Opening Keynote

WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IN RETAIL TODAY � Trends & Strategies that Build Amazing Retail Concepts

Speaker: Jim Dion - President, Dionco

Our opening keynote speaker is Jim Dion, retail strategist and consultant to companies including Successories, Altitunes and Man Alive. Dion also consults with many Tier 1 retail and non-retail clients such as Harley-Davidson. In today�s keynote Dion will take you through the key components of a winning retail strategy with real life examples of stores that not only �get it� but also get the Customer! Highlights to include:

• Using inventory as a competitive weapon
• Making the store environment an incredible experience
• Pricing: It does not have to be lower
• Keeping ahead of the Customer
• Consistently exceeding Customer expectations
• Motivating, rewarding and disciplining staff
• Creating a black apron experience

SEGMENT TWO: Tactical Behaviors

10 TACTICAL BEHAVIORS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS

In the second segment of his keynote presentation, Dion will focus on ten tactical behaviors a company can use to change its business. Tactics range from on-the-floor management of best-selling products and obsessive housekeeping to staff productivity, daily location changes of impulse items and much more.

RETAIL GROWTH STRATEGY AWARDS CEREMONY

Awards this evening will be presented to fast-growth specialty retailers in the following categories:

1) Technology Impact Award

2) Business Process Optimization Award

3) Fast-Track Growth Award

4) Best New Concept Award

5) Brand Builder Award

6) Real-Time Organization Award

7) Innovation Award

8) Channel Champion Award

Day Two Keynote

FAST FORWARD: BUILDING A CUSTOMER-DRIVEN BRAND AT THE SPEED OF RETAIL

SPEAKER: David Crocker, SVP / Marketing and Business Development, iSold It

Today's keynote speaker is a veteran of consumer packaged goods giant Nestle who now leads the branding efforts at iSold It, one of a new wave of retailers that sell their eBay auction services to consumers. Recently named #17 on Entrepreneur magazine's list of the �Hot 100� companies, iSold It is the #1 seller on eBay with a nationwide chain of almost 200 �drop-off� stores that make it easy for anyone � consumers, businesses and fundraisers to sell their things online. Crocker will focus on the company's strategic, customer-focused, brand-building objectives as it eyes substantial nationwide expansion via a franchised system of stores within the U.S. and now also in Britain , Ireland and Australia.

General Session #1

TECH & TACTICS SURVIVAL GUIDE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHILE YOU GROW

Moderator: Mark Tauschek - Sr. Research Analyst, Info- Tech Research Group

Panelists: Peter Gerhardt - Chief Financial Officer, Town Shoes , John T. Moore - Sr. VP, CIO & Logistics, Tween Brands Inc.

Technology is pervasive throughout today�s specialty retail organizations. In this session, we will hear from top-level specialty retail executives on the four pillars of retailing business process and technology: inventory management (supply chain); merchandising (planning and assortment); workforce management; and POS. If time allows, the session will also look at business intelligence (analytics and CRM).

Networking Coffee Break

General Session #2

SIZE DOESN�T MATTER: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN A LANDSCAPE OF GIANTS

Discussion Host : Debbie Hauss, Managing Editor, RIS

Speakers: Mike VanOrden, Chief Technology Officer, Sportsman's Warehouse, Jesus Capo,VP & CIO,El Dorado Furniture Corp., Darin Lynch, Chief Information Officer, 2nd Swing Inc., Alan Barnett, Former SVP MIS & Merchandise Planning, Barney's New York

This session will look at the strategies of specialty retailers that are competing in a retail landscape dominated by the giants of the industry. The participants in this discussion do not possess the advantages of retail�s giants but are forced to compete with them in the marketplace. Find out how these fast-growth retailers are thriving in this landscape by defining clear-cut strategies, achieving short-term gains, finding long-term advantages and aligning IT with core business strategies.

General Session #3

SMB TECH TRENDS REPORT: BENCHMARKING IT PRIORITIES, CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR MID-SIZED RETAILERS  

Discussion Host: Joe Skorupa, Editor-in-Chief, RIS

Speakers: Betsy England, Manager, Systems & Technology, Room & Board, Mark Laughlin, Former CIO, Guitar Center

RIS Group Editor-in-chief Joe Skorupa opens with a high-relevance technology report based on results of the RIS News /Gartner 16 th Annual Retail Technology Study that shines the spotlight on the information technology priorities and investment plans of mid-sized retailers. Analysis of this important segment's IT profile in areas ranging from the point of sale and store operations to CRM, business intelligence and supply chain logistics will be accompanied by charts providing a quick picture of the mid-sized retail market segment. Joe will then be joined by retail executive leaders to discuss the report's findings.

Closing Luncheon with Speaker

REAL WORLD CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR ACCELERATED GROWTH

speakers: John O'Hare, Director of IT, The Paradies Shops, Colleen Coleman - Partner, McMillan/Doolittle LLC

This session will open with an analyst's perspective on what the challenges and solutions are for a specialty retailer to be successful and not get off track while experiencing accelerated growth. The session will then move into a panel discussion led by the analyst and will examine a range of issues in the topic area including the CIO's perspective on IT when the company is experiencing booming growth, soaring sales and aggressive store openings. Attend this closing session to learn from different perspectives on the impact accelerated growth has on IT infrastructure, business processes, financial planning, short-term stress, long-term planning and more.