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No watered-down success: 21st National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo
Amid torrential rains and the Metro Manila flood, the 21st National Retail Conference and Stores Asia (21st NRCE) finished with a big bang.
 Gathering over 600 retailers and retail executives from around the country, the event featured inspiring talks from Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. President and CEO William Schultz, Global Pinoy and America’s Next Top Model Executive Producer Michael Carandang and Primer Group of Companies President Jimmy Thai.
Adapting the hugely popular “More Fun” campaign slogan of the Department of Tourism, this year’s conference zeroed in on topics that will elevate the shopping experience in the Philippines. Local and global trends in branding, marketing and store design were tackled by retail experts including TNS Philippines who provided important insights on the Philippines’ growing young consumers and Terry Waterhouse of Redgoods Ltd who discussed the evolution of store design.
The 21st NRCE also offered the rare chance to see the biggest names in the industry not only in one venue, but in one panel discussion sharing insights that contributed to their success. The NRCE did it twice this year: first, in the panel discussion on Harnessing the Power of Digital Marketing and Online Commerce for Retail Growth where it gathered leading online players Multiply, sulit.com.ph and Zalora Philippines and known social media guru Janette Toral.
This was duplicated in the panel on Retail Entertainment: Creating a New Level of Customer Experience where the biggest retail developers talked about recent developments in retail entertainment that paved the way for malls’ transition from shopping areas to lifestyle zones. This topic accomplished a major victory as it featured Ayala Land Inc’s Vice President and Head of Commercial Business Group Rowena Tomeldan, SM Investments Inc’s Senior Vice President for Investor Relations Corazon Guidote and Megaworld’s First Vice President and Commercial Division Head Kevin Tan.
This year’s retail conference also addressed an issue relevant to all retailers: the influx of foreign brands in the Philippine shores. Greenwich, French Baker and Plains and Prints – some of the country’s most aggressive brands – shared insights and strategies on how they prepared and scored major gains versus their foreign counterparts.
The 21st NRCE also brought in acclaimed socio-preneurs Illac Diaz of My Shelter Foundation and Jeannie Javelosa of Echostore Sustainable Lifestyle to showcase sustainability efforts that have changed the lives and lifestyles of the Filipino people. This topic raised the awareness of NRCE attendees on various efforts that create jobs, enhance the quality of life and sustains the environment.
Over the years, the NRCE has served as the venue for productive networking and a vital source of updates on the latest developments in the local and international retail scene.
“We are proud that this event continues to serve the needs of our industry,” said PRA President Frederick D. Go. “Let’s all work together, united in our goal, of making our country, The Philippines, a top of mind choice for shopping in the Asia pacific region,” he urged the attendees.
21st NRCE zeroes in on elevating customer experience
New avenues for elevating customer experience will be the focal point of this year’s 21st National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo (NRCE) which will be held on August 9 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. This year’s staging of the NRCE is also set to differentiate retailing in the Philippines as it declares “Shopping. It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.
Organized by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and supported by PLDT Alpha Enterprise, SM Department Stores, Robinsons Malls and HP Philippines, Araneta Center, Ayala Malls and Meralco, the NRCE is the country's biggest retail industry event. The conference is attended by over 700 retail owners, suppliers, CEOs, and top level executives from all over the country. Its twin event, the Stores Asia Expo, is the country's premier exhibition of retail suppliers and service providers.
This year’s NRCE takes its cue from the Philippine government's well conceived “It's More Fun in the
Philippines” campaign. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez will be speaking on the campaign's synergy with retail industry growth. Mr. William Schultz, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc., delivers the conference keynote message. Coca-Cola’s participation in this year’s NRCE is expected to further elevate the “fun” aspect of the conference as the brand celebrates “100 Year of Happiness”. Meanwhile, Emmy award-winning television producer of The Tyra Banks Show and the widely popular fashion reality show America's Next Top Model is set to share the newest developments in marketing and branding and global opportunities for Filipino brands.
Acknowledging the value of customer service to the overall shopping experience, the annual event gathers the people behind the companies that have excellent track records in customer satisfaction.
The plenary sessions will provide insights on the changing demands and tastes of consumers: from retail entertainment, using store design to improve shopping experiences, successfully engaging new generation shoppers to personalized branding.
On the conference’s first day, the morning panel discussion will delve into digital marketing and online commerce. Another panel discussion will address the influx of international brands in the Philippines.
“Global Brands in Local Shores: How Local Brands Can Compete and Succeed vis-à-vis International Brands” will feature Filipino brands that have remained successful in spite of the challenges posed by international brands.
On the conference’s second day, luminaries from retail and property development will be featured in an interesting discussion. Entitled “Retail Entertainment: Creating a New Level of Customer Experience," the morning panel discussion explores how shopping and leisure are intertwined. The conference’s last panel discussion is set to put participants in a hopeful, forward-thinking mood. Entitled “The New Turks of Retailing,” it will feature the young entrepreneurs behind today’s hottest brands and franchises.
Other topics include the competitive edge of socially responsible businesses, licensing opportunities for retailers, the retailer’s role in advocating a sustainable lifestyle, and transforming employees into brand ambassadors. There will also be a plenary session on using an initial public offering (IPO) as a tool for retail business growth.
The 21st NRCE is also sponsored by DHL Supply Chain, Festival Supermall, Celine, Wilcon Depot, ForMe, The Philippine Star and BusinessWorld.
For registration and other inquiries, visit www.nrceph.com, call PRA at 687-4180/4181 and 0919-6481231 or email
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