RetailVision 30th Celebrates 15 Evergreen Years

By Jeff Malester -- TWICE, 4/4/2005

Orlando, Fla. — Tasteful and graceful aging is an artful process often tied to expensive scotch, French cheese and even a diaphanous diva.

Such is the case, too, for a graying RetailVision — which this week, at its spring 2005 event, is marking 30 total get-togethers along with emphasizing the celebratory theme: “Thankfully, some things get better with age.” At the same time, RetailVision is publicizing its classic agelessness — one that “improves” biannually due to the event’s ability to continually adapt.

RetailVision At 30
Orlando, Fla. — The old adage, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” is a particularly apt phrase to describe how Gartner’s RetailVision event has grown over the past 15 years....

Supported by a direct mail and e-marketing campaign ongoing throughout the weeks leading up to the RetailVision Spring 2005 confab — beginning tomorrow at the Hyatt Grand Cypress, and continuing through April 8 — show pre-publicity contrasts visuals of now-obsolete consumer technology with the new-era digital-technology solutions being reflected here this week. The campaign demonstrates how far both the consumer channel and RetailVision platform have come over the past 30 meetings and 15-plus years, said organizers.

To highlight this 30th anniversary, Gartner-produced RetailVision has scheduled a variety of 30th Event Celebration networking and social programs, including the “Best of RetailVision” Awards gala, the evening of April 7, and other theme get-togethers and parties.

The awards gala will feature stand-up comedian Richard Jeni, who is the star of his own TV series, film actor and TV host. His current HBO special, “A Big Steaming Pile of Me,” has been awarded high ratings and good reviews, said RetailVision.

The gala also will spotlight impressionist Andre-Philippe Gagnon, who has a repertoire of over 400 impersonations. He has performed in two languages in over 11 countries, doing more than 3,500 shows in front of over 5 million people. Currently, he entertains nightly at his permanent home at C2K, the showroom at the Venetian in Las Vegas.

The Retailer Grand Opening in The Meeting Place tomorrow afternoon, April 5, commemorates the new official start for RetailVision. The Grand Opening is a high-impact method for vendors to meet and greet attending retailers, and offer a preliminary view of their new products and programs. Over 175 top-100-level retailers are expected to attend this week.

Made even more user-friendly for the spring event is the self-scheduling system pioneered by RetailVision. This enables retailers and vendors to view each other’s program schedules and set up mutually convenient meeting times.

Retailer PowerViews, scheduled for the morning of April 6, will be presented by Circuit City, RadioShack and Best Buy, among others. Executives at these retail CE giants are scheduled to give their perspectives on technology and business trends in the consumer technology channel.

PowerViews is a RetailVision program that educates attending vendors about how to plan programs, sell products and build brands with the most powerful retail chains in the CE industry. Private Boardroom Appointments allow vendors to present before 8 to 10 retailers at one time

Leading Latin American retailers and distributors, just like at last fall’s RetailVision, are joining North America’s key retailers here, lending the 30th meeting international scope and focus.

Included are top-line retailers and distributors representing unique retail and e-tail organizations in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Central America and other Latin American markets.