IRX and EDX 2017: must-attend events for the retail industry

Lululemon, Facebook, Google, Harrods and Alibaba join the UK’s biggest multichannel and fulfilment events this year

This year’s InternetRetailing Expo (IRX) returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 5 & 6 April. It’s the seventh year in a row for the UK’s only dedicated multichannel retail expo. The underlying theme for 2017 is ‘Unveiling the Future of the Retail Nation’, which aims to provide insight into what the future holds for ecommerce and multichannel retail in the post-Brexit Britain.

The show will host features, conferences, demonstrations, workshops and top-level speakers from global brands such as Lululemon, Google, Facebook, Alibaba, Sainsbury’s, LEGO, Harrods, John Lewis, M&S, Ocado, Schuh, Vodafone, Specsavers, Volkswagen, GAME and Made.com, among others.

IRX will consist of two days of thought-leadership, learning and networking with over 5000 visitors and 300+ industry leading solution providers, showcasing their latest innovations and everything that will aid retailers to thrive in the future. The show will be co-located with eDelivery Expo, Europe’s only dedicated fulfilment event covering S.O.L.D – Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics and Delivery for multichannel retail.

The Opening Plenary will be led by Alan Wizemann, business guru and VP for Digital Product and Guest Experience at Lululemon. With 19 years of experience working on product strategy and business transformation with top retailers such as Target, Amazon, Nike, Levi’s, Sony, Saatchi & Saatchi and multi-million dollar start-ups, Wizemann will be addressing how digital can drive global growth and customer satisfaction. He will focus on sharing knowledge, strategy and advice on how organizations can use digital transformation to work smarter and faster, generating significant gains in revenue while retaining millions of dollars in the process.

Attendees will also be able to participate in 20 hands-on workshops covering an array of topics including: building best-in-class supply chain, capitalising on customer service reviews and user-generated content, the values of Hyper-Personalisation and the role of personalised product recommendations to avoid conversion leaks. There will also be practical training and a chance to address personal ecommerce doubts and questions in exclusive one-to-one 30 minute clinics, delivered by leading companies and retailers in the industry.

This year’s event will see the launch of the Omnichannel Theatre where industry experts from across the retail sector will aid brands who are struggling to support consumers across multi-channels. Additionally, experts will inform visitors on how to deliver consistent and relevant customer experience across all channels.

The Innovation Hub will also have a key presence in this year’s show, bringing together the most innovative entrepreneurs and emerging technologies.

There, TrueStart, Europe’s only independent retail and consumer accelerator and investment fund, together with 8 start-ups such as Milkman, PixonEye, Hullabalook, Photospire and Streetdots will be presenting the new technological solutions and platforms that are disrupting the retailing space. Checkout-conversion improvement, home-delivery, data analytics, search optimisation, bottom-line improvement, supply chain management, anti-counterfeit measures, innovation in the last-mile and data-driven videos are some of the key elements these technologies address.

But, it’s not all about the work, IRX and EDX are focused on attendees having an immersive and fun experience throughout the two-day event. Complementary to the abundant opportunities for attendees to interact with exclusive demos of cutting-edge technology and participative learning opportunities, the Expos will also mix business and pleasure outside the exhibition floor.

Further, IRX and EDX will be hosting an official party on the 5th April at The Vox. This will be a unique evening that aims to bring together the who’s who of multichannel retail over drinks and evening entertainment. Guest will join together to celebrate the success and diversity in the industry and look to the future. For retailers interested in attending the party they can apply for tickets here.

With its rich and varied peer-led educational programme, with over 100 hours of structured content led by key decision makers and C-level executives, exclusive networking opportunities and demonstrations from the latest technological innovations shaping the industry, IRX and EDX is a must-attend event for all who work in the retail industry. Ambitious retailers and leading suppliers with a shared vision are every year brought together to this exhibition floor.

To obtain your free ticket to IRX and EDX, visit www.internetretailingexpo.com and www.edeliveryexpo.com. For further information please contact the Internet Retailing Events Team on 020 7384 7802 or email [email protected].