Close to 4,000 Retail IT and Supply Chain Executives Attend Retail Systems 2003/VICS Collaborative Commerce.Business Editors CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2003 Almost 4,000 retail, consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and , and apparel executives gathered at America's Leading Retail IT and Supply Chain Event to learn about the latest technology applications for the retail and supply chain industries. The annual Retail Systems 2003/VICS Collaborative Commerce event took place June 9-12 at McCormick Place McCormick Place is an enormous exposition complex located in Chicago, Illinois. in Chicago. Attendees came from all segments of the retail and consumer products industry representing more than 600 companies from 37 different countries. "Having a ten percent increase over last year's attendance has shown that the retail and consumer products industries are strong and continuing to look at improving technology applications and supply chain practices to increase top line profits," commented Tom Friedman There have been two notable people named Tom Friedman:
"This year we were able to extend the appeal of the event by including more business process and strategy discussions focusing on meeting the needs of the consumer," said Jim Flannery of the Procter & Gamble Co. and Conference Co-Chair for VICS VICS Vehicle Information and Communication System VICS Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards (Association) VICS Virtual Institute of Caribbean Studies VICS Voluntary Interindustry Communications Standards . The show opened with a keynote lecture by Jeff Bezos Jeffrey Preston Bezos (born January 12, 1964 , Albuquerque ) is the founder, president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of Amazon.com. Bezos, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University, worked as a financial analyst for D. E. Shaw & Co. , Founder and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Amazon.com. Bezos discussed how the Web, globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation , the economy, consumer behavior, multi-channel practices, and other major influences have converged to change the retail landscape. He also announced the launch of a new technology and services subsidiary aimed at the retail market. The conference program featured two panel discussions with industry experts. On Tuesday, June 10, the Management Futures Summit, led by David A. Cole of Kurt Salmon Associates, examined how leading retailers and suppliers are rebuilding their businesses to meet the double-edge challenge of tough economic times and demanding consumers. Panelists included executives from Gap Inc, HEB HEB Hebrew HEB Hurst-Euless-Bedford (Texas) HEB Hot Electron Bolometer HEB Hindu Endowments Board (Singapore) HEB Here Everything's Better HEB High-Energy Beam HEB High Energy Biscuit Grocery Co., The Procter & Gamble Company and Sarah Lee Sara Lee or Sarah Lee is the name of:
A second panel was presented on Wednesday, June 11, entitled "Strategic Integration Summit." Moderated by Ryan Matthews, a well-known futurist, the panel included top executives from Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is the largest food and beverage company headquartered in North America and the second largest in the world after Nestlé SA. The Philip Morris Company (now known as Altria Group), a company that produces tobacco products, acquired Kraft for North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Inc, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and The Procter & Gamble Company. The panelists explored how retailers and suppliers can better leverage their current and future investments in logistics, technology, merchandising, and marketing. Other speakers in this year's conference program included executives from numerous companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Marks and Spencer plc, Ace Hardware Corporation, Safeway Plc, Borders Group, Staples Inc., Lowe's Companies, Sainsbury's Supermarket Limited, Ahold USA and Sara Lee
Sara Lee Corporation (NYSE: SLE) is a global consumer-goods company based in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. Branded Apparel. Here's what some of the attendees at the show had to say: Bob Killough, Director, Store Systems at Hollywood Entertainment Corp. noted, "The networking opportunities at Retail Systems 2003/VICS are the best the industry has to offer." Bill Franks, EVP/CIO, Saks, Inc. commented, "The quality and relevance of the presentations and the exhibition has been great." In addition to four full days of conference sessions, the event also featured one of the largest marketplaces of retail and supply chain technology providers, including more than 250 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge supply chain, e-commerce, and retail store and corporate solutions. Attendees continued their learning in the exhibit hall in four educational pavilions, Standards in Action Pavilion, Small to Mid-sized Retailer Solutions Center, Auto ID/RFID Futures Showcase, and the Kiosk and Self-Service Center. The pavilions featured panel discussions, presentations, and demonstrations from leading solution providers in these technology categories. The TechTours(R) program, now in its fifth year, continued to help attendees focus on the technology solutions needed to drive their business. The program featured marketplace analysis sessions, vendor panel discussions, and guided and self-guided tours of the exhibit floor. Here's what some of the exhibitors had to say about the show: Heather Zoumas-Lubeski, Director, Marketing Communications, 4R Systems said, "The TechTours program was a great way to drive traffic to the booth. We got great leads as a result of this show." Russ Hill, Director of CPG CPG central pattern generators. , Retail, Distribution WW Industry Marketing for first-time exhibitor Business Objects commented, "This show provided a great opportunity to meet with key retail and CPG decision makers. We will definitely be back next year." Retail Systems 2004/VICS Collaborative Commerce will be held May 17-20 at McCormick Place Chicago. For more information visit www.retailsystems.com or call (+1) (617) 527-4626. Retail Systems 2003/VICS Collaborative Commerce is organized by MoonWatch Media Inc., a leading technology publishing and events company that has followed the advancements of technology applications within the retail, e-commerce, and supply chain industries for more than a decade. The company provides analysis and insight about a broad spectrum of issues and trends through publications, conferences and expositions, Internet services, special reports, and customized research. MoonWatch Media has organized Retail Systems Conference & Exposition since 1990, and also organizes other retail IT forums around the world. The Conference program was developed in conjunction with The Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards (VICS) Association. The VICS Association is creator of the Quick Response concept and of the nine-step CPFR CPFR Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment CPFR Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (merchandising) CPFR Continuous Planning Forecasting & Replenishment CPFR Calling Party Forced Release (R) process. Its goal is to take a global leadership role in the ongoing improvement of the flow of product and information about the product throughout the entire retail supply chain. |
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