Čeština
Past sessions Retail Summit
2009
This year was stigmatized by the expected stagnation of turnover in retail. Participants were discussing challenges they are facing. As customers tend more to save, it is crucial for retailers to understand their needs better and also to operate with the qualified labour force. Simple price reduction shouldn’t be the main goal of retailers. It is necessary to emphasize the product quality. Retailers themselves should consider more strategic solutions for cost reduction, especially energetic, processes optimization and communication and information technologies.
Among the most interesting presentations there was the one of Bob Robbins from Tesco and Ivo Řehák from BauMax. All the participants agreed it is necessary for the government to support the effort of retailers in some important areas, especially in labour force cost reduction, simplification of tax payment systems and reduction of bureaucracy. Considering the current crisis of the financial sector, which is expected to continue, retailers would also appreciate the government to work on development of guarantee mechanisms to support certain activities.
2008
In its opening part the conference dealt with the issue of relationship between state and retailers. This part of the program has received the highest evaluation from the participants; they considered several other sections very inspirational too, including Retail & People, Retail & Brands and Retail & Internet.
Among the main pulls of the conference there belonged the presentation of Feargal Quinn, the President of Eurocommerce, Alain Caparros, CEO REWE, and Bob Burlton from the management of British COOP system. Participants appreciated their knowledge of issues of this field.
All the attendants could take from the plenary session and discussion panels many specific practical ideas, visions and inspirations for their further work.
2007
This year of the conference has brought new conception of the discussion sections, their titles were changed into one form “Retail & …”. Differences in evaluating of this summit have confirmed retail trends suggested by analytics, the fast and big segmentation.
Main conference speakers dealt with topics like consumer role in retailer’s marketing strategy, discount stores and trends in demand and life style. Participants appreciated especially the discussion panels, the most interesting one was Retail & State. Unequivocally the best speaker was Nick Chiarelli from GfK Roper Consulting. Stefan Engeseth from Detective Marketing company and Günter Fergen from Schwarz group gained better marks but some participants expressed their negative feelings about these presentations.
The significant segmentation was evident at the conference as well as in retail itself and it is a great challenge for the future. In spite of all this participants agreed the conference was inspirational also in the aspect of making new business relationships.
2006
This year the conference was moved to the new place. The participants required this and they positively accepted this change. The positive response was given also to the speakers’ presentations and some discussion sections, especially the one discussing the development opportunities on the markets of further EU members, shopping centers and dialogue “suppliers vs. retailers”.
The most interesting presentations were those of Stephan Sigrist from Swiss Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, Michael Morrisson from Australian Center for Retail Studies and Euro commissary for Trade Peter Mandelson. They all talked about strategies and trends of the future.
2005
Retail Summit 2005 was connected this year with “Zlatý Dukát”, an award of Moderní Obchod. The conference gathered representatives of retail from 25 European countries who discussed important questions related to new countries joining EU.
Among the most interesting issues discussed at the conference there was seeking the balance between liberalization and regulation of the retail market and the market development after joining EU.
Delegates said it is necessary to find ways to reduce the market less but more efficiently, support education and innovations. For the retail chains operating in different countries it is important to centralize regionally but keep strong marketing targeting at national and local markets.
The most interesting presentations were given by Harjeet Drubra from TESCO and Jacquot Boelen from Ahold hq.
2004
The jubilee year of the Retail Summit conference in 2004 focused on the retail development revision within past years and Czech market perspectives in the coming years. Customer service was the main topic of most presentations and discussions, as customer is becoming the key character of the Czech retail.
Jan Peter Karelse, Prezident of UGAL (European Association of Independent Retail) and Milan Růžička, Chief Operations Manager of Ahold Czech Republic were the main conference speakers.
2003
At this year’s conference Retail Summit 2003 which was held in Brno, the readiness of Czech Republic to enter EU and its influence on our market were discussed. The speakers designed possibilities to gain inspiration from the EU lifestyle and perspectives for retailers in the EU environment. In the discussions the topics of product innovations using category management, shopping behavior trends, retail development funding or franchising were opened. During the gala dinner the awards Top Retailer 2002/03 were presented.
The participants were interested the most by the presentations of Madeira Lopes, Vice-president of APED (Association of Portuguese retail Companies), Ian Hutchins, Head of Corporate Affairs of Tesco (Plc) and joint presentation of Javier Perez de Leza, general Manager of Makro Cash & Carry ČR, and Bruno le Ciclé, General Manager of Nestlé Česko.
2002
Approaching the date when Czech republic will join EU the readiness of our market for this event was discussed at this year of the conference Retail Summit. There met representatives of Eurocommerce, Retail Alliances and Associations of Central and Eastern Europe.
The market analysis showed that thanks to the big chains expansions the market has been saturated and there is strong competition there. Thanks to it retailers are seeking new ways to attract and keep customers, who are more and more demanding. The presentation of Oldřich Dědek, Vice-governor of Czech National bank, John Maynihan, Retail Development Director of Coca-Cola HBC Europe, and Paul–Louis Halley, President of Eurocommerce, were ranked among the best.
