REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

WELCOME REMARKS

FIRESIDE CHAT: REINVENTING LUXURY RETAIL AMID CHANGING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

In the past, the retail environment was a place where customers purchased merchandise; however, as customer expectations continue to evolve, retailers must go beyond the transaction – both in-store and online. How have redefined customer expectations forced luxury retailers to evolve their models beyond simply selling merchandise to provide an immersive, unified shopping experience?

Speaker:Marc Metrick, President, Saks Fifth Avenue
Interviewer:Stephen Sadove, Principal, Stephen Sadove and Associates

FIRESIDE CHAT: CRAFTING TOMORROW’S LUXURY

Varying economic trends, new technologies, changing tastes and evolving demographics are driving a constant cycle of transformation across the luxury sector. How should luxury brands evolve to stay relevant? How is sustainable luxury and fashion responding to environmental, ethical and social concerns with new forms of consumption? Does this have to come at the expense of profits?

Speaker:Laurent Claquin, President, Kering Americas
Interviewer:Thomas Robertson, Joshua J. Harris Professor, Professor of Marketing,
The Wharton School

CAN RENTAL GO MAINSTREAM?

The apparel rental business has exploded over the past decade, going from virtually non-existent to what’s expected to be in the billions of dollars. Rental businesses such as Airbnb encouraged entrepreneurs to explore fashion subscription models. If consumers are willing to rent cars and homes, then fashion is fair game too. In addition to new rental subscription players, traditional retailers see rental as an opportunity to attract new customers. Consumers, especially millennials and Gen Zers, find the concept of renting appealing because it allows them to continually refresh and reinvent their wardrobes. How will this trend continue to affect retailers and brands? What impact does rental have on supply chain manufacturing? Is this the end of ownership?

Panellist: John Donoghue,
Senior VP, Corporate Development, CaaStle
 Jeffery Fowler, President, Americas, Farfetch
Moderator:Bryan Eshelman, Managing Director, AlixPartners

FIRESIDE CHAT: BUILDING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES FOR THE
CHANGING CONSUMER

Creating and perfecting a holistic customer experience requires an unrelenting focus on understanding customer needs, as well as anticipating their expectations. What assets can retailers use to create enduring customer experiences that are tailored to both new and existing customers? How must a digital strategy bridge all of a retailer’s selling platforms and in-store experiences? How can retailers use differentiated service models to create a unique competitive advantage?

Speaker:Shea Jensen,
Senior VP, Customer Experience, Nordstrom, Inc.
Moderator:Robin Barrett Wilson, Industry Executive Advisor of Fashion, SAP

A BRAVE NEW WORLD FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Since Selfridges’ famous restaurant in the 1900’s, food has always had a place in retail. It used to be that food was an extension of the shopping experience. Today, food has become a destination activity and experience in and of itself, with retail stores extending the food experience. What is the role of food going forward? Will it be its own attraction or will it be integrated into the overall retail experience?

Panellist:Jessica Adelman,
Group VP, Corporate Affairs,
The Kroger Co.
 Zak Normandin, Founder, CEO,
Iris Nova, parent company for
Dirty Lemon and
The Drug Store
 Jonathan Zabusky, Managing Partner, Bounce Ventures LLC
Moderator:Eric Dzwonczyk, Managing Director, AlixPartners

FIRESIDE CHAT: PAVING THE WAY FOR THE RENTAL INDUSTRY

Ten years ago, Rent the Runway pioneered a new category in the retail industry: fashion rental, bringing the sharing economy to the closet. The rental market shifted consumer behavior from ownership to access. From department stores to legacy traditional brands, the fashion industry has embraced rental as an enduring trend. Consumers continue to demonstrate that they value experiences over ownership. What is the next move for the rental market? What will be the key strategies to drive a successful business model?

Speaker:Jenn Hyman,
Co-Founder, CEO, Rent the Runway
Interviewer:Pano Anthos, Founder, Managing Director,
XRC Labs

LUNCHTIME FIRESIDE CHAT: CREATING CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN THE
DIGITAL AGE OF RETAIL

Digital technology has transformed the retail landscape at an exponential rate. This discussion focuses on building and maintaining meaningful customer relationships in the digital retail space, the power of video in the retail experience, and the commerce trends shaping retail today

Speaker:Mike George, President, CEO, Qurate Retail, Inc.
Interviewer:Matt Shay, President, CEO, National Retail Federation

KEEPING ECOMMERCE ON PACE WITH CUSTOMERS’ EXPECTATIONS

There’s a lot of pressure on retailers and brands today. Consumers want what they want and they want it now (and at the right price and topped off with exceptional service and extraordinary experiences), and they can shop from all over the world. From same day/same hour delivery options to high-touch experiences, today’s new consumers are challenging retailers and brands to ensure that their ecommerce business meets customer expectations. How must the ecommerce experience adapt to meet these continually-evolving demands

