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Retail executives and academics will look at the newest ideas and innovations at the UA's 13th annual Global Retailing Conference in Tucson.

By University Communications
March 17, 2008

Some of the best strategists in the world of retail commerce will be in Tucson in April to look at the latest trends and issues in their business.

The Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing at The University of Arizona will host the 13th Annual Global Retailing Conference, April 10-11, at Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. The conference attracts retail executives and academicians from around the world, as well as students who are preparing for jobs when they graduate.

The UA has 350 students studying at the Lundgren Center, regarded as one of the top retail business programs in the country. The center is part of the UA John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s Inc. and a UA graduate, will give the keynote address. Carl E. Steidtmann, the nationally recognized chief economist for Deloitte Research, will discuss "The Consumer-Driven Recession." Christophe Heurtevent and Jan de Jong from Microsoft will examine the impact of emerging technologies on customers.

Tech whiz and CEO of online clothier Zapppos.com Tony Hsieh will give his "Top 10 Lessons Learned in E-Commerce." Hsieh is co-founder of Venture Frogs, an incubator and investment firm that helped launch Ask Jeeves and Tellme Networks. He joined Zappos.com at age 26, and helped the company grow gross merchandise sales from $1.6M in 2000 to $597M in 2006.

Mark Ecko, chairman of the clothing and multimedia conglomerate that bears his name, will be the closing speaker. Ecko, whose rhino logo can be found at retailers worldwide, parlayed his humble start as a high-school student creating custom graphic designs in his parent's garage into an empire that spans publishing, multimedia, philanthropy and fashion.

Other speakers include Roger Farah, president and chief operating officer of Polo Ralph Lauren ("Development of a Global Brand in Europe"); David Ginsberg, vice president, SAP Industry Solutions ("Balancing Financial Performance with Shopper Needs") and Daria Myers, president of Origins Natural Resources ("Sustainable Innovation: Doing Well by Doing Good").

They and others will focus on practical information, specific techniques and strategies to improve how organizations operate in an intensely competitive and changing marketplace.

"Our goal is to provide attendees with access to technology, marketing and business ideas that are changing the face of retail worldwide," said Melinda Burke, executive director of the center. "The speakers will share stories about life in the trenches, with examples of how retailers of all sizes can implement changes that will enable their companies to thrive."

"Our smaller conference size and more intimate resort setting will provide attendees with unparalleled access to some of the greatest and most creative minds in business today," said Kim Brooke, assistant director of the center. "We're confident that all attendees – students, new retail employees and executives – will walk away with ideas that will help them successfully navigate today's challenging retail environment."

The conference is sponsored by Macy’s, Microsoft, Deloitte, Google, Hilco Merchant Resources, Inovis, SAP and Wal-Mart. Support also comes from the Terry J. Lundgren Center’s Corporate Advisory Board, which includes retailers and business partners from the world’s largest organizations.