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Running a retail store isn't just about standing behind the counter and ringing up customers. !You also have to get out there, see what's happening in the retail industry, make friends with your peers, and shop around for cool products or solutions that can make your store more awesome. !Here you'll find retail conferences and expos from all parts of the world covering an array of topics including retail technology, design, marketing, and more. !Whether you're looking to improve the look of your store, beef up your digital strategy, or are simply shopping around for new tools, this list has something for you.

Retail's BIG Show!January 11 - 14, 2015 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY, USA

Known as the NRF's flagship industry event, Retail's BIG Show is a 4-day expo and conference held annually in New York City. !Most people in the industry regard it as the biggest event of the year because it draws tens of thousands of retail professionals, thought leaders and vendors from several industries.

Retail's BIG Show!January 11 - 14, 2015 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY, USA

Why attend?!!NRF BIG Show is your one-stop shop conference for everything retail. It covers every aspect of running and growing a store—from marketing and brand management, to merchandising, mobile retailing, store experience, and more. !It's also THE event to see and be seen. Whether you're looking to network with fellow retailers, vendors, retail authorities, or all of the above, you'll be able to connect with them at Retail's BIG Show.

"NRF BIG Show is our flagship event. It is a one stop, must attend event for retailers looking for the latest and greatest in retail solutions. We combine an enormous EXPO Hall, education, networking, and even our Student Program which is helping to shape future retail leaders with the help of current retail leaders. As we are member driven, and are the world's largest retail trade association, our reach is unparalleled and this event is the only of its kind. This is why it has been nicknamed Retail's BIG Show." !Susan Newman SVP, Conferences and Marketing, National Retail Federation

Retail's BIG Show!January 11 - 14, 2015 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY, USA

Dx3 Canada!March 11, 2015 Metro Toronto Convention Center Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dx3 Canada is a 2-day event that draws retail specialists, digital marketers, and brand reps for networking and education. !It's an excellent conference and trade show that's focused on digital marketing, digital advertising, and—more importantly—digital retailing.

Dx3 Canada!March 11, 2015 Metro Toronto Convention Center Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Why attend?!!Dx3 enables retailers, online marketers, brands and publishers to mix and learn from one another. You should consider attending if you're doing business in Canada and if you're looking to ramp up your retail store's online presence. !In 2014 Dx3 was attended by 4,114 Canadian digital professionals (a 21% increase from 2013) and participants learned from top notch speakers like Drew Cashmore of Walmart Canada, Derek Colfer of Visa, Eric Harris of BuzzFeed, Dave Coleman of Google Canada, and more.

Retail Business !Technology Expo!March 10 - 11, 2015 Olympia Grand Hall London, UK

The Retail Business Technology Expo is for European businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors who want to keep themselves abreast of the latest products, services, and solutions in the market. !It also offers numerous conferences and seminars where attendees can learn about the future of the industry and the solutions and strategies they need to adopt in order to keep up.

Retail Business !Technology Expo!March 10 - 11, 2015 Olympia Grand Hall London, UK

Why attend?!!If you're a European retailer who's in the market for innovative tools, services, and other solutions that can help you grow your business, boost productivity, and enhance the customer experience, there's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for at this event. !If you're in it for the learning experiences, you'll be pleased to know that RBTE is also packed with conferences and seminars that cover ecommerce, finance, marketing, merchandising, supply chain, and more.

Internet Retailing Expo!March 25 - 26, 2015 NEC, Hall 3 Birmingham, UK

The Internet Retailing Expo has presentations, exhibitors, and workshops all geared towards helping merchants interact with consumers across multiple channels. !Speakers from some of the world's top companies take the stage to give insights on how retailers can compete and match their multi-channel strategies.

Internet Retailing Expo!March 25 - 26, 2015 NEC, Hall 3 Birmingham, UK

Why attend?!!As Ian Jindal, Editor-in-Chief of Internet Retailing put it, Internet Retailing Expo can give you a "full view of the multichannel ecosystem." !Any retailer who wants to establish an omnichannel strategy should consider attending. IRX 2014 for instance covered Internet Retailing In-Store, Customer Experience and Journey, Internet Retailing, Operations and Logistics, Digital Sales and Marketing, and Mobile and Mobility. !IRX 2015 promises an increase in floor space and scope and will tackle the hottest issues surrounding multichannel retailing.

GlobalShop!March 24 - 26, 2015 Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV, USA

GlobalShop is the largest annual store design and visual merchandising trade show in the world. !It showcases the widest selection of store fixture companies and in-store solutions, as well as informative keynote sessions to give you the knowledge and tools you need to improve your shop.