Speakers:Cynthia Hollen, President U.S., eShopWorld
 Sapna Parikh, Executive Director, Digital, Clarins Groupe
 Christiane Pendarvis,
Senior VP, Ecommerce, FULLBEAUTY BRANDS
Moderator:Bernardine Wu, Founder, CEO, FitForCommerce

OPTIMIZING TALENT AND CULTURE

As the velocity of change continues to increase and the technology to accelerate that velocity continues to grow in exponential terms, the one constant is that it takes talent to build, execute and grow a business. Much like the increasing gaps in the “haves” and the “have nots” in retail, the same gap is widening between the top talent and the rest of our labor workforce. Executives have the challenge of recruiting, retaining, and, in some cases training, the very best talent and surrounding them with the very best culture. Can retailers cultivate a best-in-class team?

Speakers:Nate Checketts,
Co-Founder, CEO, Rhone
 Chelsea Kaden, Head of People, Warby Parker
 Lee Meiner, CHRO, Vince
Moderator:Samir Nurmohamed, Assistant Professor of Management,
The Wharton School

KEYNOTE: POWERING THE RESALE ECONOMY

We are in the midst of a resale revolution that is ten years in the making. No longer constrained to local thrift stores, resale has gone mainstream thanks to pioneering industry disruptors. Poised to grow larger than fast fashion within a decade, the $24 billion resale market is meeting the conscious consumer’s demand for value and variety, while keeping clothing in use and out of landfills. Today, some of the biggest names in retail are getting involved and going circular. What innovative approaches and technologies are powering resale at scale? How can strategies usher in a more circular fashion future?

Speaker:James Reinhart,
Co-Founder, CEO, thredUP

IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS THE NEW LUXURY?

Consumers are increasingly more concerned about their well-being. In many cases, consumers care more about their well-being than they do about buying products. This trend poses both opportunities and threats to established brands that must compete with new brands whose core message is “wellness”, while at the same time repositioning themselves to capture this new market segment. Is wellness a fad or is it the new benchmark for a brand? Can established brands incorporate the wellness story authentically? Will drug and pharmacy stores overtake the wellness market or will a new breed of retailer emerge?

Panelists:Jason Brenner,
VP Strategy, Equinox
 Ren Menon, Co-Founder and CEO, Ortho-FX
 Anthony Saniger, Founder, CEO, Standard Dose
Moderator:Cait Lamberton, Alberto I. Duran President’s Distinguished Professor,
Professor of Marketing,
The Wharton School

A CONVERSATION WITH MARC LORE

Speaker:Marc Lore, President, CEO, Walmart eCommerce U.S.
Interviewer:Serguei Netessine, Dhirubai Ambani Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions,
Vice Dean for Global Initiatives
The Wharton School

REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

WELCOME REMARKS

Thomas Robertson, Joshua J. Harris Professor, Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School

FIRESIDE CHAT: THE FUTURE OF DEPARTMENT STORE INNOVATION

In the past, stores were a place where consumers and sellers exchanged goods for money; however, as consumer expectations increase and retailers compete to attract more customers, stores must learn how to serve as an engagement platform. How have redefined customer expectations forced physical retailers to evolve from just a place that sells goods to one that provides an immersive experience? How is brand engagement amongst customers redefining how stores must orient themselves?

Speaker:Marc Metrick, President, Saks Fifth Avenue

FIRESIDE CHAT: THE RISE OF NEW LUXURY

Varying economic trends, new technologies, changing tastes and evolving demographics are driving a constant cycle of transformation across the luxury sector. How they make themselves relevant in the 21st century? How is sustainable luxury and fashion responding to environmental, ethical and social concerns with new forms of consumption? Does this have to come at the expense of profits?

Speaker:Laurent Claquin, President, Kering Americas

CAN RENTAL GO MAINSTREAM?

Alternatives to buying first quality products have grown dramatically. The consumer has the ability to rent. Most brands/retailers are not generating revenue from this type of transaction. On the consumer side, many think about what they can command on the rental market prior to making a luxury good purchase. What is the role of brand going forward? Should brands participate or ignore alternative economies? How can retailers participate when they don’t own the brand but are likely to suffer from lost sales? What is the impact on discount marke

Speaker: Jeffery Fowler, President, Americas, Farfetch
 Christine Hunsicker, Chief Executive Officer, CaaStle
Moderator:Bryan Eshelman, Managing Director, AlixPartners

FIRESIDE CHAT: BUILDING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES FOR THE
CHANGING CONSUMER

Stores were at one point a place where consumers and sellers exchanged goods for money; however, as consumer expectations increase and retailers compete with each other to attract more consumers, stores will have to evolve in regards to how they’ve traditionally fulfilled consumer needs, beyond simply providing a good or service. How have redefined customer expectations forced many physical retailers to evolve from just a place that sells goods to consumer to an engaging experience? How is brand engagement amongst customers redefining how store orient themselves? As more and more sales are shifting online, how can stores position themselves to continue to serve as a hub for product innovation and customer engagement?

