The time has long passed for retailers to truly embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion from the top down — and those that do will reap the rewards. Putting diverse voices at the forefront allows for differing viewpoints and ideas that will benefit retailers and shoppers alike. This panel discussion, led by International President of the Retail Design Institute, Cynthia Hirsch Ortiz, will go beyond surface-level discussion of diversity and examine how DEI translates to the in-store experience, and why retailers should see it as a top priority.

Harness the power of influencers to take your shopper marketing efforts to the next level. Jessica DuQuesne, Sr. Manager Omnichannel Marketing-Walmart/Club Team Lead at The Hershey Company, and Missy Tiller, VP of Retail & Shopper Marketing at SheSpeaks will present several SheSpeaks & Hershey's case studies on how influencers can create engaging content that reaches your target audience and drives sales with great success. Through real examples, learn more about how innovative influencer campaigns can meet various objectives, further your shopper marketing goals, and make a real impact on your bottom line.

In today’s hyper-convenient world, where every need or want seems a click away, the experience we provide can make the difference between winning and losing, not just to other direct competitors, but other retail channels and platforms. Find out how to unlock the power of experience to drive growth and win the battle for hearts and minds.

ChangeUp will share from their latest work with Discount Tire, which just opened its new Pit Pass store concept. The concept revolutionizes the customer journey for the chain and shows how technology is used to improve the retail experience, not just create new customer touchpoints.

While many companies are still trying to figure out a useful sustainability strategy, Loblaw Companies Limited of Canada has been at the forefront during the past decade, pushing for efforts in carbon reduction and energy savings. Al Burke, Senior VP of Real Estate for Loblaws — Canada’s largest retailer — will take attendees through a sustainability journey of real action and results. Burke will explain how Loblaw got ahead of the curve, how the company plans to hit a target of net zero by 2040, and how these efforts are paying off — both for the environment and on the balance sheet.