International networking: World Retail Congress 2024 kicks off in Paris

Retail

Image illustrating 8 e-commerce pricing strategies. Credits: AI-generated image for FashionUnited

The World Retail Congress (WRC) 2024 opened its doors today, April 16, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile in the French capital. It will run until Thursday, April 18.

The event brings together the leaders of the global retail industry to discuss strategies for driving retail success across all sectors. It's a high-level forum for senior executives to learn, share ideas, network and play a key role in shaping the future of retail.

Each year, the World Retail Congress organises a conference program that delves deep into the key issues facing retail leaders, including those from business, academia, politics and NGOs.

Among the fashion personalities expected to attend are, among others: Michael Kennedy, representing EMEA - Ralph Lauren, Alexandre Bompard, representing Carrefour, Nicola Corà from Bata, Guillaume Motte, representing Sephora, Paola Maestro from Pepe Jeans, Nicolas Houzé (Galeries Lafayette), Michael Ward, representing Harrods, and José Gomez (Etam).

In addition to: Nozha Boujemaa from Decathlon, Jean-Marc Bellaiche, representing Printemps, Andrea Dorigo (Adidas), Lynne Walker from Primark, Lucie Marchard (Jacquemus), Peter Pernot-Day from Shein and Jeremy Ruch, partner at Brunswick Group.

Conferences of particular interest to the fashion industry

Find some of the planned talks at WRC 2024 below.

Tuesday, April 16

5.35 pm CEST, main stage – ‘Authentic engagement with Generation Z: merging conversational commerce and core values’

Wednesday, April 17

9.05 am CEST, main stage – ‘Redefining retail: who is tomorrow's customer? What do they expect from retailers?’

11 am CEST, main stage – ‘The future of department stores with Galeries Lafayette and Harrods’

Noon (CEST), runway stage – ‘Unveiling Abu Dhabi's retail transformation’

12 pm-8 pm CEST, track - Exploring opportunities in the African market, ‘The New African Consumer’

3.15 pm CEST, future retail stage – Who is the Generation Z African consumer, and how do you access them?

3.30 pm CEST, main stage – Keynote: Printemps, ‘Creating tomorrow's business since 1865’

6.30 pm CEST, Dior headquarters – Presentation of the Woman of the Year 2024 award by Dior.

Thursday, April 18

12.20 pm CEST, main stage – Creating a next-generation retail workforce and shopping experience through retail innovation, (with McKinsey).

1.10 pm CEST, future retail stage – ‘Supporting Frontline Women in Retail’, an invitation-only reception, focusing on women in retail internationally.

This article was originally published on FashionUnited.FR. Translation and edit from French into English by Veerle Versteeg.

World Retail Congress