76th International Retail Summit

Retail Reality Check: Confidence over Crisis

Consumer-facing sectors have been under constant attack from the media for years. The debate has focused on margin pressures, the shortage of skilled labour and technological inertia - often implicitly concluding that proven business models have reached their limits. The prime example: bricks-and-mortar retailing is allegedly in permanent crisis. 

Yet the facts are often overlooked, since turnover is at record levels, employment remains relatively stable, even in turbulent times, the sector's digitisation is continuing apace and bricks-and-mortar retailing is still strong. After all, it generates over 80% of sales. While not everything is growing and working perfectly, a surprising number of retailers are proving more resilient, adaptable and capable of learning than the conventional narrative would suggest. We therefore need a change of perspective, from doom and gloom to well-founded optimism.

At the 76th International Retail Summit, we'll be encouraging boldness and translating this into fresh strategic impetus. Together with visionaries, optimists and experienced retail professionals, we will create specific options for action and renewed leadership drive.

The event will focus on the following key issues, which extend far beyond the traditional retail sector:

• Which companies worldwide are setting the benchmarks for innovation in retail?
• How can we foster a corporate culture that promotes an opportunity-led perspective of the future and courageous decision-making?
• How can we break away from the negative narrative and assertively communicate our own strengths?

In September, we will be conducting a reality check at the GDI to show how companies can harness their strengths with confidence and seize opportunities where others see only risks. Gain exclusive insight into successful business strategies and innovative startups. The event is relevant for decision-makers in retail and consumer-facing sectors seeking to make their mark on the future in spite of all the uncertainty.

The International Retail Summit will be held in German and English (with simultaneous interpretation).

Hashtag: #iht26

Speakers

The list of speakers will be updated continuously.

Programme

The programme will be updated continuously.

Wednesday, 16 September

16.30

Welcome coffee

17.00

Welcome
Nico Luchsinger, CEO, GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Carolin Roth, Moderator

Keynotes

ab 18.30 

Indian Summer Dinner

Thursday, 17 September

08.30

Morning coffee

09.00 

Keynotes

10.30

Break

11.00

Keynotes

12.30

Lunch

14.00

Keynotes

15.40

Break

16.10

Keynotes

Closing

17.00

Drinks

About the Internationale Retail Summit

The International Retail Summit is one of the international community’s leading strategy platforms for decision-makers and thought leaders in the retail and consumer goods industries. Participants are decision-makers from retail and related industries, entrepreneurs, academia and journalists from Swiss and European quality media.