SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry, will hold its sixth annual Caribbean Conference on October 22 – 23 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. This year’s program highlights new consumer trends in this age when digital platforms take the center stage.
Alison Embrey Medina, executive editor of design:retail magazine and Conference speaker said, “Even though digital commerce continues to grow rapidly, 90 percent of purchases are still made in the bricks-and-mortar environment. All the factors that online and mobile commerce introduce require retailers to improve their physical spaces—how you engage with the customer face-to-face can make or break your brand."
Meanwhile, Patricia Norins, vice president of specialized programs at the ICSC, will present the conference From Pop-ups to Kiosks: What's Hot in the World of Specialty Retail, which will cover a global perspective on the latest trends in specialized leasing, experiential retail and brand alliances. “Retailers today have a wide range of opportunities when it comes to innovating and drawing in consumers. Pop-up stores offer a great opportunity to attract brands that may not be inclined to lease a regular space, but complement the merchandising experience for customers.
Joining these experts, renowned keynote speaker William S. Taubman, COO of Taubman Centers, will present the future of retail and a case discussion of the recent opening of The Mall of San Juan in Puerto Rico. Frank O. Mora, PhD, Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University, will give a speech on the current economic and business landscape of Cuba.
The conference will also feature a Retailers Row for the first time in the Caribbean Conference, a space for retailers to establish contacts with potential business partners and hold negotiations. It is an opportunity for all retailers participate free of cost in this space that is intended to generate business synergies. Opening this space to local retailers provides a great opportunity for Puerto Rico to showcase their products and allows for new retailers to enter the local market. This commercial trade benefits the economic development of the Island and the Caribbean, while traders and conference participants receive an added value.
The ICSC Caribbean Conference is a high level educational and networking event where over 300 retail real estate industry professionals meet to learn about industry trends, best practices, new developments and the outlook for the future. The 2015 Conference will be held on October 22 – 23 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. To register and learn more about the conference, access http://www.icsc.org/2015CAC/. Follow the latest news on Twitter via @ICSC and #CaribConf.
