Canadian Retailer - Store 2017 - 31

STORE 2017 CONFERENCE COVERAGE

CHALLENGES, TRENDS
AND OPPORTUNITY

STORE 2017 offered delegates with a little bit of everything, including the same
dynamic and engaging onstage content the conference is known for
BY SEAN C. TARRY

EVERY year Retail Council of Canada's STORE Conference delivers a packed agenda, incredible network-

ing experiences for delegates and the opportunity to gather as an industry to recognize all of the amazing
innovation and groundbreaking ideas that continue to drive retail forward. This year's two-day event was no
exception. And, if you weren't able to attend this year's conference, what follows is a snapshot of some of the
insights and takeaways from another STORE worth remembering.

Total Retail
To create a truly seamless omnichannel experience for the customer, retailers should consider streamlining digital strategies and ways to
improve customer service through
the Internet of Things. And, to make
it all happen, leading retailers need
to find ways to incent, inspire and
empower their workforces. By keeping the customer at the centre of
strategies, retailers will be able to
leverage all channels to meet consumer demand and expectation.
The Mobile and Digital Revolution
From payments and marketing to
the in-store customer experience,
mobile and digital technologies are
transforming the ways consumers shop and the ways
retailers engage with them. Retailers that can leverage the technologies to personalize their customer's
experiences, making the shopping journey more
convenient, enjoyable and engaging, will continue to
grow and succeed.
Marketing is Local
There is power in local marketing when it comes
to driving traffic to stores. Smaller, independent merchants can leverage the power through the creation
and execution of marketing campaigns that are local, targeted, direct and personalized. By doing so,
the playing field between larger national retailers
and community shops can be levelled, allowing
smaller retailers to reach customers they didn't even
realize they had.

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The Future is Artificial
As digital commerce continues to grow at exponential rates, many retailers have felt forced into
"going global". To continue growing in the face of
such a shift, leading retailers will create exceptional
and unique omnichannel experiences for their customers by leveraging advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. If done properly, the impact on retailer-customer relationships can reach a level never
before realized.
Innovation in the Grocery Aisles
Day two of STORE 2017 was dedicated in large part
to the grocery sector and the challenges and opportunities facing it. Topics ranging from the grocery
consumer of the future and the evolution of the bricks
and mortar shopping experience to the last frontier

THE LOSS PREVENTION ISSUE

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