Retail Thought Leadership Conference: March 9 at West Edmonton Mall

The University of Alberta School of Retailing is hosting its fourth annual Thought Leadership Conference on March 9 in Edmonton. This year’s conference will be unlike anything done in the past — it will be hosted at West Edmonton Mall’s Fantasy Land Hotel, and will feature a roster of speakers as well as entertainment and networking opportunities. Website: tlc18.ca.

Registration is now open and we’re told that tickets are going fast, given the uniqueness and roster of speakers. [Buy Tickets Here]

The all-day conference includes speakers in the morning, and awards and networking in the afternoon. On the morning of Friday, March 9, speakers from innovative companies such as Tiffany & Co., LUSH Cosmetics, Kinetic, Bounce Box, Smart Access, thisopenspace, Fairfield Commercial, and RAAS at West Edmonton Mall will discuss the latest industry trends. [Download List and Speaker Bios]

The afternoon of March 9 includes the annual innovation award, which is this year being presented to INDOCHINO President and CEO, Drew Green. Last year’s recipient was Toni Galli, Country Manager for H&M. The afternoon ends with networking opportunities for students and professionals, including ‘speed networking’. 

The University of Alberta School of Retailing boasts some of the country’s brightest students, who are also keen on making a career out of being involved in the broader retail industry. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet some students, who could potentially be hired to become key employees.  

On Thursday, March 8, there’s also the opportunity to tour West Edmonton Mall with Retail Insider’s founder and Editor-in-Chief, Craig Patterson. He’ll provide insight into how the centre has been an innovator in the concept of ’retail-tainment’, which is considered critical to make physical retail work in an age of technology and e-commerce. Patterson also authored Retail Council of Canada’s 2016 and 2017 Shopping Centre Studies, which ranked Canada’s top malls and also identified key trends in successful centres. 

There are also sponsorship opportunities still available, and sponsors will be recognized both at the conference as well as in the press. Current sponsors include SnapPay, RBC Royal Bank and West Edmonton Mall.

Tickets are available for purchase [BUY TICKETS] and for more information: tlc18.ca.

For sponsorship opportunities and other information, contact Emily Salsbury-Deveaux at: salsbury@ualberta.ca.