Retail Without Borders hosted by Pentagon takes place this coming Thursday the 23rd of March and it’s not too late to book your ticket if you haven’t already done so.
As well as the keynote speakers, there are a ton of panel sessions designed to help you exponentially grow your business and introduce you to overseas markets:
Your International Roadmap: Planning for Success
Inevitably when under pressure to hit targets, it can be easy to jump into a new project without fully planning out how you are going to maximise ongoing growth. This session will use real case studies to explore how retailers should take the time to plan for international success, focusing on how to assess the viability of a prospective new market, whether your product is right for the local consumer and how to adapt your brand strategy to suit local customs and expectations.
The Panel
Edward Hardy, Corporate Market Analyst at World First
Claire Flanagan, International Marketing Manager at Cotton Traders
Javier Rubio, General Manager at Fanatics
Vinny O’Brien, Freelance Ecommerce Strategic Advisor
David Staunton, Global Product Marketing, Mirakl
How to Expand Successfully into Unknown Markets
Expanding into new markets can be tricky at the best of times, but when these markets are unknown in terms of consumer preferences, logistics capability, language and payment options, it makes the journey that much more complicated. This session aims to demystify some of these complexities as speakers from Mexico, India and the Middle East share insight into their territories and provide case studies to help you expand successfully into new markets.
The Panel
Chrystalla Spire, Commercial Director at Pentagon
Carlos Victorica, Head of Marketplaces at Linio
Shifal Singh, VP: International Business at Myntra
Mona Ataya, CEO and Founder at Mumzworld
How to Grow Brand Awareness and Boost Online Visibility when Selling into New Markets
Brand awareness and reputation is vital to success when expanding internationally. Without building up a strong brand in new markets and taking the time to invest in online visibility, it is easy for your product to get lost next local competitors. This session will explore how retailers can use social media, localised translations and search to maximise brand visibility, which in turn can lead to an increase in online sales.
The Panel
Andy Oakes, Director of Oban International
Olga Szombathelyi, Head of International at Ann Summers
Maggie Little, Head of Retail & Ecommerce at TranslateMedia
Ben Morgan, Head of Partnerships at Pricesearcher
Vinny O’Brien, Freelance Ecommerce Strategic Advisor
Understanding What Customer Want from the Final Mile
International logistic can be costly and time consuming for a retailer, particularly when selling online, but get the proposition right and it can have a direct impact on ecommerce sales. Guided by IMRG’s Head of e-Logistics, Andrew Starkey this panel will explore: the key factors a retailer should consider when delivering to a new market; the growing popularity of lockers, click-and-collect, and 1 hour delivery slots; and how to adapt delivery propositions to meet the needs of local consumers in different global markets.
The Panel
Andrew Starkey, Head of e-Logistics at IMRG
Claire Muir, Account Development Director at Arvato
Neil McLauchlan, Head of UK experience at eBay
Neil Ffrench, Senior Director Sales UK at Landmark Global
Sizing Promotions & Returns: Making the most of your International Sales
Fashion is one of the most popular online categories across the world, with shoppers constantly on the lookout for the latest trend at home or abroad. But different consumer sizes and large volumes of returns can get in the way of a successful international campaign. Throughout this panel, the panellist will explore how retailers can adapt their product offering to focus on fit not size; incentives to reduce or recoup costs from returns; and how marketplaces can be used as a platform to expose new fashion brands to an already highly engaged consumer audience.
THE PANEL
Neil Tunbridge, Director at Pivot International
Al Gerrie, CEO at ZigZag
Chris Vincent, Global CEO at Practicology
Carlos Cantoni, Head of Account Management at La Redoute
A Spotlight on France
France is the world’s sixth largest ecommerce market, currently estimated at USD$34 billion with an average annual revenue per consumer coming in at USD$1,056.26. As one of the most mature global ecommerce markets, with a fantastic logistics infrastructure and a diverse range of marketplaces catering for the needs of all types of consumers, France remains one of the most lucrative markets to invest in. During this session, French marketplace speakers will share greater insights into the French consumer, how to adapt your online proposition for the French market and offer their top tips for international success.
The Panel
David Staunton, Global Product Marketing, Mirakl [MODERATOR]
Romain Roy, Head of Business Development at PriceMinister
Claire Monnier, Business Development Manager at Fnac
Carlos Cantoni, Head of Account Management at La Redoute
Maxime Zabalot, Marketplace partnerships at Cdiscount
Getting Started: The First Steps to International Success
Our panellist go back to basics in this panel, by exploring the first step a retailer needs to take when starting to sell into a new international market. They will examine the differing rules and regulations of global online marketplaces; how different territories manage international tax, customs and legal compliance; the ways in which retailers can protect themselves against currency fluctuations; and which products are restricted in different markets.
The Panel
Charlie Ruigrok, Digital Trade Advisor at Department of International Trade
Edward Hardy, Corporate Market Analyst at World First
Chrystalla Spire, Commercial Director at Pentagon
Chris Dawson, Editor at Tamebay
