SINGAPORE - - 20 September 2018 - The Singapore Management University (SMU) Retail Centre of Excellence (RCoE) will be hosting its inaugural Asia Retail Leaders Conference (ARLC) from 18 to 19 October at Conrad Centennial Singapore, discussing key challenges and strategies to navigate the competitive Asian retail landscape.

 

SMU RCoE is a retail insight-sharing hub in Singapore focusing on generating and disseminating actionable knowledge for retailers in Singapore, Asia and beyond. ARLC will serve as a platform that engages retail leaders, industry experts, knowledge partners and senior managers from around the region.

 

ARLC 2018 will cover various sub-themes to discuss the critical issues impacting the retail space today. This includes Adapting and Thriving with Omni Channel Customers, Retail Innovation and IP, Design Thinking in Retailing, Retailing in India and China, Managing Retail Brands, Entrepreneurship in Retailing, and Attracting and Retaining Retail Talent. The opening address will be delivered by Professor Lily Kong, Provost and President-designate of SMU.

 

Professor Kapil Tuli, Director of RCoE says, "We are pleased to organise our first leadership conference to empower retailers to tackle key industry challenges for their businesses. This year, we are joined by more than 20 speakers from across the globe who will be presenting their insights of relevance to business and industry. We believe that this exchange of ideas will further prepare retail leaders to navigate their organisations in this challenging yet exciting time."

 

The theme of navigating turbulent waters is set against the backdrop of an increasingly digitised and interconnected world. In order to remain relevant and meet these new consumer demands, the retail industry is undergoing significant disruption and trying to play in multiple formats. The dynamism of the competitive environment, especially with the presence of large and up-and-coming e-commerce players, have seen online retailers setting up stores to build local presence. Apart from these external challenges, the retail industry must also focus on the renewal of leadership, recruitment strategies, staff engagement and employee performance for the future of retail.

 

The conference will feature a combination of in-depth discussions and talks by leading academics and deep dive workshops with leading practitioners. ARLC 2018 will include two in-depth workshops Retail Innovation and IP workshop by Ms. Audrey Yap, a distinguished lawyer and thought leader in IP. In addition, ARLC 2018 will feature a Design Thinking Workshop held by Mr. Mark Wee, a pioneer in using design thinking to shape innovative human-centred experiences across products, services and environments. 

 

The conference is part of SMU RCoE's on-going effort to provide a platform for retail leaders and knowledge partners to network, share and engage in dialogue on growth opportunities and challenges presented by the fast-changing consumer landscape in today's digital age.

 

For interested participants, registration fee is at SGD750 and available online. Please visit www.arlc2018.sg for more information. (mor/*).