Serial tech entrepreneurs Anil Aggarwal and Jonathan Weiner are set to shake up the European retail and e-commerce marketplace with the launch of a new industry event, Shoptalk Europe.
The event will take place from 9-11 October 2017 in Copenhagen and will adopt a similar format to its US counterpart event, which launched in 2016 and drew in more than 3,100 attendees, including almost 400 CEOs. The European event will feature 250 speakers and is expected to attract 2,000 attendees of which 200 will be CEOs.
Shoptalk unites key stakeholders in the industry from established retailers and brands, disruptive startups, leading tech and internet companies, and venture capital investors, and encompasses the “trends and technologies disrupting retail and e-commerce”.
“The overwhelmingly positive industry-wide reception we continue to receive for Shoptalk demonstrates the demand for an event that brings together the entire commerce ecosystem and resets the conversation to focus on the rapid evolution of today’s consumers,” said Aggarwal, Shoptalk founder and Chairman.
Topics on the agenda for the Copenhagen summit include:
- Retail Experiences of the Future
- Physical Retail Goes Digital
- Delivery & Pickup Innovation
- Investment & Entrepreneurship
- Disruptive Startups & Pioneering Brands
- E-commerce
- Cross-Border Commerce
- Marketing Evolution
- Measurement, & Insights
- Culture & Leadership
- Consumer Behaviour, Expectations & Demographics
- Regulations & Privacy
Aggarawal said Copenhagen, specifically its Bella Center, was chosen for the summit as it is “currently one of Europe’s hottest destinations” and offers easy accessibility for attendees. The city already hosts one of the most successful and influential global Fashion Weeks outside of the big four of London, New York, Paris and Milan.
The city’s Lord Mayor has welcomed the arrival of Shoptalk. “We are very pleased that Shoptalk Europe will be held in Copenhagen, a highly desirable European destination with tradition, history and culture but that is also a catalyst for innovation,” said Copenhagen Lord Mayor Frank Jensen. “We look forward to contributing to the ongoing growth and development of the retail and e-commerce ecosystem.”
Katy Fryatt, who previously launched Money20/20 Europe, which became the region’s largest FinTech and payments event in just its first year, has been appointed to oversee the rollout of Shoptalk Europe.
Aggarwal and Weiner sold their latest tech startup to Google in 2012 and also founded Money20/20, the world’s largest consumer payments event, which was acquired by Ascential plc in 2014. They are also venture partners in a $500m growth equity fund called Oak HC/FT.
The next US Shoptalk will be held on 19-22 March 2017 at the Aria in Las Vegas.
