Leading names in retailing provide insight into strategic business strategies at Retail Solutions 2008

Published 9th May 2008

London 9th May - 2008 sees the relaunch of the popular Retail Solutions exhibition at ExCeL in London with an impressive new conference programme run by Retail Week Conferences. The organisers have also announced that EDS is confirmed as the principle partner for the event.

The Retail Week conference programme which will run alongside the free-to-attend exhibition will feature more than 50 innovative case studies delivered by prominent UK and international retailers, who will offer insights and discussion on key strategic issues facing retailers.

The conference will be divided into six conference streams covering Business Intelligence, Loss Prevention, Merchandising Planning, Multichannel Retail, Supply Chain and the Retail Technology Forum. Also planned are a series of practical workshops around PCI –DSS and RFID.

Highlights of the three day conference feature speakers from Argos, Boots, Borders, B&Q, Currys, D&A - The Opticians, Focus DIY, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Mothercare, Peacocks, Phones 4U, The Carphone Warehouse, Sainsbury’s, Spar, Somerfield, Tesco, Wilkinson, WHSmith, Vodaphone and Woolworths.

For instance, Duncan Kendal, General Manager- Supply, Argos Direct, will talk about achieving an optimal collaborative retailing relationship with your supplier. Kendal will show how to build a relationship with your supplier to keep costs low and productivity high.

Phil Streatfield, Commercial Supply Chain and IT Director, Woolworths will discuss linking information across the supply chain to improve efficiency and how to build a demand driven supply chain management from shelf to manufacturer.

Peter Schofield, IT Service and Operations Director at The Carphone Warehouse will discuss
streamlining the operational process to manage your company’s cost base and how to establish long-term savings by sourcing your company’s information technology.

Lewis Porter, Head of Security and Investigations, Phones 4U, will be looking at cultivating a strong loss prevention culture, while Mick Phipps, Head of Loss Prevention, Wilkinson will talk about investing in physical deterrents for product protection.

Jonathon Brown, Director of Multichannel, B&Q, will be discussing placing your customer at the heart of your multichannel strategy and understanding the changing mindset and lifestyle of the modern consumer.

David Llamas, CIO, Harrods, will be talking about adopting a strategic plan for storing and managing data and how to gain senior management buy-in to company-wide date compliance.

Retail Solutions’ exciting move to London, after more than 15 years at the NEC Birmingham, will provide retailers with greater access to the fast growing retail technology market. Exhibitors include Aldata, BT, IBM, K3, Manhattan Associates, Oracle, NCR, Red Prairie, Intel and Wincor Nixdorf.

Aldata, one of the global leaders in supply chain software for retail, wholesale and logistics companies will be demonstrating at Retail Solutions how retailers can meet the growing challenge of sustainable retailing. Eurostop, a specialist supplier of retail systems to the Apparel, Footwear and General Merchandise sector will be launching its new Multi-Channel Retailing services. ILID will be showcasing the latest in Electronic Shelf Labelling technology. K3, the UK’s largest provider of Microsoft Dynamics, will be demonstrating its multichannel solutions for retailers, as part of its joined-up thinking programme.

Metrologic will demonstrate its complete line of products designed to increase productivity and profitability in retail applications, including single-line, omnidirectional and bioptic laser scanners, area imagers, mobile computers and scan engines for original equipment manufacturers (OEM). NCR will be focusing on how retailers can increase store productivity, customer satisfaction levels and revenues with faster, more compact and available assisted and self-service solutions at Retail Solutions. Protouch, the leading supplier of touch screens and touch screen kiosks in Europe will feature its new, competitive EPOS range and its transactional kiosks. Wincor Nixdorf will be presenting its newly launched retail transaction processing platform, eServices.EFT.

Following on from the success of ‘Store of the Future’ at last years Retail Solutions, which attracted attention from the world’s media, this year Retail Solutions will host a Green feature, sponsored by BT Expedite, the retail solutions division of BT. Retailers are looking for ways to respond to their customers’ interest in greener products and stores and this feature will demonstrate how technology can help.

The European Retail Solutions Awards will take place on the evening of the Wednesday 25th June at Old Billingsgate Market near ExCeL. In 2007 the awards were attended by more than 800 retail IT executives and vendors from the retail, leisure and food services from across Europe. The awards celebrate retailers and suppliers successful use of technology that has driven their businesses forward and recognises some of Europe’s most progressive companies. There are 16 categories to be awarded including; ‘Supply Chain excellence’ and winner of winners ‘European Retail Solution of the year award’. New categories for 2008 include Best Green IT Initiative and Best Multi-channel Integration. The window for entries is now closed with a record number of submissions reflecting the calibre of projects taking place over the last 12 months and the shortlist has been announced. However you can still book your place to attend via the website www.europeanretailsolutionsawards.com

Go to www.retailsolutions2008.com for FREE fast track entry to Retail Solutions and to register for the conferences.

For further details about Retail Week’s Supply Chain Conference call 0845 056 5899 or visit www.retailsolutions2008.com/supplychain


About Retail Solutions 2008:

Now in its 28th year, Retail Solutions is the leading exhibition for the UK’s retail technology market where representatives from the top 500 retailers come to learn about the latest technology, source suppliers and compare vendors. In addition to over 250 of the biggest and most innovative solutions providers, Retail Week Conferences at Retail Solutions will provide delegates with a paid for conference featuring first-class presentations from UK and international retailers, who will address technology issues from a business perspective. Also, the European Retail Solutions Awards showcases the best and most innovative retail technology applications.

www.europeanretailsolutionsawards.com

About EDS

Today’s retailers need to constantly reinvent themselves and deliver sustainable growth through new products, channels and geographies. They are also challenged with improving profitability in low-growth environments, whilst consistently delivering exceptional customer service.

EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 40 years ago. Today, EDS is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. We differentiate ourselves in the marketplace by providing outstanding services, innovation and industry thought leadership.

We have supported retail and consumer industries companies worldwide to address their challenges and deliver business success. EDS works with 25% of the top 100 retailers worldwide. We have served more than 200 consumer industry and retail clients across all major market sectors and scale and size of business.

Our partnership with Retail Solutions continues our active involvement in the retail industry globally, working with our alliance partners to drive innovation and supporting industry associations to develop research and insights.

At EDS we understand that your success and reputation is in our hands and as the world’s business ally … we deliver on our commitments so that you can deliver yours.

Find out more at www.eds.com




For further information, please contact:
Emma Easterbrook
PR Contact
Fieldworks Marketing
Tel: 01435 873080
emma@fieldworksmarketing.co.uk


Notes to editors:
Journalists can contact Fieldworks Marketing for further event details and press passes to the event.