Master of ceremonies: Tom Urquhart, Presenter, Dubai One

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8:00-08:45AM

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8:45-9:00AM

As the term ‘new’ gives way to ‘next’ normal, the very definition of normalcy has changed. It has changed as retailers are rewiring business models, rethinking revenue centres and readjusting plans to adapt in a changed business environment. Our opening address will take a deep dive into what really the ‘next normal’ entails for retail businesses.

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9:00-9:20AM

The year 2020 has been a rollercoaster – full of new learnings, quick pivoting and unprecedented challenges, as the pandemic has created a new set of rules for the survival and success of retail. The fireside chat will focus on how retailers are rethinking the future of retail and their businesses.

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9:20-9:45AM

Retailers are realigning goals in order to not only survive but sustain. Several transformational measures have been quickened – the foremost being acceleration of digital transformation, creating seamless ways of engagement, and building supply chain agility to ensure zero-loss inventory management. This session will bring together retail leaders with inside stories of how they rejigged operations through enhanced digitalisation.

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9:45-10:45AM

From supply chain agility to integrated mega distribution centres and touchless mobile checkouts, technology is ‘the’ enabler for retail transformation. Hear from subject matter experts decoding how technology is enabling the retail industry for a more demanding but an exciting future, by building agile yet resilient systems and processes.

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11:00-11:45AM

“A recent report by Tech Sci Research indicates that the UAE Cosmetics Market is expected to surpass $ 3 Billion by 2025*.”

As cosmetic brands grow they often overlook the evidence required by law, to make the amazing advertising claims that ensure the success of their product launches. Ayton Global Research has had a presence in the UAE for five years and has special industry expertise to ensure that brand owners maximise their growth whilst remaining fully legally compliant. Emerging advertising regulations in the UAE can be difficult to navigate.

In this exciting lecture Susan Ayton brings to life the way in which you can maximise your sales, not just in the UAE but in the MENA region and Rest of World. Susan will provide examples of brands that have excelled since conducting consumer

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12:00-2:00PM

Powered by Semnox Solutions

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As COVID-19 put customer loyalty to the test, a section of retailers has won by not only gaining trust but also giving their loyal customers more reasons to shop. In doing so, data has played a key role in creating personalised experiences; while people – the retail executives – have interacted with customers in a contactless but humane manner. This session will bring together retail brands that have upped their game to gain customer loyalty.

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2:00-3:00PM

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3:00-3:20PM

Powered by Dubai CommerCity

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Is e-commerce here to stay? According to research firm, Bain & Company, e-commerce was a $2.2-trillion market in 2019, whose contribution to retail is set to surpass 50% by 2020. Digital payments company Visa estimates the market size of e-commerce in the Middle East to reach $48.6 billion in 2022. Not only is e-commerce here to stay; it is going to be a strong driver of retail sales in the future. This session will focus on how e-commerce is reinventing consumers’ path to purchase, while creating growth opportunities for retailers.

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3:20-4:30PM

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4:30-4:45PM

Retail has time and again proved its resilience; amidst predictions of apocalypse, the power of good retailing has led the industry to rise like a phoenix. If the new decade brought a pandemic, it also created several growth opportunities in a new landscape – where omnichannel is non-negotiable, design seeks readjustments, meaningful partnership is a must and rethinking customer experience is crucial. Our closing session will discuss how retail isn’t dead and what opportunities lie ahead.

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4:45-5:45PM

Home-grown start-ups and entrepreneurs that survived the COVID-19 storm will share how they pivoted to stay in business.

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5:45-6:45PM

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6:45-7:00PM