It has already swept some companies under the rug, such as RadioShack, and greatly threatened others, including Best Buy. Business chiefs in retailing and marketing, including Kathryn Bufano of Bon-Ton Stores, want to make sure they can help their companies come out on top.
“The retailing business is evolving, and in the department-store sector, the influence of e-commerce and the Internet is very strong,” said Bufano, the head of Bon-Ton, a Midwestern chain of 273 stores, told CEO Briefing. “We’re being careful and mindful to understand how shopping habits are changing in the department store as in retail in general. We intend to change and evolve with it.”
But while discount merchants are reorganizing to promote Internet ordering of goods that customers go to the store to pick up, right now the emphasis at Bon-Ton—whose chains include Carson’s and Boston Store—is on using an online platform to optimize the experience of the customer once they’re already in a Bon-Ton outlet.
Called “Let us find it,” this initiative helps Bon-Ton store employees “fulfill the desire of the customer when she’s in the store,” Bufano said. “We’ll find whatever she’s looking for from any location within our [physical] footprint and our e-commerce facility and get it to her. That’s our big push this year.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.