GlobalShop!March 24 - 26, 2015 Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV, USA

Why attend?!!Whether you're looking for new ideas to innovate your store, are shopping around for in-store solutions, or simply want to keep yourself abreast of the developments in the retail design and visual merchandising, GlobalShop can certainly give you the fix you need. !GlobalShop is divided into six sections, namely The Store Fixturing Show, The Visual Merchandising Show, Store Design and Operations, The Digital Store, At-Retail Marketplace, and Retail Marketing Services. It's essentially six shows in one great event, so no matter what your retail design needs are, you can bet that you'll find it here.

Small Business Expos!September 18, 2014, Fort Mason (San Francisco) October 2, 2014, Hynes Convention Center (Boston) November 6, 2014, California Market Center (Los Angeles) January 15, 2015, Miami Beach Convention Centre (Miami) March 19, 2015, Pennsylvania Convention Centre (Philadelphia) April 9, 2015, Navy Pier (Chicago) May 14, 2015, Dallas Convention Centre (Dallas) June 4, 2015, Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre (New York) July 16, 2015, Wa. State Convention Centre (Seattle) December 15, 2015, Atlanta Convention Centre (Atlanta)

The Small Business Expo is the largest business-to-business trade show, conference, and networking event series. Held in ten prime cities in the United States, these events attract thousands of business owners to mingle, learn, and shop.

Small Business Expos

Why attend?!!Since each Small Business Expo is a trade show, networking event, and conference all rolled up into one awesome event, you can get a ton of things done here. !Whether you're looking to gain new customers and leads (who isn't?), connect with fellow small biz owners, or shop for new business solutions, the Small Business Expo has you covered. Plus, it's completely free!

Retail World Asia!April 22 - 23, 2015 Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore

Retail World Asia is an exhibition and conference that focuses on providing attendees with information on the latest retail technological advancements. !A two-day event packed with seminars and exhibits, it gives Asian retailers a look at the solutions and products that can help them grow their business.

Retail World Asia!April 22 - 23, 2015 Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore

Why attend?!!If you're an Asian retailer looking for a retail tech-centric event closer to home, then keep an eye out for this one. Retail World Asia brings together exhibitors offering the newest and most innovative retail solutions that you can adopt in your business. !In terms of learning opportunities, Retail World Asia has two days filled with seminars and roundtables dedicated to payments, cash handling, RFID, and NFC, ecommerce, cards and digital IDs, plus so much more. There are also networking opportunities throughout the day so you won't miss out on getting to know your peers.

The Customer Show!May 14 - 15, 2014 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, VIC, Australia

The Customer Show is a 2-day event that's divided into 3 conferences. !There's Cards & Payments, which covers payment types, innovations, security, and more; there's also Future Retail which tackles strategies to help you reach the "always connected" consumer; and there's Customer Engagement, which covers how marketing executives can delight customers no matter where they are in their path to purchase.

The Customer Show!May 14 - 15, 2014 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Why attend?!!If you want to learn more about payments, omnichannel retailing, Big Data, and how you can put all these trends together to better engage and convert customers, The Customer Show could be the event for you. !In addition, this event gives you a chance to connect with numerous exhibitors showcasing multi-channel retail technology, Big Data analytics solutions, payment innovations, and mobile tech so if you're looking for cool new apps and tools to use in your biz, The Customer Show may have something for you.

The Customer Show!May 14 - 15, 2014 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne, VIC, Australia

"The Customer Show is Australia's only event covering the evolution of commerce at the intersection of payments and financial services with mobile, retail, marketing services, data and technology. It's a new style event bringing together suppliers of payments, multi-channel retail and customer engagement technologies, with a full multi-track conference, free on-floor seminar programme, dedicated technology zones and a packed expo floor." !Brendan Gow, Project Director Association and Communication Events (ACEvents)

Retail Australasia!May 19 - 20, 2015 Viaduct Events Centre Auckland, New Zealand

Going strong in its 7th year, the Retail Australasia event draws retailers, property organizations, industry associations, as well as retail suppliers and technology providers to mingle and discuss the state and future of the retail industry.

Retail Australasia!May 19 - 20, 2015 Viaduct Events Centre Auckland, New Zealand

Why attend?!!This year's theme is customer-centric multichannel retailing and is packed with sessions and talks to teach retailers how they can better serve and engage customers across multiple platforms, devices, and channels. !Whether you're a brick-and-mortar retailer who wants to improve people's in-store experience, an ecommerce merchant looking to make it big online, or both, you'll be sure to pick up some valuable nuggets. There's also an expo that showcases various retail products, services, and solutions, so if you need to shop around for new tools or apps, be sure to hit the expo floor as well.

