Asia Pacific’s retail industry is witnessing rapid change as the region’s urban population approaches 2 billion many markets experience rapid economic growth, fuelling a rapid growth of the middle class.
India and China alone will have 1 billion new consumers, with noticeable spending power and a mobile generation more advanced than anywhere else in the world, Asian consumers are engaging with brands differently.
Shopping in luxury malls will become a status symbol for this a growing number of middle class consumers, with the younger generation, in particular, setting global trends – especially where technology in stores is concerned. Online retailing has a powerful future, but traditional forms of shopping, such as markets, will begin to disappear in the medium term.
Such is the background to the 5th annual Retail Congress Asia Pacific, which will unite senior retailers to share their insights, experiences and future thinking on the Asian retail market. The Congress, organised by i2i events group, will gather hundreds of senior domestic and international retail figures from over 35 countries on March 17-18.
“It is vital to be part of the thought leadership that traces the shapes the evolution of the Asian retail landscape, and use the insights gleaned from the Congress to relate to customers better and enhance their shopping experiences,” says Terry O’Connor, CEO of Courts Asia and one of the many senior retail executives who will speak at the event.
Retail Congress Asia Pacific has been developed in consultation with the industry’s leading figureheads. Successful retailers from across the region have shared their experiences, knowledge and thoughts ensuring the Congress programme is timely, relevant and truly reflects the CEOs agenda. The resulting programme provides more than 30 hours of content offering practical case studies and active solutions to entering and succeeding within these new, emerging markets.
Key themes on the 2015 Agenda
ASEAN integration and intra-regional expansion: As the region seeks to create a single and highly competitive market, analysts and retail experts assess the impact, highlight retail opportunities for regional and international retail players and outline strategies to ensure successful growth.
Phygital retail – synergy of the physical and virtual worlds: Future thinking perspectives on what exciting opportunities the merging of digital capabilities via new technology and mobile devices can offer physical retail.
The war on talent: As competition for talent heightens, retail leaders assess how the industry can attract, retain and empower the next generation retail workforce.
Retail-tainment – satisfying the experience hunters: Exploring how retailers will create new experiential spaces, personalised services, and synchronised online and offline value propositions to satisfy demand for immediacy and service.
Growth markets on the horizon: Emerging markets including the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar present interesting retail growth prospects over the next five years.
Mobile first: Deemed as the region where mobile retail services are having the biggest impact, sessions consider key trends and strategies to engage with the mobile.
Over 65 expert speakers will be sharing their insight and experience into how they will be developing their strategy to respond to the changing market dynamics. They include:
Masatada Kobayashi, MD and CEO, Rakuten Asia.
Chee Nian Tze, group GM – HR, Robinsons & RSH Group.
Dr Alan Treadgold, Independent Global Retail Advisor and member of the Advisory Board of the Oxford Institute of Retail Management, The University of Oxford.
Roger Egan III, CEO, Redmart.
Jose Gomez, senior VP, business development, Mango.
Ken Ma, head of international business development – Asia Pacific, International B2C Division, Alibaba.
Terry O’Connor, Group CEO, Courts Asia.
Anil Konidena, Chief Operating Officer, RSH.
Tobias Wasmuht, MD, SPAR China.
Ganesh Subramanian, Head of New Initiatives, Myntra.com
Ben Flintoff, national operations manager, Palm Oasis Ventures, Baskin-Robbins Australia.
Ravi Thakran, president, LVMH South, South East Asia and Middle East.
Himanshu Chakrawarti, CEO, The Mobile Store.
Jonathan Yabut, chief of staff, AirAsia.
Alongside this, the Congress offers more than 10 hours of dedicated networking where face-to-face meetings can be arranged and lasting business partnerships established with Asia Pacific’s retail elite.
The Retail Study Tour, visiting top retail destinations around Singapore, offers an unrivalled day of creative inspiration and insights into the latest in store design and innovation lead by leading retail expert KH Wong from the Asia Academy for Retailing. Store visits and presentations will be held at The Hour Glass Malmaison Store, Tangs Department Store, Space Asia Furniture and many more.
This essential date in the retail calendar will give businesses the competitive advantage in this exciting and profitable region.
For more information please contact the Retail Congress Asia Pacific Team on +44 203 033 2288, or by email: booking_enquiry@worldretailcongress.com
