A two-day Singapore retail conference will be held next month.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) Retail Centre of Excellence (RCoE) will discuss key challenges and strategies to navigate the competitive Asian retail landscape at its inaugural Asia Retail Leaders Conference (ARLC).

The conference, held from October 18 to 19 at Conrad Centennial Singapore, will be a retail insight-sharing hub in Singapore focusing on generating and disseminating actionable knowledge for retailers in Singapore, Asia and beyond. ARLC will serve as a platform for retail leaders, industry experts, knowledge partners and senior managers from around the region. It will cover various sub-themes to discuss the critical issues impacting the retail space today.

Topics will include Adapting and Thriving with Omni Channel Customers, Retail Innovation and IP, Design Thinking in Retailing, Retailing in India and China, Managing Retail Brands, Entrepreneurship in Retailing, and Attracting and Retaining Retail Talent. The opening address will be delivered by Professor Lily Kong, Provost and President-designate of SMU.

Director of RCoE Professor Kapil Tuli said this will mark SMU’s first leadership conference to empower retailers to tackle key industry challenges for their businesses.

“This year, we are joined by more than 20 speakers from across the globe who will be presenting their insights of relevance to business and industry. We believe that this exchange of ideas will further prepare retail leaders to navigate their organisations in this challenging yet exciting time.”

The Singapore retail conference will feature a combination of in-depth discussions and talks by leading academics and deep dive workshops with leading practitioners.