If you’re a retail brand, then you’ve probably heard of Shoptalk. And if you haven’t, then you’ve come to the right place.
Shoptalk is where retail, technology and innovation intersect, bringing together over 10,000 decision-makers to discover the future of retail.
Although the next Shoptalk isn’t until March 2025, if brands want to make a splash, they must start preparing now.
But first, let’s get into what Shoptalk is and why retailers and brands need a presence there.
Come to the central hub for retail’s best and brightest minds
Since 2016, Shoptalk has defined the retail industry’s community of innovators by bringing established retailers and brands together with direct-to-consumer and tech startups, large tech and internet companies, venture capital investors, real estate developers, equity analysts, media and others.
Over its nearly 10-year history, Shoptalk’s following has grown immensely, even attracting the attention of the biggest brands in the world. In fact, recent Shoptalk speakers include Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Films; Tony Spring, CEO of Macy’s; Shailesh Jejurikar, chief operating officer of P&G; Mary Dillon, president and CEO of Foot Locker; and Lisa Roath, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Target.
Attending Shoptalk means brands have the opportunity to gain massive exposure, network with retail giants and learn the trends that are shaping the industry. That’s why brands must maximize the impact of their Shoptalk presence, which can lead to significant partnerships, insights and brand elevation.
Look back on Shoptalk 2024 to look forward to Shoptalk 2025
There’s a saying that to know where you’re going, you need to know where you’ve been. And Shoptalk is no different!
Let’s take a look back at what trends were on retailers’ minds during Shoptalk 2024.
It may come as no surprise, but AI was at the forefront of many speaker sessions at the event last year. Expect a similar trend at Shoptalk 2025.
From personalized recommendations to predictive analytics, AI has revolutionized the retail landscape. During its Shoptalk session, skincare brand Dermalogica noted that it uses generative AI as an agent to help employees work more efficiently, hosting learning sessions and hackathons to identify internal AI champions.
Another prevalent topic at Shoptalk 2024 was unified commerce (not to be confused with omnichannel). Unified commerce connects brands across all their channels, such as in-store, mobile and online, into a single, cohesive platform. This allows customers to have consistent and seamless experiences — which customers expect now — regardless of how they interact with the brand. With more retailers aiming to create a connected ecosystem, unified commerce is sure to be a topic of discussion at Shoptalk 2025.
Shoptalk 2024 also emphasized the power of brick-and-mortar stores despite the growing popularity of online shopping. Customers still value a shopping experience where they can physically interact with products, which brands are taking note of. Victoria’s Secret Chief Customer Officer Chris Rupp even noted that malls are the lingerie giant’s highest consumer acquisition channel. However, because today’s customers value experiences, brands are still expected to integrate that into their physical stores, such as through immersive pop-up shops.
Shoptalk 2025 will likely address how to make brick-and-mortar more experience-focused.
Get started now to make a splash at Shoptalk 2025
Now that you know what to expect at Shoptalk 2025, here’s how you can make the biggest impact:
Prepare your story. Before setting foot at Shoptalk, define your brand’s narrative in a way that’s compelling to your audience. Ask yourself: What problem does my product or solution solve? Or What makes my brand unique among my competitors? Consider where you can align your narrative with current retail trends, like AI or sustainability, to make it more appealing to media, customers and other individuals and groups to which you are working to appeal.
Showcase thought leadership. Shoptalk is where attendees come to learn and get inspiration, so ensure your brand contributes to the conversation through thought leadership. Brands that attend can host intimate sessions at their booths or during sponsored slots to share unique insights. Speaking on a panel is another way for brands to demonstrate their expertise to a wide audience. Posting live updates and key takeaways on social media can allow brands to disseminate their insights quickly and amplify their reach.
Master the art of booth engagement. When attendees aren’t listening to speaker sessions, they’ll be exploring the booth floor, which means brands need to get their attention while they can. Experiential booths will draw attendees, so be sure to incorporate eye-catching displays, AR/VR experiences or interactive demos.
Free swag is an easy go-to to attract attendees, but brands should think beyond swag. Instead, they should offer exclusive insights, guides or samples that demonstrate their value proposition. The faces at the booth are an equally important component of the experience, so ensure your team is equipped with talking points but remains approachable and conversational.
We’ve thrown a lot of Shoptalk information at you, and you may be wondering where to start.
At Bospar, we have the expertise to help you navigate and derive maximum benefit from events such as Shoptalk.
Working with a politely pushy PR firm can be the difference between trade show success and trade show failure. After all, a major reason for attending is to gain more brand visibility, and who knows how to get visibility better than the folks who create buzz for clients every day?
Our PR team has existing relationships with many retail journalists who cover Shoptalk. We understand what’s important to media and analysts covering the event and can help you craft a strategy that will position you to stand out in the crowd and garner positive media coverage.
Bospar once secured a dozen media briefings for a retail client who carried a prototype of its product around a trade show in a backpack. Our strategy and media relationships and outreach resulted in the client ultimately getting coverage from CNBC and The Washington Post!
Shoptalk 2025 is fast approaching. Get ready to make your mark and tell your story..