ICSC RECon!May 17 - 20, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

The ICSC Retail Real Estate Convention brings together retail and real estate professionals for two days of networking, deal-making, and learning. !The event attracts more than 32,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, making it one of the largest retail real estate conventions around.

ICSC RECon!May 17 - 20, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

Why attend?!!Looking to expand? Scouting for new locations for your brick-and-mortar store? RECon can put you in touch with numerous retail real estate pros who can help with your expansion. !In addition, the event is also packed with sessions that can educate you on retail trends, technologies, and more. This year for instance, Keith Berman, Senior Marketing Manager at Coca-Cola will give a crash course on connecting with consumer passion points, while Michael Toadasco, PayPal's Beacon-Project Launch Manager will share insights on how beacons are bringing together online and offline worlds.

ICSC RECon!May 17 - 20, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

"ICSC RECon is the largest gathering of retail real estate professionals in the world and offers industry professionals with unparalleled networking, deal making and educational opportunities. It is the one time per year that all of the major industry companies are under a single roof - so for retailers looking to expand their presence in shopping centers it offers unmatched accessibility to their leasing counterparts from the landlord side. We estimate that nearly 50% of industry deals are conceived of or consummated during RECon." !Jesse Tron Spokesman, ICSC

Be a Localist!June 10 - 12, 2015 Phoenix, Arizona

Described as "Davos to Main Street business owners", the BALLE Conference draws social entrepreneurs, business leaders, local businesses, investors, policy makers and more to network and discuss how they can reinvigorate local economies.

Be a Localist!June 10 - 12, 2015 Phoenix, Arizona

Why attend?!!Aside from giving you the chance to connect with key localists, the BALLE Conference will spur you into action through fun and educational activities which include peer-to-peer networking and skillbuilding, Oakland Local Economy tours, mentoring sessions, inspirational local economy films showcase, evening events, and more. !The event will also give you a well-rounded understanding of localism by tackling six of the most urgent and energized issues in local economies, namely: Finance, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Policy, Food, and Ownership.

Be a Localist!June 10 - 12, 2015 Phoenix, Arizona

"The BALLE conference is where leaders in the local economy movement come to get inspired, nourished, to get the skills they need, and most importantly, to build relationships that they can call on all year long to do their work." !Michelle Long, Executive Director BALLE (Business Alliance For Local Living Economies)

Retail Asia Expo!June 9 - 11, 2015 HK Convention & Exhibition Centre Hong Kong

Already on its 6th year, the Retail Asia Expo is a trade show and conference for retailers in the Asia Pacific region. !The expo floor features retail products, services, and technologies from more than 150 exhibitors and it also holds networking and learning opportunities through seminars and events.

Retail Asia Expo!June 9 - 11, 2015 HK Convention & Exhibition Centre Hong Kong

Why attend?!!This is an awesome event for Asian Pacific retailers looking to shop, network, and learn. It features an award-winning exhibition that covers four main areas, namely: Retail Technology, Retail Design & In-Store Marketing, ecommerce World and Retail Property. !It also provides plenty of opportunities to learn thanks to its various seminars on ecommerce as well as retail design and marketing. Looking to network and mingle with your peers? You'll be able to do that as well at the gala dinner, cocktail reception, and retail awards.

Customer Loyalty!Conference!June 10, 2014 Cavendish Conference Centre London, UK

This is a one-day conference that's focused on helping retailers improve customer loyalty and retention. !The Customer Loyalty Conference has talks, case studies, discussions, and networking opportunities all geared towards helping retailers measure and improve brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Customer Loyalty!Conference!June 10, 2014 Cavendish Conference Centre London, UK

Why attend?!!Are you planning to implement a loyalty program in your store, or improve your existing offering? The Customer Loyalty Conference will give you a ton of actionable insights on improving your relationships with your customers. !You’ll have the opportunity to hear from loyalty thought leaders and experts, and participate in Q&A sessions so you can get specific answers to your burning loyalty questions. Networking sessions will also be held so you can and mingle with other retail professionals in between speeches.

