Get Ready, it’s ICSC ShowTime in Vegas

Date: 05/11/2015

The year’s largest event for the retail industry is coming up this week, opening May 17 in Las Vegas. RECon15, ICSC’s annual conference, expects over 32,000 attendees for four days of professional development, networking, exhibits and business opportunities. Over 1,000 exhibitors will take over more than one million square feet of show space at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Don’t wear your high heels!

How Much Business Gets Done There?

This show is so much more than parties and trinkets. The networking is great, but more important than that, a lot of business happens at this show.

“I’ve heard that half of all industry deals are either consummated or conceived at RECon,” says ICSC Communications Director Jesse Tron. “This is a highly business-centric show. Get on people’s calendars ahead of time, schedules fill up fast.”

Speakers

The show kicks off with Peyton Manning, there are keynotes from Old Navy’s Stefan Larsson and Michael Francis from Dreamworks; Navy Seal Rorke Denver will speak on excellence under fire, and Erik Qualman leads Tech Tuesday.

Sharpen Your Game

RECon Academy has always delivered valuable education, but this year the courses are all free. Education Sunday is devoted to professional development with a full slate of fantastic classes on the schedule, including Market Feasibility, Omni-channel marketing, Driving Revenue with Social Campaigns, Property Redevelopment and Repositioning, Argus training and more. There’s more education throughout the show, including Envision 2020, a town-hall style panel of outstanding authorities in real estate and retailing looking ahead.

Networking is a huge part of the show; the opening reception is Sunday evening at the Wynn, and plenty of other parties happen throughout the week sponsored by sponsors and exhibitors.

A Hive of Activity

People are lined up when the doors open, and swarm into the exhibit halls where displays, demos and deals are all happening. Keynotes, classes and sessions including education will all be popular. It can be overwhelming.

“It’s just not possible to see everything,” advised Tron, “so we’ve improved our technology integration. You can download our App and use it to get directions for getting around the show.”

Whether you attend or not, take advantage of the coverage. I’ll be there conducting video interviews and posting them the show web site, www.CREshow.com.  In addition, RECon 15’s social media and editorial teams will be generating lots of content to help you stay connected. Special content will be live-streamed as well. Be sure to use hashtag #RECon15.

What’s Hot this Year?

Omni-channel marketing is a huge theme, and the latest tech is always on the agenda.  There are exciting interviews planned for livestream. I’m particularly interested in this new beacon technology.

“We’re positioning beacons around the show to demonstrate how the technology can enhance your store,” Tron explained. “When you have our app, the beacons will talk to you.”

“It can be personalized to the customer: if a coffee shop has beacons, you would set your preferences in their app. Then they could make your drink as you drive up. And, if you have a payment card, you won’t even need your phone to complete the transaction.”

Sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic show!

How to Have a Great Show:

·         Schedule appointments in advance: be ready to do business!

·         Get the RECon App for point to point directions

·         Use #RECon15 to tweet and follow the action

·         Allow plenty of time to get from place to place; this show is enormous.

·         Schedule time to walk the show floors, both the Marketplace Mall and the SPREE Show, 100 unique specialty retailers.

·         Remember you are in the desert, drink plenty of water. 

·         Wear comfortable shoes!

·         See you in Vegas!

Michael Bull, CCIM, is the host of the Commercial Real Estate Show heard each week on 40 radio stations, iTunes, YouTube and the show web site www.CREshow.com. Michael is also an active broker and advisor as CEO of Bull Realty, Inc., a U.S. commercial real estate sales, leasing and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta. Connect with Michael on Twitter and LinkedIn