Seventh edition of In-Store Asia to host seminar and Award

The expo which boasts of 40% increase in exhibitors shall host a symposium with speakers from shopper insights, shopper marketing, retail design and retail insights.

Sachin Jante of VJ Media Works who are organising the symposium said: "For the first time we at In-Store Asia have split the content of the two day convention into two categories. Day one of the convention will be about FMCG and consumer durables in-store activities and shopper in-sights. While day two will take you through the nuances of apparel and lifestyle categories and the role of visual merchandising and design therein."

The FMCG and consumer durables day has speakers hailing from categories, brands and agencies who will discuss shopper marketing, shopper insights and in-store experience from varied perspectives. This includes: Ram Iyer, Vodafone India will be speaking on ‘The future of retail – lessons and trends across categories’.

Other star speakers include: Sameer Satpathy, Marico Limited will highlight: ‘The changing consumer challenges for Marketers’; Sandeep Thangiah, Cadbury Kraft India and Jitendra Papneja, Kraft Foods on: ‘Integrating consumer and shopper understanding to influence choice at retail’.

From the agency side, there is Nicholas Dudynskay, Leo Burnett Worldwide, simplifying the journey from insight to ROI for FMCG companies as he doles out details on ‘Integrating insight, innovation and execution to deliver ROI and category leadership at retail – an FMCG perspective".

Meanwhile shopper research expert Tara Prabhakar, APAC, will talk about "Aligning a brand in-store objectives, in-store research methodologies and in-store activation to build category leadership in FMCG."

Then there is Jim Crawford, Tabrena Retail who will impart wisdom on ‘The art of using technology to enhance the store experience’. And Hetal Kotak, ColorPlus Fashions will highlight the nuances of ‘Retailing to the Indian Male Shopper in the premium category and Asim Warsi, Samsung India.

Jante stated that besides the symposium, "we're hosting the 'Visual Merchandising & Retail Design Award'. This is an initiative dedicated to celebrating outstanding Retail Design and Visual Merchandising."

In-Store Asia 2012 will render itself to be a platform where POPAI’s Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) will be hosted. Jante said: "OMA will recognise the most innovative and effective in-store and retail displays that lift sales and make products memorable and enticing to consumers."

Among the many firsts at In-Store Asia 2012 is VM Challenge, a live window display contest participated by the top VM practitioners in India to be steered by Surender Gnanaolivu, Mahindra Retail. An initiative that is sure to engage the creative you.