Image courtesy of The Unseen, a consultancy
Retail strategies are an ever-evolving vehicle for brand transformation and the next three to five years may hold the most interesting innovations to date.
On Oct. 21 in New York, The Future Laboratory, a "futures consultancy agency,” will host its "U.S. Retail & Luxury Futures Forum" where delegates will discuss what the future of retailing may hold and how consumers will interact with those new strategies. While no marketer holds a crystal ball, gaining insights into consumer behavior and the innovations put forth by others, hypothetically or actualized, will help brands to transition into the future while maintaining relevancy and retention.
“The Future Laboratory U.S. Retail & Luxury Forum in New York presents our rising trends and most innovative projects from across these two fast developing and interrelated industries,” said Chris Sanderson, cofounder of The Future Laboratory, New York. “It aims to give brands the consumer insights and toolkit to future proof their business for the years ahead, combining long term thinking with actionable solutions.
“Previous attendees who have benefitted from these sessions range from Condé Nast to Net-A-Porter, Jaguar to Givaudan,” he said. “As well as presenting a selection of the most important consumer trends changing the retail and luxury industries today, The Future Laboratory will be in conversation with industry leaders including Rebekkah Bay of Everlane and Jacques Panis, president of Shinola.”
Foreseeing the future
Held at the Crosby Street Hotel, the annual forum's program will begin with a global market overview that will explore ideas, brands, people and changing tastes and how these points disrupt the luxury and retail offerings of the future.
Key points in this session will include the return of discreet luxury in the United States, the continued growth of the discount and luxury sector and why “masstige” or mass-market prestige brands are making a comeback, in addition to the implications mobile applications, beacons and digital will have on luxury retail.
Sessions will give oversight into The Future Laboratory's six consumer tribes, rising trends in the industry such as virtual browning, whole-chain thinking and virtual opulence and the “New Urban Guilds” of international high streets.
Interior of fashion designer Rachel Comey's New York boutique
Case studies will also be presented that showcase the work of visionary brands in the industry such as Net-A-Porter’s The Net Set, Nike and Please Do Not Enter. Conversations will be held with Alain Schibl of PRIV, marketing guru Tyler Vawser of Museum Hack, Jacques Panis, president of Shinola, and Rebekkah Bey, head of product design at Everlane.
The forum’s agenda will wrap with a showcase of 2016’s standout retail and luxury interiors and a closing keynote on anti-authenticity marketing.
Tickets for the event are still available with an “innovator” special for $500 for purchases made before Sept. 24. After that, the price will be categorized as “late adopter” and be upped to $650 as the date draws closer.
The full agenda can be found here.