Liveblogging from RetailPro

I’m spending the morning at the RetailPro conference.

  • New sales formats (ex. online) creates particular challenges. Interesting example - PickPick.de. Loyalty cards have become just a hassle for customers. We have cobranded cards here, but not yet multibranded cards. Cutting costs through outsourcing, closing less profitable locations, self scanning, IT systems.
  • Cotiso Hanganu holds another frothy presentation on business intelligence.
  • Madalin Matica contradicts the idea that the retail market is closing up. Right, Madalin, there’s so much still lacking! What we have feels like just barebones. Nothing is being sold online in Romania except for IT, software, books and movies. Good presentation - it was obvious that a good number of people only stayed here for this talk, leaving as soon as it was over.

Later edit: After this point, Madalin’s presentation became so interesting that I started taking real notes instead of trying to liveblog from my phone. You can see his presentation here.

Written by Sara


2 Responses to “Liveblogging from RetailPro”

  1. Madalin Matica Says:
    October 18th, 2007 at 8:08 am

    There is not closing up in retail (in my humble opinion). Is just a transition and ) I hope) an evolution from selling cheap products to selling Stories, Brands, Lovemarks…
    ref online: is wild-wild west :)
    On another hand I’m sorry I have to leave so soon ( Internet never sleeps or give me a break) but I DO hope that thse who came there for this speech left the conference to go home to register a new company, their startup :) I hope they had understood that the Keywords were :
    NOW. FAST. Design. Plan carefully. Communicate. Execute and you will be a winner.

  2. Sara Says:
    October 18th, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    I felt a little bit angry to hear of the “window of opportunity” closing up - mostly because I think Romanian retail is still an overgrown but very awkward teenager - self-conscious, selfish, and with no clue on how to create and nurture relationships.

    It’s appalling that Romanian retailers can’t find a way to get more of my money. Apart from utility costs, most of my spending went to foreign online retailers.

    I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation, Madalin. Your emphasis on permission is a rather lonely voice in this corner of the world.

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