Shoptalk is coming this Sunday, but considering the event spans six tracks and four days, you probably haven’t figured out exactly which sessions you’re going to sit-in on. Allow us to give you a hand! Out of the many excellent options, we’ve picked five that promise to offer a unique perspective on the customer experience, featuring exciting new brands that are shaking up the space.
Monday, March 19th 9:00 to 9:40 AM – The Next Generation of Direct-to-Consumer Startups: Part 1
Shoptalk’s first full day starts with a bang. Featuring four emerging direct-to-consumer startups, each will highlight the unique aspects of their products, model, and approach. Kustomer client Cuyana is going to focus on their “fewer, better” approach to the direct-to-consumer experience. Their bags, apparel, and accessories are designed from the ground up to be of the highest quality and totally sustainable. By incentivizing their customers to donate their older clothes and replace them with longer-lasting premium items, they’ve created a virtuous cycle of conscious shopping and socially responsible donations.
Zak Normandin, Co-Founder & CEO, Dirty Lemon Beverages
Zahir Dossa, Founder & CEO, Function of Beauty
Karla Gallardo, Founder & CEO, Cuyana
Pradeep Elankumaran, Co-Founder & CEO, Farmstead
Krystina Gustafson, Content Director, Shoptalk (Moderator)
Monday, March 19th 4:30 – 5:10 Rise of the Niche Brands
The advent of digital channels makes it easier than ever for customer to find the highly specific products that meet their needs. It’s also made it easier for those specific products to find their way to customers. The panel features three of these non-traditional retail startups, but we’re most-excited to hear from Allbirds, the eco-friendly wool sneakers and shoes that are often sported around the Kustomer office. The fact that this New Zealand-based startup only works with wool providers who meet strict sustainability and animal welfare standards is a huge part of their experience, and one we’d like to see more often.
Joey Zwillinger, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Allbirds
Paul Berberian, CEO, Sphero
Alexandre Douzet, Co-Founder & CEO, Ollie (Ollie Pets Inc)
Eric Liaw, General Partner, IVP (Moderator)
Tuesday, March 20th – 10:30 AM Keynote with Emily Weiss, Founder and CEO, Glossier
Our client Glossier’s success story is one of the most exciting developments in beauty and DTC retail over the last decade. Their continued success with new products and partnerships is the envy of pretty much every retailer out there. Plus their customer experience and service is an industry best. Like everyone else, we’re hoping that listening to this keynote will let us in on their secret.
Tuesday, March 20th 5:15 – 5:55 Track Keynote: Cutting-Edge Logistics and Delivery Innovation
Robots, drones, and new on-demand technologies are bringing a rising number of packages to our doorsteps each day. This session promises to share how innovative brands are leveraging cutting-edge logistics models and delivery methods improve the customer experience.
Foremost among them is our client August Home, a leading smart lock maker whose products allow consumers to control keyless entry into their homes. Working with last-mile logistics provider Deliv, the pair is pioneering in-home delivery with Walmart. This will enable drivers to place orders directly in the homes of shoppers. It’s a huge next step for CX for delivery, and one we’ll likely be seeing more of soon.
Jason Johnson, Co-Founder & CEO, August Home
Daphne Carmeli, Founder & CEO, Deliv
Carl Hazeley, Head of Content, Shoptalk Europe, Shoptalk (Moderator)
Wednesday, March 21st 11:50 – 12:30 PM – Culture and Leadership
This session offers an interactive look at how brands and retailers of all sizes foster a culture of innovation. Empowering employees helps creating an environment where they can succeed, and so can the company as a whole. 3D home design startup Modsy’s founder, Shanna Tellerman, started the company fresh out of school with zero management experience. Find out what she’s learned about culture and leadership after founding and building two successful companies and serving as a venture capital investor at Google Ventures.
Nadia Boujarwah, Co-Founder & CEO, Dia&Co
Dave Finnegan, Customer Experience Officer, The Orvis Company
Shanna Tellerman, Founder & CEO, Modsy
Lauren Freedman, SVP Digital Strategy & Chief Merchant, Astound Commerce (Moderator)
Let us know which sessions you’ll be attending by tweeting @Kustomer, and don’t hesitate to set up a meeting if you’re going to be in Vegas!
