West Coast retail leaders set to meet in Vancouver on October 7 for Retail Council of Canada's Retail West 2015 conference

VANCOUVER, Sept. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - The movers and shakers of western Canada's retail industry will meet in Vancouver on October 7 for Retail West 2015, a day-long conference hosted by Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and presented by Interac Association. The annual event brings together more than 300 retailers of all sizes and categories, from independent merchants to Canada's largest chains, as well as industry vendors and suppliers.

"The Retail West sessions will cover innovative ideas, real-life case studies and the key retail trends that are transforming today's retail market," said Mark Startup, Vancouver-based Vice President of Retail Council of Canada's MySTORE division, which serves the independent merchant community. "It's a very competitive retail environment out there, and this event is designed to provide retailers with the insights and inspiration they need to keep on top of their game. We have also ensured there will be ample time to network with peers and with the retail industry experts who will be in attendance."

The jam-packed conference agenda features an esteemed group of retail leaders and industry authorities, including:

• Brian Hill, Founder & CEO of fashion retailer Aritzia, on the future of retail, entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership
• Nadia Shouraboura, CEO & Founder of apparel chain Hointer, on marrying the digital and physical worlds to improve the in-store shopping experience and customer service
• Carla Flamer, President, Marketing Canada, Ipsos Reid, on why retailers must connect with millennials, today's most influential consumers
• Barbara Crowhurst, CEO of Retail Makeover, on strategies, tactics, tips and techniques to take your retail business to the next level
• Dave Rodgerson, Retail Industry Lead, Microsoft Canada, on how emerging trends in technology and society are changing the shopping experience
• Jackie Ross, Principal and Lead Recruiter, JRoss Retail Recruiters; and Tess Sloane, Senior Recruiter and Talent Scout Lead, lululemon athletica, on how to attract western Canada's top retail talent in an increasingly competitive marketplace
• Jim Hourigan, COO, BuildDirect Technologies, on how his company is using custom and proprietary web analytics and forecasting tools to provide a seamless customer experience
• Daniela Cubelic, Founder & Owner of organic teas and bodycare retailer Silk Road Tea, on brand-building through passion, innovation and entrepreneurial expertise
• Brooke Harley, Founder & Partner, Campfire Capital; and McCarthy Tetrault's Miranda Lam, Partner, Litigation Group, and Genevieve Pinto, Partner, Business Law Group, on key ways retail businesses can best prepare for growth opportunities
• Tara O'Doherty, VP, Customer Experience Strategy (CX/UX/UI), Cossette, on common pitfalls of e-Commerce/m-Commerce and how to maximize profit and engagement digitally
• Phil Lichtsztral, Partner, Richter,on the Canadian retail landscape with research conducted by Richter's Retail Consulting Services Group
• Kyle Vucko, CEO & Founder of menswear retailer Indochino, on expanding from online-only sales to bricks-and-mortar stores
• Braden Hoeppner, Head of eCommerce for fashion retailer Kit and Ace, on the new omni-channel retail landscape and the challenges for e-Commerce teams within traditional retail environments

Retail West, to be held at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, is open to RCC members and non-members. Media are invited to attend the conference. For registration information, click here.

Following the conference, independent retailers are invited to attend an evening of networking and learning at the Vancouver stop of RCC's MySTORE MySTORY fall roadshow. Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Dai "Coach Moose" Manuel will outline what it takes to become your own brand architect. The event, to be held at the Steamworks Pub beginning with a reception at 6 pm, is free for independent merchants. For further information, click here. 

About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is the Voice of Retail in Canada representing more than 45,000 store fronts of all retail formats, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants in general merchandise, grocery and drugs.  Its membership represents over two thirds of all retail sales in Canada.  RCC is a strong advocate for retailing in Canada and works with all levels of government and other stakeholders to support employment growth and career opportunities in retail, to promote and sustain retail investments in communities from coast-to-coast, and to enhance consumer choice and industry competitiveness. RCC also provides its members with a full range of services and programs including education and training, benchmarking and best practices, networking, advocacy, and industry information. RetailCouncil.org @RetailCouncil #RetailWest15

SOURCE Retail Council of Canada

Colin Asuncion, Retail Council of Canada, [email protected], 1.888.373.8245