Intro & Diamond Commentary

Leadership Innovation: People, Process, Technology

In addition to external and technological factors, there are also organizational barriers to providing a seamless consumer experience. The need to be agile has also never been as pressing as we are transitioning into a post-covid world. During this panel we will hear from senior retail leaders as they discuss some of their experiences and lessons learned from disruptive times, what leadership innovation, as well as developing the next generation of leaders, looks like for them and the industry.

Purvee Kondal Sr Director Technology & Engineering Strategic Sourcing, Albertsons Companies

Daniel Hoffman Digital Creative Director, Five Below

Track 1: Maintaining and Acquiring: Customer Experience and Growth in 2022

One of the most important factors in 2022 will be maintaining and acquiring growth. Many retailers are assessing supply chain, new customer acquisition, and marketplace strategies to maximize profitability. Smartly engaging with the customer — onsite and across channels with exemplary service – and utilizing technology to retain and grow customers in an increasingly competitive environment will be key.

Track 2: Hybrid Retail: Making a Difference, Committing to Change

For many years, retailers have been gaining a more sophisticated understanding of the customer buying journey, and how it crosses from online to offline, sometimes several times, before a purchase is made. This has underlined the need for truly hybrid retail, being adopted by large and small retailers alike.
In 2022, Hybrid retail simply makes sense as footfall continues to fluctuate due to Covid restrictions and concerns. Shedding the siloed approach and “us vs. them” mentality of "online vs. offline" is a huge opportunity for retailers. Focussing on how to deliver a seamless, integrated and stress-free experience to the customer as they move from the digital world to the physical, and back again, has got to be a top priority for 2022.

Track 3: Social Commerce: Outpace the Speed of Change

2022 is the year that we’ll see the social commerce model—deeply embedded commerce that meets consumers where they are and is non-disruptive to their experience. After a record year for online shopping in 2021, social shopping, the fastest growing area of e-commerce, will be shaping how and where we shop in 2022.