IRCE 2009 Session Descriptions

Listed below is the individual session description. To view a speakers' bio simply click the links inside the session description.

Day Two—June 16, 2009: Track A: Managing Technology

Managing Technology: Cost-Effective Approaches in an Era of Tight Budgets
Track Chaired By: Bernardine Wu, CEO, FitForCommerce
Technology is never a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. From the selection through implementation and operation, technology requires constant management. This track will guide retailers through the management process, from determining which investments will provide the greatest return, to managing vendor relationships, doing it yourself and making sure you have the right personnel to make it all work.

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Backing retail expertise with technological know-how: The winning combination

Ken Burke, Founder & Chairman, MarketLive

Jason Marshall, Vice President Direct, Gaiam

Many retailers approach online retailing with two separate initiatives: One that leverages retail and merchandising expertise and the other that creates a technology infrastructure. But the two are inextricably linked. The challenge comes in finding the intersection point and figuring out how to optimize each without diminishing the other. This session will provide ways for retailers to assess if those two paths are working together.