NRF Shopping Conference, during September 12-14
Tennis star or entrepreneur Serena Williams and acclaimed radio personality and podcast creator Guy Raz will join executives from CVS, Snapchat, Google, Neiman Marcus and Kate Spade to headline the National Retail Federation’s annual Shop.org conference. The event, which is the retail industry’s top networking event for technologists, executives and thought leaders, will be held September 12-14 at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.
“At a time when there is so much growth and innovation in our industry, we have brought together a diverse, talented and compelling group of speakers who are sure to inspire this year’s attendees,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “We are thrilled with this line-up and expect great discussions on how retailers are reimagining the modern shopping experience, meeting consumer expectations and preparing for the future.”
The conference will bring together retail’s top ecommerce and multichannel executives to hear stories about the shifting retail landscape. Opening the show on September 12, Guy Raz, host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and How I Built This podcasts, will interview Jen Rubio, co-founder and chief brand officer of the luggage company Away, and Miki Berardelli, CEO of KIDBOX, bringing the stories behind their business success and personal journeys to life.
That evening, MTV reality show “Jersey Shore” personality Paul DelVecchio, who is also a disc jockey, will perform under his stage name “DJ Pauly D” at the conference’s kickoff party, where retailers will expand their professional networks and build new partnerships.
On September 13, celebrity chef Lorena Garcia will welcome conference attendees to Las Vegas, where she recently became the first female executive chef on the Las Vegas Strip, and give a preview of the attendee lunch to be held at her restaurant CHICA at The Venetian. Following Garcia’s remarks, Google Managing Director for the Retail Sector Kiran Mani will highlight industry trends and share case studies on how retailers are leveraging artificial intelligence technology as part of their business strategies.
Later that day, Fast Company will take over the main stage with three keynote sessions moderated by journalist and contributor Sean Captain: In the first session, “Smarter, Better, Faster: How AI is Shifting Consumer Preferences,” attendees will hear a conversation on artificial intelligence with executives from JD.comand Major League Baseball. The discussion will focus on how those businesses are harnessing AI to create intuitive shopping experiences that evolve with consumer expectations.
