Global experts headline retail conference next month

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) has invited six of the world’s top industry experts to speak at the upcoming 28th National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) and provide guidance to local retailers as they thread the difficult path toward full recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Happening on-site on Aug. 11 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center, this year’s NRCE – the most important and biggest retail industry event in the country – is aptly themed “Retail: Ready, Re/set/ GROW!”

PRA president and Wilcon Depot SEVP/COO Rosemarie Bosch Ong said the 28th NRCE is a giant step toward the creation of a roadmap to a better retail industry. “We must equip fellow retailers and supplier industries to help them expand their respective brands and businesses.”

Tom Oliver, consultant to top Fortune 500 companies, will be delivering the keynote speech on the first day of the event. He founded the Tom Oliver Group, a strategy and management consulting group that is now a trusted advisor to many of the world’s most influential family businesses, market leaders and global conglomerates. He has been dubbed as the “mentor of the giants” and a “world-famous management consultant,” as he has successfully worked with brands such as Pepsi, Johnson & Johnson and Google.

Don Rae, group head and senior advisor of Globe Business, will be discussing advanced profiling through data analytics and streamlined e-commerce operations. Rae is a veteran in telecommunications, having worked in the industry for 25 years. Aside from his position at Globe, he is also the chairman of Yondu, a portfolio company of the Globe Group.

Cathy Ileto, SM Retail’s VP for corporate communications, has decades of experience in strategic communications, Cathy has been creating positive impact in various industries including broadcast media, telco, tech and retail, through relevant and meaningful stories.  She is currently in charge of the overall brand health of the company. Included in her purview as well is crafting a well-curated employee experience and an extensive push for sustainability communications.

Edric Mendoza, chairman of Homeschool Global, is a change maker. His focus is on personal finance, entrepreneurship, and innovative learning. He is a registered financial planner, an anchor of PlusNetwork’s FUNDamentals, and a former anchor of ANC’s On The Money. He is the current managing director of entrepreneurship college, The ONE School, and chairman of Homeschool Global.

The second day of the conference will feature Edwin Hawson, president of the Central Marketing Group (CMG) for the Central Group of Companies, who will deliver the keynote speech. CMG is the exclusive distributor and licensee for many iconic brands such as Casio, Dyson, Guess, Calvin Klein Jeans, and many more prominent retail brands in the country. As a retail company, the Central Group of Companies has been responsible for a variety of investments in retail, property development, brand management, hospitality, food and beverage sectors, and in digital lifestyle.

Other speakers for NRCE Day 2 include Georg Platzer, store manager of Ikea Philippines who will be speaking about the Ikea experience. The Ikano Group was established by Ikea’s founder, but has since created its own identity as a solutions provider for various types of businesses across the globe.  The rest of the second day will have invited speakers delving into topics such as building supply chain resiliency, reinventing businesses for a new reality, and catering to a new generation of Filipino consumers during the pandemic.

The NRCE is the biggest and longest-running retail industry event in the country. It is where top retailers and suppliers meet in one venue to share knowledge, build camaraderie, and find new ways to accelerate the growth of their careers and respective businesses. Attendees of the event get exclusive access to valuable trends, developments, and innovations in the retail arena. Interested retailers can still register to attend the event at the NRCE website (www.nrce-ph.com). More information on the event can be found on their website as well.

The 28th NRCE is made possible by the following sponsors: Globe Business,The SM Store, Wilcon Depot, PLDT Enterprise, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, ETP Group, Unilab, Robinsons Malls, Bayer Philippines, Araneta City, CMG Retail Inc., Bench, expo sponsors Entrego, Mediacast Digital, Sharetreats and 2GO, The Philippine STAR (official newspaper), BusinessWorld (official media partner), Sportshouse, Primer Group of Companies, Mercury Drug, Shangri-La Plaza, with media partners DOOH, Manila Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Retail in Asia and its official PR partner Media Blitz Group.