The National Retail Foundation's Big Show is named so for a reason — it’s a big deal. On January 15 and 16, more than 30,000 retail and technology leaders will descend upon the Javits Center in New York to hear from industry leaders as they discuss trends in customer experience, machine learning, in-store innovation, and the future of mobile.
Just like the show, the agenda is big — and more than one person could possibly manage. The team at Sailthru recommends nine sessions to get the most out of your time there. And make sure to sign up to schedule a meeting with Sailthru and get a free S’well water bottle.
Here are the sessions you should attend:
January 15
From Data to Delight: Insight Driven Revolution of the In-Store Experience
9:30 – 10:00am
This keynote session features Mike Mauler, the EVP and president of GameStop. If you’re not a gamer you might not know just how data-driven GameStop has become; its loyalty program provides data that fuels innovation both online and in-store, with employees having what they need to make personalized recommendations based on both historic data and their own, individual passions.
Redefining ‘Mobile’
10:45 – 11:30am
Don’t be fooled by the simple name of this breakout session. Healey Cypher and Jerry Hum are mobile gurus and you’ll want to hear their perspective. Healey’s company, OAK, is responsible for bringing advanced touch screen dressing room mirrors to the market and Jerry’s company, Touch of Modern, brings in more than two-thirds of its business through mobile.
The Sky is Not the Limit: Lessons From a Year in Space
12:00 – 1:00pm
Captain Scott Kelly built an Instagram follower base of more than one million… from space. What’s your follower count at these days? He’ll be talking much more than IG. Get ready to laugh and pretend not to cry.
The Store of the Future: Radical Startups Transforming Bricks-and-Mortar Retail
1:15 – 1:55pm
This breakout features a number of technology companies, but Sailthru's team suggests going to hear from Veronika Harbick, founder of Thursday Finest, and Monica Phromsavanh, CEO at MODABOX. Thursday Finest found success with a digital (and sustainable) product line for men and has opened its first pop-up in NYC. MODABOX leverages explicit customer data to power their subscription-based box business.
Innovation in E-Commerce: A Retailer’s Key to Survival
2:15 – 2:55pm
The name of this breakout balances a positive outlook and dire straits, so this talk is probably going to be an emotional roller coaster. Chieh Huang (CEO of Boxed) and Meaghan Rose (CEO of RocksBox) will be duking it out with two VCs known for their work in ecomm. The focus will be on the future of the retail and digital commerce business model, so if you’re planning to stay in retail you should probably check this one out.
January 16
Undying Brand Engagement in an Age of Continuous Disruption and Reinvention – A Fireside Chat with Sir Richard Branson
9:00 – 10:00am
Richard Branson. Enough said.
The DNA of the Digital Native Audience
12:15 – 1:00pm
This year mobile and in-store innovation are all over the agenda, and this is the only session that really dives into the generation that is driving so much of this change. Expect a data-focused session from Lee Peterson of WD Partners. Your best bet is to take what you learn in this session and overlay it with insights from the others to determine how your 2017 priorities might need to evolve to stay relevant and revenue rich.
Data: The New Currency for Retail Marketers
1:15 – 2:00pm
Outside of the fact that data has been the “new currency” for marketers since the 90s, this feature stage presentation brings together big time agency and big box retail. Jeff Rosenfeld, VP of customer insight and analytics at Neiman Marcus, will likely challenge his media-centric counterparts regarding the “right” data for targeting consumers and to bring a machine-learning twist to customer insights.
Storyselling: How the Convergence of Content and Commerce Builds Customer Experiences That Sell
2:30 – 3:00pm
Head to this breakout to hear from Amanda Hesser, co-founder and CEO of Food52. This community turned content portal has now evolved into the most elegant example of content+commerce. Content marketing is tough, but learning from Amanda will be easy.
For more insights from Sailthru, check out its guide to content-driven commerce.
This post is sponsored by Sailthru.
Join the conversation about this story »