5 Lessons at Retail Fest 2022

Retail Fest 2022 is right around the corner!

From April 11 to 14, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre will be transformed into a celebration of all things eCommerce. There will be meetups, workshops, a charity gala, and, of course, sponsored parties.

There will even be awards presented for vendors and solution providers in the industry as well as retail innovators. Some of the exhibitors attending include CouriersPlease, Australia Post, Catch, eBay, and Zip. Interparcel will also have a stand that you can visit.

Over the four days, there will be so much to see and do. It's vital to plan out your days so you can learn as much as you can to take your eCommerce store to the next level. Here are five lessons you can take away from Retail Fest 2022.

1. What the Data is Telling You

The past two years have seen mammoth growth in the eCommerce sector. As it has been so busy, you probably haven't had the time to comb through the data and look for insights on customer behaviour.

Thankfully, Australia Post has done this for you. On April 12, Ben Franzi from the company will present a keynote address on all the data they have collected over the past 12 months. They've spent thousands of hours finding insights and will deliver them to you so you can make adjustments to your parcel delivery strategy.

2. Optimising Your Customer Journey

Buying behaviour continues to evolve as shoppers look for a flawless experience. If you don't get it right, they might not give you a second chance. So it's vital to have your customer journey perfect.

Retail Fest 2022 will see multiple panels on the topic of the customer journey. On April 13, there is a panel that can walk you through the landing page to the final mile. There is another one on the same day that discusses loyalty programs. If you can't make those, there are several other sessions that explain how to improve the experience you're offering potential buyers.

3. Offering an Omnichannel Experience

An omnichannel experience is no longer optional. It's a customer expectation. They want to be buy products in their own time and collect them in a way that's convenient to them. But where do you even start with setting up this type of offering for your buyers?

You can start by attending a few events on April 13. There is a session that discusses how to combine digital and physical shopping experiences. You can also take away some lessons from Lorna Jane. They will discuss what their marketing team did to create an omnichannel experience customers wanted and what they believe will be wanting next.

4. How to go Green

Customers are demanding change with their wallets. Many reports have shown that they're willing to pay more for parcel delivery if they know the company employs environmentally friendly practices. It could be the type of packaging they're using or how they're sourcing materials.

On April 13, there are a few sessions focussing on the topic of sustainability. There is a product sourcing panel, a discussion on the circular economy, and a panel looking at Gen Z values and what is important to them.

5. Nailing Your Shipping Strategy

One of the most critical components of an eCommerce store is getting the product in your buyer's hands as quickly and efficiently as possible. Fortunately, several sessions cover the last mile space and a panel from the CouriersPlease CCO on streamlining logistics.

Interparcel will be attending Retail Fest 2022 as well. You can come visit us at stand number six and can answer all your questions on how to create the best shipping strategy for your eCommerce store.

Retail Fest 2022 runs from April 11 to April 14 and will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tickets are on sale now, so don't miss out on your chance to attend the event.