Contest seeking the best in technology, digital marketing and retail
TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Four of Canada's most influential retail players are teaming up to launch the Canadian Retail Innovation Challenge. Dx3 Canada, in conjunction with leading retail real estate investor, developer and manager, Oxford Properties Group; industry thought-leaders, Retail Prophet; and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), have created the national contest with the aim of discovering and promoting the best and brightest retail and technology entrepreneurs that Canada has to offer.
"Dx3 has always been about celebrating Canada's digital marketing, advertising and retailing communities, and our hope is that we will encourage innovation in these categories across the country," said Duncan Payne, Dx3 co-founder. "Our mission is to help develop and grow Canada's start-up community, and we're hopeful that this initiative is seen as us putting that commitment into practice."
Applications will be accepted from across the nation with six innovative Canadian start-ups getting the chance to showcase and pitch their business concepts to industry leaders, including Oxford Properties Group and Retail Prophet.
Two winners will get the chance to debut their concepts in Canada's premier mall – Yorkdale Shopping Centre, or another premium Oxford Shopping Centre. Winners will also receive the opportunity to meet and pitch to the RCC Board of Directors, representing some of the largest retailers in Canada. Winners will be featured in Canadian Retailer and will also be invited to participate in the Store 2017 conference.
The competition features two categories: Retail Merchants that provide consumers with a different product, service or shopping experience, and Retail Technology, offering innovation that could change or influence the consumer shopping experience.
"Canadian start-ups are bringing us bright new ideas and innovations that are having a substantial impact on almost every industry, including retail. OMERS and Oxford have been supportive of the start-up community for many years, with Shopify as an example. We are excited to play a role in this initiative," said Bradley Jones, senior vice-president of Retail at Oxford Properties Group. "We are looking forward to seeing the ideas that emerge from the competition and showcasing the best ones in the Oxford Portfolio."
Three finalists from each category will be invited to attend Dx3 with the finals to take place during the conference on March 9, 2017 in front of a live audience.
The application process is open from December 21, 2016 until January 27, 2017 and the selected participants will be notified during the first week of February 2017. All six will have the opportunity to participate in Dx3.
To apply online, visit Dx3 Canada Canadian Innovation in Retail Challenge
About Dx3 Canada
Dx3 is Canada's largest conference and trade show focused on digital marketing, advertising and retail. It brings agencies, brands, publishers and retailers together for two days of networking and education.
Dx3 2017 is taking place March 8-9, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, featuring more than 40 educational sessions, 100 exhibitors and 4,000 attendees from Canada's leading retailers, brands, agencies and technology companies.
About Retail Prophet
Retail Prophet is one of the world's foremost retail industry futures consultancies. Their work and thinking have influenced many of the world's best-known retailers, agencies and brands including Walmart, Google, Home Depot, Disney, BMW, Coca Cola and Intel.
Retail Prophet Founder, Doug Stephens is the author of the groundbreaking 2013 book, The Retail Revival: Re-Imagining Business for the New Age of Consumerism and the soon-to-be-released, Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling In A Post-Digital World. Doug is also the nationally syndicated retail columnist for CBC Radio and sits on the advisory boards of the Dx3 Digital Conference and the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retail & Services at St. Mary's University. Doug is ranked among the top ten global retail industry influencers by Vend.com.
About Oxford Properties Group
Oxford Properties Group is a global platform for real estate investment, development and management, with approximately 2,000 employees and close to $40 billion of real estate assets that it manages for itself and on behalf of its co-owners and investment partners. Established in 1960, Oxford was acquired in 2001 by OMERS, one of Canada's largest pension funds with over $77 billion in assets. Oxford has regional offices in Toronto, London and New York, each with investment, development and management professionals who have deep real estate expertise and local market insight. For more information about Oxford visit: www.oxfordproperties.com.
About OMERS
OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension funds with over $77 billion in net assets. It provides first-class pension administration and innovative products and services to 460,000 members. Almost one in every 20 employees working in the province of Ontario is an OMERS member. Through the OMERS Worldwide brand, our team of investment professionals uses a direct-drive, active-management investment strategy to invest in public and private market assets, including publicly traded equities, fixed income, infrastructure, private equity and real estate. For more information about OMERS visit: www.omers.com.
SOURCE Dx3 Canada
Media Contact, Lisa Liu, Herscu & Goldsilver, [email protected]
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