ENGAGING THE ASIAN FASHION CONSUMER

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* Programme is subject to changes without prior notice

Day 1, 15 May 2012: ASIA'S FASHION FUTURE
0900 Welcome address
Benny Pua, President, Textile & Fashion Federation (Singapore)
0910 Welcome address by Guest-of-Honour
Ted Tan, Deputy Chief Executive, SPRING Singapore
0930 Welcome address
Julie Harris, Global Managing Director, WGSN
0940 REACHING THE FUTURE CONSUMER: NAVIGATING THE BIG ISSUES NOW
In today’s complex markets how do you respond to ever-faster-changing lifestyles? Which new technologies should you invest in now? And why does luxury still mean so much? WGSN’s senior future consumer analyst Ruth Marshall-Johnson will provide actionable answers to these questions along with statistics, lifestyle forecasts, and WGSN’s expert knowledge of what’s happening in Asia and wider international markets.

Speaker: Ruth Marshall-Johnson, Senior Editor, Think Tank, WGSN
1020 CREATING A LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE FROM BRAND TO STORE: HOW TODAY’S CONSUMER HABITS ARE DRIVING NEW RETAIL CONCEPTS
Christopher Burch, co-founder of US lifestyle brand Tory Burch and founder of hot new US retail concept C.Wonder, is one of America’s most successful fashion and lifestyle brand creators as well as a high profile investor and entrepreneur. He will share his views on creating great retail experiences, the future of lifestyle retailing in Asia and what consumers are looking for now.

Speaker: Christopher Burch, Founder, C. Wonder
Panellists: Arnault Castel, Owner, kapok; Lorna Hall, Senior Retail Editor, WGSN
1120 TEA BREAK
1140 BUYER PANEL: HOW NEW CUSTOMER MINDSETS HAVE CHANGED TODAY’S BUYING PRACTICES
Today’s fashion shoppers are solution-focused and well-researched, often knowing more about a retailer’s merchandise than shop floor staff. This session will look at how fashion buyers are looking to shape their offers to suit this new consumer and adapting their buying approach to ensure their assortment remains compelling and relevant to their customers.

Moderator: Lorna Hall, Senior Retail Editor, WGSN
Panellists: Sarah Curran, Chief Executive, my-wardrobe.com; Ann Kositchotitana, Founder & Managing Director, Front Row Group; Jan Quammie, Buyer, Source
1230 LUNCH
1330

COLIN MCDOWELL IN CONVERSATION WITH NICOLA FORMICHETTI
If there were a renaissance man in fashion today, it would be Nicola Formichetti. The Creative Director for Thierry Mugler has been called a technological superstar wielding today’s many new tools with not just influence, but creativity too. Formichetti lives across the fashion sphere – while known for his styling collaboration with Lady Gaga, he also continues to work for Vogue Homme Japan and Japanese fast-fashion brand Uniqlo as their fashion director. Joined by fashion commentator Colin McDowell, Formichetti will share his lessons in fashion, how his influences converge in his work for luxury and mass market brands; how he reaches the Asian consumer with social media and building brands on the cult of celebrity. 

Speakers: Colin McDowell, Leading fashion commentator (Interviewer); Nicola Formichetti, Creative Director, Thierry Mugler
1415 HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN SEAL THE SALE: ONLINE AND IN-STORE
Social media is transforming modern marketing practices for fashion retailers and brand owners. We look at how brand owners are making social marketing work for them and analyse how Singaporean retailers can exploit these new tactics to engage their consumers and create new customer communities that will boost their brand’s credibility and drive loyalty and sales.

Speaker: Jane Perry, General Manager, BBDO Proximity Shop
Moderator: Lorna Hall, Senior Retail Editor, WGSN
Panellists: Sarah Curran, Chief Executive, my-wardrobe.com; Eddie Chau, Founder & CEO, Brandtology; Hani Mahdi, Brand Marketing, Nike SEA; Corinne Ng, Founder, shopthemag.com and Group Editor, MediaCorp Publishing
1530 TEA BREAK
1550 HOW NEW TECHNOLOGIES CAN DRIVE CUSTOMERS IN-STORE AND TRANSFORM SALES
What are the key trends for in-store technologies, how are they transforming the shopping experience now and where is this likely to move in the future? We will hear from a retail specialist who will share his global view of how the consumer, the retailer and technology come together to create deeper levels of customer engagement. A leading technology and solutions provider will discuss and showcase the potential of these new tools and their capabilities for the Asian market.

Speaker: Jim Crawford, Executive Director, Global Retail Executive Council and Principal, Taberna Retail
Moderator: Angelia Teo, Content Director, Asia Pacific, WGSN
Panellists: Lynne Murray, Brand Director, Holition
1650 CLOSING COMMENTS
Day 2, 16 May 2012: RETAIL REVOLUTION
0930 Opening Remarks
Barbara Ende, President, Sycamore Marketing Group Inc.
0940 IT’S A DIGITAL WORLD: IMPACT ON FASHION, THE CONSUMER AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO
A review of the compelling relationship between consumerism and technology: growth and expected evolution, international retail impact and forecasted design directives, focused discussions on adapting to social media, the rise of the online video, virtual stylists, rapid prototyping, brand personalisation, and user-driven content – aimed at ensuring that messaging and activities meet fast-morphing consumer trends.

