Retail Giants , Industry Players gather for 23rd NRCE ...
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and concerns affecting the industry . The conference regularly boasts of noted industry experts , foreign and local speakers and an international mix of participants .
With the theme “ Shifting Gears in Retail : Consumption in the Digital Age ,” the 23rd NRCE highlighted the ever-changing and dynamic trends in the industry brought about by the continuous evolution of technology and the increase of discerning consumers . The NRCE guaranteed information-packed and interesting educational sessions , discussions of best practices , trends and new technologies , tips to improve existing operations and grow profits , networking opportunities with retailers and leading business partners and an exhibit hall full of services and solutions to improve your business and operations . Relevant topics
The NRCE Convention featured relevant topics like “ Disrupting the Culture of Shopping ” by Lazada Philippines , “ Trend- Driven Innovation : What ’ s Next for Retail Consumers ” by Trendwatching Asia Pacific ( Singapore ), “ Transforming a Brand : Parisian ’ s Cinderella Story in the Digital Age ” by Parisian ( Shoemart Inc .), “ Exploring New Trends in the Design of Bricks and Mortar Retail Destinations ” by Benoy Limited ( Singapore ), “ The Next- Generation Interactive Retailtainment ” by
Globe Telecom Inc ., “ Winning Consumer Moments in a Mobile- First Era ” by Google Philippines , “ Engaging Consumers by Personalizing Virtual Connections ” by Twitter ( Singapore ), “ Make More Waves : The Neglected Element of Marketing Communication ” by TONY HERTZ – Radio and Brand Sound , “ Innovating the Brand Essence ” by Jag Jeans ( Fil-Pacific Apparel Corp .) and “ The Power of Location and Personalization for Omni-channel Retailers ” by Sprooki Pte . Ltd . ( Singapore ). Also featured is a panel discussion on “ What do Millennials Really Want ,” which include panelists from Ayala Land Malls Inc . for Shopping Habits and Culture , from Kalibrr for Career and Workplace Behavior and from Nielsen Philippines for Digital Habits . The conference was helmed by esteemed keynote speakers ; ABS-CBN Corporation President and CEO Carlo Lopez Katigbak , Department of Trade and Industry ( DTI ) Secretary Ramon Lopez .
Stores Asia Expo
Back-to-back with the Conference is the Stores Asia Expo , a two-day retail suppliers ’ expo dubbed as the only focused and dedicated retail suppliers ’ exhibition in the Philippines . It brings together top suppliers in the field of Retail Solutions , E-Commerce and M-Commerce , Shopfittings and Store Design , Digital Marketing , as well as Retail Marketing — all under one roof . This simultaneous gathering serves as the most significant avenue that directly links retail suppliers to their primary market . With about 2,000 highly-qualified visitors and decision makers , the two-day suppliers ’ exhibition is the biggest in the Philippines and is one of the longest running retail suppliers ’ expo in Asia . According to NRCE Overall chairman Frederick Go , “ The NRCE Convention is unique in a way that it is put together by retailers , for retailers . Hence attendees are assured of choice topics and speakers relevant and resonant to retailers .”
Support from industry stalwarts
This year ’ s NRCE is supported by Platinum Sponsors The SM Store and PLDT Alpha ; Gold Sponsors Robinsons Malls , Ayala Malls , Araneta Center Inc . and HP Philippines ; Silver Sponsor Wilcon Depot ; Bronze Sponsors BENCH , HP Enterprise , Microsoft Philippines and CLN ( CMG Retail Inc .), as well as the official newspaper The Philippine Star and official media partner Business World .
This year ’ s NRCE is supported by the SM Store , PLDT Alpha Enterprise as Platinum Sponsors , Robinsons Malls , Ayala Malls , Araneta Center Inc , HP Philippines as Gold Sponsors , Wilcon Depot as Silver Sponsor , BENCH & HP Enterprise as Bronze Sponsor , and Duty Free Philippines , HBC , Shangrila Mall , Sportshouse and BMI Research as Sponsors ; Official newspaper — Philippine Star ; Official media partner — Business World ; Digital Advertising Partner — Facsn8 ; Session Sponsor---Trend watching ; Multimedia Partner — Shoptalk Ushop
Local and foreign business organizations in the Philippines have vowed to support the administration ’ s fight against “ endo ” or end of contract abuses , but they maintained that contractualization in itself is “ good ” and a legitimate practice .
As the Senate hearings on endo started , Philippine Retailers Association ( PRA ) president lawyer Paul A . Santos said the retail sector is supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte ’ s stand on labor , but believes that the government should also respect the rights of the employers .
“ What the President is simply saying is for employers in retail , manufacturing , services , etc . to respect the rights of the all employees , regardless of their employment status ,” Santos said , and that these employees should receive mandatory benefits including social security , maternity leave and other forms of leave , and 13th month pay whether they are regular , probationary or term employees .
Endo , Santos said , is the abuse of contractualization . Employees , in this case , are terminated every five months and then rehired for the same duration , depriving them of mandatory benefits .
On Wednesday , Sen . Joel Villanueva , the Senate committee on labor , employment , and human resources chair , said they will study the proposed measures filed by some of the senators , including Sen . Juan Miguel Zubiri who filed a resolution directing the panel to conduct an inquiry into the practice of contractualization and subcontractualization .
“ The abuse , I am against it . We have evidence of 555 ( endo ),” said European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines ( ECCP ) vice president Henry Schumacher in a separate interview .
“ However , we also have come to realize that as technology moves very fast , we need specialists who , at a certain time , will fix things and then be released later ,” added Schumacher , referring to project-basis workers or consultants .
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( CCCI ) president Melanie Ng also previously noted that flexibility or job-switching is becoming the trend where having a long tenure is now “ less of a benefit ,” as technology has given workers more options and opportunities .
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