INNOVATING THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE | INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

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LOS ANGELES CITY IMMERSION

MARCH 19-22, 2019INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

PARTICIPATING RETAILERS/WHOLESALERS:

LOS ANGELES CITY IMMERSION | MARCH 19-22, 2019For both retailers and brands, defining their “story” and communicating it impactfully to shoppers and consumers has always been a key to success. With the rise of new media and influencer marketing, storytelling is more important than ever. Los Angeles has long been the global center for innovation in the art and science of storytelling – that has never been truer than today.

Our fifth Retail Tomorrow Immersion will take us to LA and put you in the middle of the latest thinking in storytelling, “influencing” in its many forms, and how both are impacting retailers and brands. We’ll do a deep dive on this subject at Google and YouTube’s glittering new campus at the historic former Howard Hughes airfield. You may even have the chance to become an influencer yourself!

M-Rad – A cutting-edge firm that tells stories through design, architecture, and urban development.

Science Inc. – Exposure to retail-ready startups being groomed by Science Inc., the Santa Monica based incubator that has launched such industry disrupters as Dollar Shave Club and Famebit (the leader in influencer marketing recently acquired by Google).

Westfield Century City – This Westfield mall has transformed the shopper experience to create more experiential aspects, including outdoor luxury furniture, games and music. It is home to some truly innovative stores, including Tesla, Amazon Books, Halo Top, Eataly, Next Health and others.

INNOVATING THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE | INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

RE TA IL T O M O RR O W IMME R S IO N : L O S A NGE L E S

YouTube – Youtube will provide a tour of their Playa Vista Studios on the former Howard Hughes property and allow us to watch an influencer film a short video.

Google – Visit Google’s new Playa Vista office inside the former hangar for the “Spruce Goose,” Howard Hughes’ famous wooden plane.

Microsoft – Visit one of Microsoft’s Tech Center’s located in Playa Vista.

Whole Foods Market – An American supermarket chain which exclusively sells products free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats.[4] Being the only USDA Certified Organic grocer in the United States, the chain is popularly known for its organic selections.[5] It has 494 stores in North America and the United Kingdom.

Gelsons – Gelson’s was founded in 1951 by brothers Bernard and Eugene Gelson as an extraordinary grocery shopping experience for discerning consumers. Gelson’s Markets is recognized as one of the nation’s premier supermarket chains. Each location is singularly known as the area’s best market for superior produce, highest quality meat, seafood and deli, an unmatched selection of wine and liquor, and exceptional service.

INNOVATING THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE | INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

LOS ANGELES CITY IMMERSION | MARCH 19 – 22, 2019TUESDAY MARCH 19TH, 20195:30 pm Reception at Kimpton Palomar Hotel 10740 Wilshire Blvd. at Selby Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024

7:00 pm Dinner at Kimpton Palomar Hotel

WEDNESDAY MARCH 20TH, 20197:30 am – 8:00 am Breakfast at Hotel

8:00 am – 8:30 am Introductions and Retail Tomorrow Summary

8:30 am – 9:00 am Sci Fi Futures’ Ari Popper discussion on Storytelling and Experiential Retail

9:00 am – 9:15 am CART’S Sterling Hawkins: Innovation Leadership and Storytelling

9:30am Bus leaves

10:00 am – 10:30 am Gelson’s Market: We will tour the new flagship Gelson’s located on the bottom floor and hear from Gelson’s on how they keep up with bigger banners and how they stay relevant to their customers.

10:30 am – 11:30 am Westfield Century City Mall Tour: This Westfield mall has transformed the shopper experience to create more experiential aspects, including outdoor luxury furniture, games and music. It is home to some truly innovative stores, including Tesla, Amazon Books, Halo Top, Eataly, Next Health and others.

11:45 am Bus leaves

12:15 pm – 12:45 pm Google Tour: We will head to Google’s new Playa Vista office inside the former hangar for the “Spruce Goose,” Howard Hughes’ famous wooden plane. Google will provide insights around shopper habits and the ways they work with companies to capture audience and business through influencer marketing with their latest acquisition, Famebit.

12:45 pm – 1:15 pm Lunch at Google

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Learning Sessions at Google

3:45 pm– 5:00 pm YouTube: Tour of the YouTube Studios directly across the street from Google and learn from and watch an influencer shoot from one of their videos.

5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Whole Foods Market: Visit the beautiful WFM store in Playa Vista and receive a tour from one of their division executives.

RE TA IL T O M O RR O W IMME R S IO N : L O S A NGE L E S

RE TA IL T O M O RR O W IMME R S IO N : L O S A NGE L E SINNOVATING THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE | INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

6:15 pm – 6:45 pm Intel’s Open Retail “Roundtable” at the Alibi Room: The Open Retail Initiative is a collaborative effort by Intel and top technology companies. The initiative is focused on removing barriers between innovators by connecting technologies and data through common, open-source frameworks. It promotes a free exchange of ideas within the retail industry to drive creative and technological advancement; removing barriers to technology adoption. Intel is seeking input as they move forward on this journey from brand leaders attending the immersion through in interactive fast-paced “roundtable”.

6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Social/Dinner hosted by Intel Retail at the Alibi Room

THURSDAY MARCH 21ST, 20197:30 am – 8:00 am Breakfast at Hotel

8:00 am – 8:30 am Previous Day Download Discussion

8:30 am Break

8:45 am Bus leaves

9:00 am – 12:00 pm Phase Two/Science Innovation Community Event: We are a creative coworking space curated around tech, media, and entertainment. Located in the Culver City area, we are home to some of the top companies in VR/AR/MR, blockchain, AI and entertainment: a community of entrepreneurs actively shaping their respective fields.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Lunch at Phase Two

12:30 pm Break

12:45 pm Bus leaves

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Green Street Discussion on Cannabis Industry and Retail

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm M-Rad Design: Learn how M-Rad and their partners are reinventing retail space with a focus on storytelling to the consumer.

2:30 am – 3:15 am Kroger Sunrise/Microsoft RaaS Service Fireside Chat

3:15 pm Break

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm RT Labs Demonstrations of Innovative Retail Technologies

5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Reception

5:45 pm Bus leaves

6:30 pm Farewell Dinner at Toscanova 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067

FRIDAY MARCH 22ND, 2019Departures

INNOVATING THE SHOPPER EXPERIENCE | INFLUENCER MARKETING AND STORYTELLING IN RETAIL

C O N TA C T U S F O R M O RE INF O RM AT IO N

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RETAIL TOMORROW CONTACT:

TREY HOLDER, GMDC & Retail Tomorrow Executive Director of Innovation tholder@gmdc.org 210.284.3939

TOM DUFFY, GMDC VP Member Development tduffy@gmdc.org 609.923.6630

MARK MECHELSE, GMDC VP Insights & Communications markm@gmdc.org 719.338.1218