Customer Loyalty!Conference!June 10, 2014 Cavendish Conference Centre London, UK

"The Customer Loyalty Conference can help retailers gain understanding of their customers' loyalty through insight and data analytics. They will also learn how to develop an effective CRM strategy, maximise the use of social media, determine the key success factors in terms of establishing a loyalty programme, and more." !Karen Howard Director, The Retail Bulletin

Retail Executive !Summit!June 18 - 20, 2014 Grand Del Mar Del Mar, CA, USA

The Retail Executive Summit is always an important event for C-level and senior executives. 2014's theme was Retail Revolution: Digital, Personal, Decisive and focused on enabling merchants to move beyond traditional retail methods and embrace more innovative strategies. The strategies that 2015's Retail Executive Summit will cover include demand-based merchandising, advanced pricing, customer engagement, big data, flexible fulfillment, customer experience management, and more.

Retail Executive !Summit!June 18 - 20, 2014 Grand Del Mar Del Mar, CA, USA

Why attend?!!If you're a retail executive who wants to learn about the most effective and innovative strategies in sales, marketing, retail efficiency and customer engagement, the Retail Executive Summit is an event that you should really look into.

Retail Executive !Summit!June 18 - 20, 2014 Grand Del Mar Del Mar, CA, USA

"Retailers should attend the Retail Executive Summit if they want to discover how quick wins can deliver solid business results, acquire the know-how to map a holistic strategy that enables retailers to seize opportunities for growth, and learn how to transition to a customer-centric approach that creates engagement and loyalty." !Joe Skorupa Editor in Chief and Retail Technology Blogger, RIS News

ASDLV!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

Variety is the name of the game at ASD Las Vegas. !The largest and most diverse general merchandise buying show in the US, ASDLV brings together suppliers from several categories, including gift & home, fashion accessories, jewelry / cash & carry, health & beauty, value & variety, and toys & novelties, and more.

ASDLV!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

Why attend?!!Buyers from department stores, convenience stores, fashion boutiques, and general stores flock to this event every year, and for good reason: ASDLV is every wholesale and retail buyer's heaven. !This event showcases vendors across various categories, so if you're looking to spice up your inventory, bring in some new products, and get a firsthand look at some new and unique products in the market, this is the place to be.

ASDLV!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

"Attending ASD offers buyers the opportunity to cut down on the number of trade shows they have to attend each year. We understand you might have to go to a core trade show in your industry, but ASD is the perfect complement to round out your buying efforts. Here you can shop and compare from a variety of categories in one efficient expo." !Camille Candella Vice President, Marketing, Emerald Expositions

Independent Retailer!Conference!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

The IRC is the only conference that exclusively supports independent retailers. !Open to any type of independent retailer, the event covers various issues surrounding store operations, marketing, management, merchandising and more.

Independent Retailer!Conference!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

Why attend?!!While other events cater to various types of merchants, the IRC focuses solely on independent retailers so if you own or run an independent store, you can be sure that you'll get highly relevant insights. !In addition, the Independent Retail Conference will enable you to network with thought leaders and key companies that can help you thrive in the independent retail sector.

Independent Retailer!Conference!March 1 - 4, 2015 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV, USA

"Unlike other conferences, the IRC exclusively discusses the challenges and real life issues independent merchants have - not their big box competitors. I believe the IRC offers a great way for retailers to gain new momentum, exhilaration and excitement to bring back to their stores - something any small business owner can appreciate." !Nicole Leinbach Reyhle Co-Founder, Independent Retailer Conference

The Retail Conference!September 17, 2014 America Square Conference Centre London, EC3N 2LB, UK

The Retail Conference is a content-rich event that features an array of seminars, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for retailers. !This year's theme is Big Data, so if you're still wondering how to best use customer information in your business, you may want to consider attending.

The Retail Conference!September 17, 2014 America Square Conference Centre London, EC3N 2LB, UK

Why attend?!!Unlike other events, which are packed with exhibitors trying to sell things or push their brand, The Retail Conference provides an environment wherein participants "would not be aggressively sold to by a plethora of exhibitors or non-retail attendees." !Each sponsor is carefully selected and is advised to avoid the "hard sell" and instead opt for a more consultative approach. Oh, and did we mention that The Retail Conference is free to retail employees, directors, and owners?

The Retail Conference!September 17, 2014 America Square Conference Centre London, EC3N 2LB, UK

"The Retail Conference is an established event on the retail calendar and has attracted up to 300 attendees in past years. The event has evolved over the years, in response to delegate's feedback, but ethos of providing a quality, content-rich event has been maintained." !!Clare Rayner Event Director, The Retail Conference

World Retail!Congress!September 29 - October 1, 2014 CNIT Paris La Défense Paris, France

The World Retail Congress rounds up some of the brightest retail professionals from all over the world. It's a 3-day event that draws thousands of business leaders and decision makers to cover just about every aspect of retail strategy, including store design and layout, product sourcing, ecommerce, customer service, customer experience, and more.