Speaker:Shea Jensen, Senior VP, Customer Experience, Nordstrom
Moderator:Robin Barrett Wilson, Industry Executive Advisor of Fashion, SAP

A BRAVE NEW WORLD FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Since Selfridges’ famous restaurant in the 1900’s, food has always had a place in retail. It used to be that food was an extension of the shopping experience. Today, food has become a destination activity and experience in and of itself, with retail stores extending the food experience. What is the role of food going forward? Will it be its own attraction or will it be integrated into the overall retail experience?

Panellist:Tommy Hilfiger, Group Vice President, Corporate Affairs, The Kroger Co.
 Jonathan Zabusky, Managing Partner, Corporate Affairs, Bounce Ventures
 Zak Normandin, Founder and CEO, Iris Nova
Moderator:Eric Dzwonczyk, Managing Director, AlixPartners

FIRESIDE CHAT

Speaker:Jenn Hyman, Co-Founder, CEO, Rent the Runway

FIRESIDE CHAT: CREATING CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN THE DIGITAL AGE OF RETAIL

Speaker:Mike George, President, CEO, Qurate Retail
Interviewer:Matt Shay, President, CEO, National Retail Federation

THE NEW GLOBAL CONSUMER

Ecommerce has unlocked enormous consumer spending power enabling smaller more nimbler brands to upend larger brands in local markets. But as these new brands expand, global markets become critical. The local battle moves to a global stage and the tricks that the nimble brands used locally do not necessarily apply or work as effectively. How do global brands maintain their leadership across continents while smaller, more local brands grow in size and competition? How do smaller brands continue their attack on the leaders as they now cross global boundaries and the rules of local/national competition may no longer apply.

Speakers:Cynthia Hollen, President U.S., eShopWorld

POWERING AND OPTIMIZING TALENT AND CULTURE

As the velocity of change continues to increase and the technology to accelerate that velocity continues to grow in exponential terms, the one constant is that it takes talent to build, execute and grow a business. This talent does not grow on trees. Much like the increasing gaps in the haves and the have nots in retail, the same gap is widening between the top talent and the rest of our labor workforce. As executives, you have the challenge of recruiting, retaining and in some cases training, the very best talent and surround them with the very best culture that ensures this talent thrives and contributes to your corporate vision and mission. This panel explores these challenges and provides approaches to building a culture to ensure your talent is the best and executing to your plan

Speakers:Nate Checketts, Co-Founder, CEO, Rhone
  Chelsea Kaden, SVP of People, Warby Parker
  Lee Meiner, Chief Human Resources Officer, Vince
Moderator:Samir Nurmohamed, Assistant Professor of Management, The Wharton School

KEYNOTE: POWERING THE RESALE ECONOMY

Over the past 10 years, thredUP has built a thriving marketplace and scalable infrastructure that have inspired millions of consumers to embrace secondhand for the first time. Today, thredUP receives 100,000 items every day and processes more than one item every second, and now the company is powering resale for the broader fashion industry. James will share his insights on how to adapt to changing consumer behavior and how thredUP’s resale engine is ushering in a more circular fashion future.

Speaker:James Reinhart, Chief Executive Officer, thredUP

IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS THE NEW LUXURY?

Consumers are increasingly more concerned about their wellbeing. In many cases, consumers care more about their well-being than they do about buying products. This trend poses both opportunities and threats to established brands that must compete with new brands whose core message is “wellness”, while at the same time repositioning themselves to capture this new market segment. Is wellness a fad or is it the new benchmark for a brand? Can established brands incorporate the wellness story authentically? Will drug and pharmacy stores overtake the wellness market or will a new breed of retailer emerge?

Panelists:Jason Brenner, Vice President, Strategy, Equinox
 Anthony Saniger, Founder and CEO, Standard Dose
 Ren Menon, Co-Founder and CEO, Ortho-FX
Moderator:Cait Lamberton, Professor, Marketing, The Wharton School

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH MARC LORE

Speaker:Marc Lore, Chief Executive Officer, Walmart.com
Interviewer:Serguei Netessine, Vice Dean for Global Initiatives, and Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School