Program

Join us for an intimate fireside conversation exploring how consumer brands adapt to the rapidly evolving retail landscape.

This session will provide insights into strategic leadership amid change and complex market dynamics, including balancing brand heritage with innovation, making customer-centric decisions, and strengthening brand equity across Canadian and global markets.

Attendees will gain perspectives on managing opportunities and challenges within large-scale retail ecosystems while sustaining relevance and long-term impact.

Operating physical stores has never been more challenging. Rising costs for staffing, utilities, and upkeep, combined with declining foot traffic, are putting pressure on traditional retail formats. At the same time, the crash in consumer real estate has weakened liquidity and confidence, impacting categories like home furnishings and renovations. Despite Canada’s population growth, many malls and shopping centres are struggling to regain momentum.

This session examines whether maintaining a physical presence still makes sense, and explores strategies for retailers and landlords to adapt, recover lost ground, and thrive in a changing retail landscape.

In an era where "omnichannel" is the baseline, the real differentiator is how well a brand actually understands the human at the other end of the screen, or the aisle.
Join Sid Lee and Haigo as we unveil the results of our comprehensive study on the Canadian shopper, mapping the hidden friction points and surprising desires across the national retail landscape.

We’ve ranked Canada’s top retailers based on their ability to bridge the gap between consumer expectation and reality. By deconstructing best practices from top performers and highlighting the specific tensions within each sector, we’ll move past the "what" of retail data and dive deep into the "how" of winning the Canadian market.

Walk away with a data-backed roadmap of the "unmet needs" in your specific sector and a cross-industry toolkit of best practices to turn shopper frustration into brand-defining moments.

As competition from global giants and large domestic chains intensifies—driven by superior scale, buying power, and logistics—smaller retailers face mounting pressure. At the same time, e-commerce growth is leveling off and consumers increasingly expect seamless omnichannel experiences.

This session explores the key challenges smaller retailers face today and the strategies they can use to scale operations, strengthen their competitive position, and compete more effectively in a crowded marketplace.

Retailers can strengthen their competitive position by leveraging AI and data to improve forecasting and personalization, delivering seamless omnichannel experiences, embracing local sourcing, and offering value-driven loyalty and payment options. Streamlining technology while prioritizing trust, transparency, and sustainability will be critical to long-term success in a rapidly evolving market.

This panel explores the strategies retailers are using to adapt, innovate, and stay ahead amid ongoing disruption.