World Retail!Congress!September 29 - October 1, 2014 CNIT Paris La Défense Paris, France

Why attend?!!With more than 150 speakers, 53 hours of global retail strategy content, 20+ hours of networking opportunities, and attendance from 56 countries, retail thought leaders and senior executives can be sure that they'll leave this event inspired and pumped to make a difference.

World Retail!Congress Africa!November 18 - 19, 2014 Sandton Convention Center Johannesburg, South Africa

World Retail Congress Africa is an event dedicated to discussing the state and future of the Pan-African retail industry. !It offers seminars that tackle everything from the top retail trends in the region, to the state of various African markets and more.

World Retail!Congress Africa!November 18 - 19, 2014 Sandton Convention Center Johannesburg, South Africa

Why attend?!!This is a can't-miss event for retailers who want to learn more about the Pan-African retail landscapes with over 70 expert speakers taking the stage to share inspirational keynotes, case studies, and more. !You'll also gain new friends and connections. World Retail Congress Africa holds facilitated networking activities so you can mingle with fellow retailers (75% of the event's attendance) and thought leaders.

World Retail Congress!Latin America!November 12 - 13, 2014 WTC Sheraton São Paulo, Brazil

World Retail Congress Latin America discusses retail trends and developments surrounding the Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia economies. !The event, which draws around 1,400 retailers and stakeholders every year, drills down on the dynamics, challenges, and growth opportunities in the Latin American market.

World Retail Congress!Latin America!November 12 - 13, 2014 WTC Sheraton São Paulo, Brazil

Why attend?!!As we mentioned in our Retail Trends and Predictions presentation, more and more merchants are looking to countries such as Brazil and Mexico due to strong growth projections and brand expansion. If you're thinking of following suit, this event will help plan your growth. The Congress will deliver an economic overview of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico. In addition, the top players in retail will be there to offer knowledge and insights on how to build and run a thriving business in Latin America.

Retail Week Live!11 - 12 March, 2015 Hilton London Metropole London, UK

Retail Week Live is a well-rounded event that can give attendees a balanced view of what's happening in retail. !It welcomes small and large merchants for two days of education and networking. Retail Week Live has something for everyone, from small enterprises to large businesses, and local merchants to international retailers.

Retail Week Live!11 - 12 March, 2015 Hilton London Metropole London, UK

Why attend?!!Content-wise, Retail Live has sessions on various aspects of retail, including store and property, supply chain, multichannel retailing, and more. !It also has workshops and master classes that'll allow you to really drill down on important matters in retail.

Online Retailer!Conference and !eCommerce Expo!July 21 - 23, 2015 Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion Sydney, NSW, Australia

Known as Australia's largest ecommerce, digital marketing and technology event for the retail industry, the Online Retailer Conference and eCommerce Expo draws more than 2,200 retail professionals to mingle, learn, and shop.

Online Retailer!Conference and !eCommerce Expo!July 21 - 23, 2015 Royal Hall of Industries and Hordern Pavilion Sydney, NSW, Australia

Why attend?!!The event gives you the chance to pick the brains of retail experts in digital and multichannel strategies. You can also participate in workshops to better understand the innovative technologies and strategies in retail. And if you're shopping around for products and services, the exhibition features 140+ vendors and explore their solutions for your store.

International Retail!Design Conference!September 3 - 5, 2014 Fontainebleau Miami Beach Miami, FL, USA

Presented annually by VMSD magazine, the International Retail Design conference is 3-day event that revolves around emerging trends and strategies in store design and visual merchandising.

International Retail!Design Conference!September 3 - 5, 2014 Fontainebleau Miami Beach Miami, FL, USA

Why attend?!!With numerous sessions, networking opportunities, and roundtable discussions, you'll definitely leave the conference with fresh connections and ideas that you can harness to create a more compelling store design.

Business Startup Show!May 15 -16, 2014 ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre London, UK

Setting up a new business in the UK? Be sure to check out Business Startup. !Known as "the UK's biggest exhibition for anyone starting or growing a business," this event has everything you need to launch and develop your startup.

Business Startup Show!May 15 -16, 2014 ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Centre London, UK

Why attend?!!With 250 seminars, 350 exhibitors, and 12 workshops that you're free to attend, you'll leave this 2-day event all prepped and hyped to build and grow your company. Plus, get a chance to pitch your business at the Angels Den, where wealthy individuals looking to invest are just waiting to hear what you have to say. You can also participate in training sessions, speed networking, and other activities that'll enable you to grow your contacts, knowledge, and business skills.

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