Moderator: Barbara Ende, President, Sycamore Marketing Group Inc.
Panellists: Daniel Saynt, Chief Marketing Consultant to REBECCA MINKOFF and Founder & CEO, www.socialyte.co; Lauren Indvik, Marketing and Media Associate Editor, www.mashable.com
1040 GOING "GLOBAL" IN ASIA AND BEYOND

Asia and other emerging markets currently represent new market opportunities for international brands. US firms are creating and implementing strategies to penetrate not only Asia but the Middle East and the BRIC regions (Brazil, Russia, India and China). Iconix Brand Group, the largest apparel licensing company in the world, markets brands across both the fashion (Material Girl by Madonna, Badgley Mischka, etc), character (Peanuts) and the home world (Fieldcrest, Cannon, etc). Join our speaker as he shares insights into expansion and globalisation options for today's fashion brand as well as strategies to connect with consumers in different markets around the world.

Speaker: Daniel Castle, Vice President, International, Iconix Brand Group Inc.
1130 TEA BREAK
1205 LIFESTYLE RETAILING: THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE
Italy evokes an image of creativity, quality, luxury and ‘joie de vivre’ in all things including fashion, beauty, home decor, travel and food and wine. The MADE IN ITALY label resonates around the globe appealing to consumers from all backgrounds and cultures. Our eminent panel representing some of Italy's major luxury firms and associations will share their views on the Italian lifestyle's success in the new markets worldwide and share their strategies moving forward to maintain and expand this brand image.

Moderator: Barbara Ende, President, Sycamore Marketing Group Inc.
Panellists: Andrea Bonardi, President, Italian Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, La Perla Asia Private Limited;
Mario Boselli, President, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana;
Lorenzo Della Croce, Director & General Manager, Forall Asia Pacific Limited;
Andrea Petochi, Managing Director Pomellato Division, Pomellato
1300 LUNCH
1410 JAPAN’S FUTURE STRATEGY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FASHION MARKET
One of the leading centres of fashion design and retail innovation, Japan continues to build upon their future strategy as they enter various international markets. This session will focus on the next generation strategy of the Japanese industry touching upon retail and branding innovation, the focus for packaging and customer service and the interest in design reflecting in the cultural roots and environmental/social accountability.

Speaker: Nobuyuki Ota, Merchandising Officer, MATSUYA
1450 TOP TEN RETAIL TRENDS FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS
As the industry continues to go global virtually and physically, many retailers are looking at new concepts to wow the consumer and to adapt to regional imperatives. This session will explore some of these game-changing retail trends and how the industry should be marketing to the new global consumer as the ‘new normal’ takes hold internationally.

Speaker: Mercedes Gonzalez, Director, Global Purchasing Companies
1540 TEA BREAK
1600 INVESTING IN LOCAL BRANDS: LUXURY TAKES A LOOK AT NEW HOT MARKET OPTIONS
The world's luxury brands might seem to have a stable, unchanging place in the market. However, nothing could be further from the facts. Innovation continues to be the buzz word in the fashion branding and retail industries globally for sustaining and growing a profitable business around the world. Join Ravi Thakran of LVMH as he examines the innovations taking place in product and retail concept development, sustainable practices and social programmes within the luxury industry with the aim of building a successful market in Asia and India.

Speaker: Ravi Thakran, Group President for South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia, LVMH
1700 ASIA FASHION SUMMIT NETWORKING COCKTAIL
Day 3, 17 May 2012: WORKSHOPS

Workshop 1
ELEVATING THE RETAIL ROLE: HOW TO TURN YOUR STORE TEAMS INTO STYLE ADVISORS
Your sales team is the backbone of your store. Learn how to find and train an expert staff. Get tips on how to motivate your staff, get them to love their job, create a positive atmosphere, and MAKE SALES!

Speaker: Mercedes Gonzalez, Director, Global Purchasing Companies
Workshop 2
SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS TO IMPRESS YOUR CUSTOMERS AND INCREASE PROFITS
As the industry is rapidly changing for both designers and retailers, hands-on knowledge of how to use the various social, mobile and digital options available for design and marketing on the internet becomes imperative for success. Learn the basics from digital marketing expert Daniel Saynt who is the consultant to REBECCA MINKOFF and founder/CEO of Socialyte.co

Speaker: Daniel Saynt, Chief Marketing Consultant to REBECCA MINKOFF and Founder & CEO, www.socialyte.co

Workshop 3
THE BUSINESS OF FASHION: DEVELOP THE BRAND, CREATE THE PRODUCT MIX, & MARKET THE DREAM
Creativity alone does not guarantee success in the world of fashion. To succeed, young designers need to know about the business side of fashion as well. Learn about the inner workings of a fashion brand: from market research, to creating a brand identity, to designing a collection, to production, to marketing and delivering products to trade buyers and retail consumers. This two-hour workshop will cover real-life case studies of young fashion brands which are developing and growing amidst an ever-changing marketplace.

Speaker: Ann Kositchotitana, Founder & Managing Director, Front Row Group

Workshop 4
GET STARTED RIGHT!
This seminar is designed to help new designers successfully set up and run a business, benefiting from pitfalls, mistakes and triumphs from other designers who are doing it themselves. Learn your market, analyse your product, be clear in your brand, perform to your best and reach for the sky!

Speaker: Mercedes Gonzalez, Director, Global Purchasing Companies