WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS

Karoline Gross
May 1, 2018
1 min read

Updated: Feb 18, 2021

Retail industry leaders and innovators from around the world gathered in Madrid, Spain April 17-19 for the annual World Retail Congress. This year’s theme was “Innovate to Win” and more then 1,400 attendees and 130 speakers participated in the high-level forum. The goal? Discovering the needs of today’s consumers to ensure their businesses stay dynamic.

Before the main event, Smartzer founder, Karoline Gross arrived in Madrid early and was thrilled to be invited to a briefing event at the UK Embassy. The information presented by the UK Trade Commission focused on introducing the role of the DIT in helping businesses expand internationally and it was excellent to network with other UK based retailers and startups headed to the World Retail Congress.

During the three-day event., Smartzer exhibited in the main hall where we introduced our shoppable video technology to retail leaders interested in pioneering technology like Smartzer's shoppable video solution. Some of the most interesting forums attended were by Dimas Alvarez, Chairman of El Corte Inglés, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Tommy Hilfiger CEO, Avery Baker.

In addition to introducing Smartzer to retail leaders and attending the forum, we found time to discover other exhibiting technologies. Excellent examples of the future of retail included Alibaba Tmall’s interactive mirror which creates your digital avatar to virtually try on clothes.

Karoline also attended the Women in Retail event hosted by El Corte Ingles. The winner of 2018 Business Woman of the Year was Laura , CEO of Williams Sonoma.

Smartzer cannot wait to be part of next year’s World Retail Congress.