The Retail Summit announced its full list of speakers and agenda yesterday, with the event expected to host more than 75 speakers and over 30 sessions, addressing the most pressing issues in the retail industry.
The annual event will be held on 14 and 15 March at the Atlantis in Palm Jumeirah, and is organised in partnership with Dubai Chambers.
The newest invitees to the third edition of the summit that will take place on March 14 and 15 at the Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah and the soon-to-open Atlantis, The Royal, include Manju Malhotra, CEO of Harvey Nichols, David Vercruysse, president of fashion, beauty & homeware at Chalhoub Group, Dr Tara Lalvani, founder of Beautifect, Khadija Oubala, CEO of Sultan Center Group and Piyush Chowhan, CIO of Panda Retail Company.
President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, said: “Driven by e-commerce, the retail sector is one of the main contributors to Dubai’s economy. The value of the UAE’s e-commerce market is expected to reach $9.2 billion in 2026, and Dubai Chambers’ support for The Retail Summit is instrumental in ensuring that the sector continues to thrive. Bringing in new retailers and companies to Dubai is in line with one of our strategic priorities of attracting foreign investments and international companies to the Emirate.”
The abovementioned names will accompany the previously announced speaker lineup that included Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Ward, CEO of Harrods, Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik and Jo Malone, founder of Jo Loves and Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason.
This is the third edition of the Retail Summit, and will feature TED-style talks and opportunities for the audience to pose questions at the panel discussions.
According to a statement, the agenda has been built around “four key pillars, providing depth and breadth to create a cohesive picture with actionable insights dedicated to creating engaging, high-level learning experiences.”
The first pillar called Customer Centricity will deepen understanding of customers’ values, frustrations and expectations to help deliver long-lasting business value, and will include sessions such as Reviving Legacy Formats: What Is The Future Of Speciality Retail?
The Sustainability pillar will revolve around the non-negotiable necessities for brands to encourage a positive change. Global leaders will elaborate on how they set environmental and employee welfare standards, transparency and traceability across the supply chain to meet ESG goals.
The third pillar, The Notable People and Culture, will shed light on the ideology of businesses that are committed to prioritising their people. Seminal sessions will include topics such as Diversity, Inclusivity And Sustainability With An African Twist.
The final pillar is dedicated to creating a brand identity that evokes positive connections and stands out in a crowded, hyper-competitive sector. Planned sessions include: Building on a Legacy and Remaining Relevant to a New Age; The World’s Oldest Start-Up: The Evolution Of A Heritage Brand and Cultural Credibility: The New Battleground For Retail Relevance.
CEO and co-founder of The Retail Summit, Gary Thatcher, said: “The Retail Summit is proud to be back to host trailblazers and leading industry giants who will take centre stage to share their pioneering stories. We welcome attendees to a front-row seat to come together to learn, connect and debate through a bespoke itinerary and a series of networking events at two iconic locations in Dubai.”
Registration is available at www.theretailsummit.com. For retailers, the event is priced at £745 until 27 January 2023 and £995 thereafter. This includes full access to two days of content, all advertised sessions, networking sessions and networking receptions. For non-retailers, the ticket is priced at £2995 which includes full access to two days of content, all advertised sessions, networking sessions and networking receptions.
The Retail Summit was founded in 2018 by Gary Thatcher and Marc Howard for C-level executives from the retail industry from Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
