A world of retail

NATIONAL: The Australian Centre for Retail Studies (ACRS), a subsidiary of Melbourne's Monash University, is to stage a half-day seminar highlighting the latest global retail trends.

Global Retail Insights (GRI) will be held in Melbourne on March 4, Sydney on March 5, and Brisbane on March 6, as ACRS executive director Jeff Rogut confirmed.

"This seminar is invaluable to forward thinking retailers, small or large, from all sectors [including the fashion sector] and will also provide an essential insight for those who liaise with retailers – shopping centre management, suppliers, local government, business development units and consultants."

Key presenters would include ACRS program directors Steve Ogden-Barnes and Andrew Cavanagh, Monash University marketing lecturer Michael Morrison and speakers from online giant Google and trend forecasting agency Futurebrands.

Their presentations would cover topics including; What’s Hot in 2008; a Google presentation on "The online opportunity"; insights into the global and local shopping experience – including trends, formats, designs and shopper behaviours; retail financial perspectives and a retail presentation by Futurebrands.

Each seminar commences at 7.45am for an 8.00am start and finishes at 12.00pm. Venues are: Melbourne – 1 Spring Street Conference Centre, Melbourne; Sydney – Sydney Masonic Centre (66 Goulburn Street Sydney); Brisbane – Novotel Hotel (200 Creek Street Brisbane).