Virtual Event: Think Like an E-commerce Leader

As Retail Prophet’s Director of Insights, Reilly has an unrivalled finger on the pulse of all things culture. She has worked at agencies such as Sid Lee and Vice Media as an integral part of the ideation and launch of national campaigns for brands and retailers including Coca Cola, General Mills, Ford, Google and lululemon. She is a regular contributor to CBC Radio and her thinking has been featured in publications such as Bloomberg Business. She has presented to organizations across Canada such as Salesforce, Saje and Aldo.

The future of e-commerce in a post-pandemic world

In 2017, Retail Prophet projected that more than half of the world’s daily routine consumption would be transacted online by 2023. COVID-19 has brought us closer to that number in just a few short months. E-commerce as we know it today will soon be unrecognizable.

Join Reilly Stephens, Director of Insights at Retail Prophet, as she shares key insights and examples of how new technologies, platforms and changes in consumer behaviour will shape the short and long-term future of digital commerce.

In this session, you will gain:

- A new perspective on e-commerce in Canada.
- Inspiration from brands across the globe with a focus on how they’re combining resilience and agility to thrive in a post-pandemic world.
- Tips that you can apply to your business to thrive in a post-pandemic world.

Marc has over 30 years of management experience in CPG companies, in consulting and in sectorial non-for-profit organizations. Marc was the owner of consulting firm (StratMk Consultation), President & CEO of NACDA (National Convenience Stores Distributors Association) and President & CEO of DCI (Distribution Canada Inc.), a national buying group for independent grocers across Canada. Marc has also successfully accumulated numerous executive and senior management mandates throughout his career with companies such as Molson Breweries, Kellogg Canada, Maple Leaf Foods, Canada Bread Company and Borden-Catelli.

Reimagining the retail experience

Keeping the retail community strong is a top priority for the Retail Council of Canada (RCC). In 2020, thanks to COVID-19, Canadian retailers across the country reopened their doors to a brand new retail landscape and the RCC has been there every step of the way – elevating the voices of retailers across the country and helping them navigate the many challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Join Marc Fortin, President of Retail Council of Canada – Québec, for his take on the road to retail recovery.

In this session, you will learn about:

- Trends, technologies, and best practices in Canadian retail.
- The practices leading global retailers are considering to respond to COVID-19.
- Tools to refine your retail strategy for a positive customer experience.

Christian has over 25 years of experience in public opinion and market research. Christian is Executive Vice-President at Léger and manages its Montreal office. As a media spokesperson for the company, Christian regularly comments on Canadian politics and society; and is also a consumer trends columnist on the Fench CBC. Christian still teaches research methodology at Université de Montréal.

Reimagining the retail experience

Increasing your online presence is a reliable way for businesses to maximize their value and bolster customer loyalty – now more than ever.

Join Christian Bourque, Executive Vice President and Senior Partner at Léger, for an engaging panel discussion on how Canadian consumers’ habits and behaviours are changing due to COVID-19 and what it means to reimagine retail with a customer-centric approach.

Jean-Philippe Gauthier is a member of Google’s media platforms and solutions teams. Fascinated by technology, he developed his first piece of software on a Radio Shack TRS-80 at the age of eleven. He continues to explore the practical application of technology to help his partners in achieving their goals. His role at Google involves educating people about media solutions and platforms, enabling them to make good use of them, and inspiring them to create things that are out of the ordinary.

Reimagining the retail experience

Increasing your online presence is a reliable way for businesses to maximize their value and bolster customer loyalty – now more than ever.

Join Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Head of Platforms & Digital Marketing transformation at Google, for an engaging panel discussion on how Canadian consumers’ habits and behaviours are changing due to COVID-19 and what it means to reimagine retail with a customer-centric approach.

Krish is the Head of Industry Relations and Strategic Partnerships for ShipStation where he is focused on long-term relationships between e-commerce merchants and e-commerce marketplaces. A respected expert in cross border and marketplace e-commerce, Krish is often quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, DC Velocity, Logistics Management, and Business News Daily. An industry leader with over 18 years of experience, Krish brings perspectives from FedEx, Pitney Bowes, Neopost and ShipStation.

The holiday season is almost here – are you ready?

What are consumers expecting from retailers heading into peak season? Will shopping habits formed in the first half of 2020 carry into the second? What can you do to minimize challenges and maximize your opportunities? Join Krish Iyer, Head of Industry Relations at ShipStation, and Luke Miszczyk, Director of e-Commerce Solutions & Integrations at Canada Post, for a riveting talk.

No matter how you look at it, this holiday season will be one for the record books. Now’s the time to show your customers that you’re listening.

This talk will share new shopper insights and tips that will help you plan and execute your holiday strategy like an e-commerce pro.

In this session, you will learn:

- How consumers are expecting to spend this holiday season.
- Top tips to consider for your holiday e-commerce strategy – hint: start early!
- How to prep your e-commerce operations to support increased demand.

Bryan helps Canadian merchandise and retail technology companies deliver on their global growth objectives by leveraging EDC`s international network of major retailers, e-commerce platforms and global brands.

Global e-commerce: a world of opportunity

The pandemic has had a major impact worldwide, accelerating e-commerce adoption amongst consumers in many countries. This presented a great opportunity for retailers who were already expanding – and looking to expand – their international e-commerce strategies.

Join Bryan Sirois, Global Trade Director - Consumer at Export Development Canada, as he shares current trends and insights into international markets and global e-commerce.

In this session, you will gain:

- Perspective on the international opportunity with a focus on key global markets.
- Real-world examples of companies that have profitably managed international growth.
- Resources to help you mitigate risk and grow your business beyond Canada’s borders.

Ian is responsible for extending relationships with customers onto digital channels and enhancing the shopping experience with technology (both online and in-store). He is also responsible for developing Harry Rosen’s corporate strategy to drive future growth.

Ian marks the third generation of Rosens to join the company his grandfather Harry started with his brother Lou in 1954 on Toronto’s Parliament Street. Prior to joining Harry Rosen, Ian was a Management Consultant at Bain & Company, based in Chicago, where he focused on Strategy, Retail and Digital projects for large multinational corporations. Prior to his time at Bain, Ian spent time on the Digital Strategy Team at Indigo, driving the growth of new digital ventures and supporting corporate strategy development.

Embracing e-commerce and building resilience – A Canadian story

It’s no accident that high-end, family-owned fashion retailer Harry Rosen is 66 years old. This proudly Canadian company has 17 stores in eight major Canadian markets and a prominent online presence.

Join us for a fireside chat with Ian Rosen, Vice President of Digital and Strategy at Harry Rosen, as he walks us through Harry’s inspirational business journey and how the company is finding its way through this ongoing retail evolution. At the heart of it all lies a personal approach to service, a guiding principle on how Harry Rosen’s does business - from online to offline.

You will hear firsthand how a valuable Canadian retail brand is:

- embracing e-commerce to fuel growth
- fine-tuning its approach to retail as its leadership charts a path forward