September 20, 2018
Connected Commerce is evolving to become retail’s stealthiest show…one with true value, not just fluff.
As a show, this franchise is shaping up to be an intellectual tête-à-tête for real operators in the space. In contrast to many other gatherings with high-level talk from the usual compulsory actors, CC18 has turned out to provide immense insight into what’s really happening on the bleeding edge of commerce with a parallel focus on what’s under the hood as we face and solve today’s problems together.
Day 1:
Beyond the East Coast flare, both general and break-out sessions were full of true value, delivering speakers who are in the thick of it, not simply execs observing from a P&L perspective.
For example, two speakers got deep into their niches to deliver key messages to the retail audience:
Dan Bowman gave a break-out on Compliance which offered detailed insight into the world of vendor management in the big-box/dot-com space. His insights were polished and showed us the labyrinth vendors must navigate to be scored. Vendors can be penalized for any number of very specific infractions, but what set Bowman apart is what he’s doing with positive reinforcement.
Phil Guindi gave an excellent session on design and customer experience. Digging deep, he delivered nuggets of value, illustrating principles of design and social aesthetic that clever bands, large and small, can leverage to create an awesome brand experience.
Day 2: #yachtlife
After a long day of discussion and dinners, it was nice to take in the Manhattan skyline by boat as Connected Commerce went from land to sea. From Liberty Island on the New York Harbor up to Harlem and back, we were able to relax over brunch while discussing the future of retail with our partners, clients and service providers. It was a good time indeed.
The connections and beginnings made at CC18 may just change commerce as we know it.
