Page 67 - RLI April 2019

eVenT reVieW | THE RETAIL SUMMIT

CommuniCaTe on the back of 12 months of rigorous planning, the inaugural retail summit

brought together over 900 senior global retail professionals for two days on 13-
WiTh CusTomers 14 February at the atlantis in Dubai to explore the transformation of retail and

where the sector is heading.

he recurring message throughout the first ever On day one of the Retail Summit, Sir Richard was the “Being resilient is an important part of business. Sometime
Retail Summit back in February was that being star attraction and addressed an engrossed audience, both you will be the only person to believe your creativity. If you From left to right:
ryan and aDam goLDsTon,
innovative does not simply mean embracing the when sitting on the Sustainability Keynote panel discussion believe in it, go forward with it.” Co-Founders of aThLeTiC ProPuLsion LaBs
Tlatest technology, adopting AI, utilising AR and and subsequently during the day’s final session – a fireside The second and final day of The Retail Summit showcased yet
replacing humans with robots. conversation with Gary Thatcher about his future plans another impressive set of speakers and entrepreneurial leaders.
This ongoing theme was delivered to the near 1,000 and successes. The highlight of the day’s proceedings was an intimate
senior executives at The Retail Summit in Dubai back in Summing up his success and his sources of inspiration, fireside chat. Huda Beauty’s Mona Kattan & Chief Strategy
mid-February. The event featured 80 speakers and saw Branson said: “We have a philosophy at Virgin where, first Officer Karan Wats shed light on the principles that
hundreds of brands from around the world come together of all, we draw a circle around ourselves, then around underpinned the organisation’s transformation into a $1bn
to examine the latest thinking around the future of retail each other. Inside that circle, we incorporate ingredients business. The Kattan sisters are Dubai’s homegrown global
and what it means to truly connect with today’s ultra- like getting fit, obtaining a work-life balance so we can beauty and celebrity superstars and Mona is the Global
demanding customer. concentrate on family, friends and, as we grow, we help the President of the brand. “None of our success was planned,”
The event was packed with thought provoking content community and one day the country and then the world.” Mona confessed. We saw a gap in the market, and we
and lively debate from industry heavyweight speakers Teaming up earlier for a panel discussion with retail decided to add value.”
including Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, industry heavyweights Patrick Chalhoub and Erik Emphasising the power of ideas during their session on
Mona Kattan, Global President & Co-Founder, Huda Beauty, Hokanson on the issue of sustainability, Branson stated redefining a category, twin brothers Ryan and
Jo Malone, CBE, Founder of Jo Loves, HE Hamad Buamim, that: “Nothing is perfect when you have a group of Adam, Co-founders of Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL)
President & CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & companies. On sustainability one issue is as important as said, “No one can just enter the industry with a good-
Industry, Beth Horn, Industry Head, Retail, Facebook, Fahad the other.” Chalhoub said that: “It starts with a belief on looking product alone. If you are trying to create a new
Abdulrahim Kazim, VP, Meydan Malls, Meydan Group, Ghizlan how to run a sustainable business. It is important for the category in a given industry, it needs to be something
Guenez, CEO & Founder, The Modist, Julia Goldin, CMO, CEO and leading team to incorporate sustainability into that’s new and special. We have integrated luxury and
Lego and John Veichmanis, CMO, Farfetch to name a few. the strategy.” performance and created our category.”
The Retail Summit was supported by event partners One of the most motivating sessions of the day was Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh
Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Meydan with Jo Malone, Founder, Jo Loves, who stole the moment Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
One; Innovation partner: Accenture; Silver partners: Black with ‘Leadership Lessons: How to Start Over and Stay Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership
Jack, CBRE, CEGID, KPMG, SAP, Umdasch and Xpandretail; Passionate.’ The session had stories of ups and downs in life with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and
Strategic partners: Al Futtaim Malls, Arvind Internet, Bentley, and the positive combination of passion and purpose. “You Meydan One, The Retail Summit brought together a new
BJSS, Content Square, Department of International Trade, can’t depend on heritage. Staying relevant is getting out generation of retailers delivering a winning combination of
Gate Avenue, Lava Moments, Mcube, Nook, Openbravo, every single day and finding out what difference can I do outstanding service and ground-breaking use of technology
Parcelly, Ponant, Presso, Samsung and Sensemi. to the world,” said Malone, while advocating strongly that, to deliver memorable shopping experiences.

The 2020 ediTion of The ReTail SummiT
TakeS place on 10-11 maRch, To find
ouT moRe and To book youR place, viSiT
www.TheReTailSummiT.com h.h. sheikh hamDan Bin mohammeD Bin rashiD aL makToum, Crown Prince of Dubai and
Chairman of the executive Council, met with Ceo’s of key brands during his visit.

PauL Charron sir riCharD Branson erik hokanson PaTriCk ChaLhouB
Former Chairman and Ceo Founder Lead architect Ceo
LiZ CLaiBorne inC. Virgin grouP ae7/meyDan grouP ChaLhouB grouP
66 reTaiL & Leisure inTernaTionaL APRIL 2019 DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 reTaiL & Leisure inTernaTionaL 65