intersection of retail and real estate to share their insights, advice and analysis. Sessions and speakers will look at where the industry is now and what is next as companies look to rebound and incorporate key learnings from the current landscape into future best practices,
Day One: In addition to the keynotes, David Wasserman, political forecaster for retail and PropTech investors including Fifth Wall and JLL Spark; and Mark Zandi of Moody’s, will discuss economic projections including the upcoming holiday season.
Day Two: Charting a course for successful growth in a post-COVID-19 world, featuring Chipotle Mexican Grill, Blink Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Federal Realty, and Seritage. Placer.AI and Spatial AI will share how innovative uses of consumer mobile data will reshape retail decision-making. McKinsey will take a deep dive into the evolving customer experience, and the potential of technology to help businesses grow during and after COVID-19.
The Year Ahead sessions will also spotlight growing sectors in retail real estate including cannabis, health and wellness and restaurants, and will explore how they will maintain their growth position moving forward.
“Retailers need new strategies to succeed during the pandemic and adapt their businesses to unprecedented disruption, and we want to help our members understand what works – and rebound from the economic strain,” said McGee. “We’re excited to bring together some of the brightest minds in the industry to share best practices and ensure we are positioned to succeed in a post-COVID world.”
For more information go here.
Graphic courtesy ICSC
