PRSM2015 National Conference gathers 2,000 retail professionals to explore how the physical store is more important than ever to the shopping experience
Online, May 8, 2015 (Newswire.com) - DALLAS--When Amazon recently announced it was interested in acquiring Radio Shack stores, the face of the retail industry changed, and in some respects stayed the same, with one of the world's ecommerce giants confirming that customers of all ages require a physical location to connect with the brand.
"The retail industry is well served by the professionals who play a leadership role in devising strategies and carrying out the tactics to operate and maintain the physical store and now the increasingly important distribution center"
"We are starting to see omni-channel come full circle now; this year we are actually seeing a number of online only retailers starting to branch out into the bricks and mortar world. The fact is that the physical store is still a vital component in nearly every viable retail strategy, because people very much want to connect with a brand, not only online, but at a store that looks and feels and sometimes sounds and smells like the brand they know and love," said Garrick Brown, Vice President of Research at DTZ Commercial Real Estate Services in his presentation at the PRSM2015 National Conference last week.
"Though the Radio Shack deal never materialized, it exposed the fact that Amazon wants to proceed with a bricks and mortar strategy. As does Alibaba.com and a few other e-retailers like Bonobos, Warby Parker and Art.com that have already actively been opening stores. What all of these online retailers understand is that they can bolster loyalty to their brands with physical stores, where customers will be able to explore unique products, return items purchased online and also shop and research their next purchases," said Brown.
More than 2,000 retail industry professionals gathered at the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association conference in Philadelphia to better understand their role in maintaining retail's brick and mortar investment, and other strategic assets such as distribution centers. Besides Brown, other presenters included the keynote address by Daymond John of ABC Television's Shark Tank.
"The retail industry is well served by the professionals who play a leadership role in devising strategies and carrying out the tactics to operate and maintain the physical store and now the increasingly important distribution center," said Patricia Dameron, Executive Director, PRSM Association. "In this 20th Anniversary year for PRSM it's rewarding to see such a large gathering of members and other industry executives and at a time when there is so much growth and opportunity."
Also in Philadelphia, PRSM Association celebrated its 20th anniversary of incorporation and released its 2015 Best Practices Book, the sixth in its annual series, providing case studies and examples of technical, operational and professional excellence in retail facilities management.
PRSM2015 National Conference was attended by a wide variety of retail brands, including Apple Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc., CVS Health, Darden Restaurants, Dicks Sporting Goods, Fossil, Inc., Gap, Inc., Giant Eagle Inc., Helzberg Diamonds, Kohl's Department Stores, PetSmart Inc., Tiffany & Co., Verizon Wireless, Wawa, Inc., and Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
Post conference handouts, photos and more coverage are available here. PRSM2016 National Conference will be held April 25 - 27 in Long Beach, California.
About the Professional Retail Store Maintenance® Association (PRSM)
PRSM Association, the authority on Retail and Multi-site Facilities Management, is the leading membership organization for retail facilities and vendor professionals. PRSM empowers the Retail Industry facilities management with best practices, benchmarking, education, discussion forums and trusted partnerships. Chartered in 1995, and with approximately 950 member companies, PRSM community values are founded on a spirit of innovation, resourcefulness, the quest for knowledge and ethical business relationships. Members depend on PRSM to help them achieve greater success and a competitive advantage through quality programs and resources.
Visit prsm.com for more information.
Source URL: http://businesswire.com/news/home/20150508006018/en
Share: