The IBM Retail User Group
Announces the Opening of Nominations for the
2009 Retail Innovation Award
STRONGSVILLE, OH – September 20, 2008 – The IBM Retail User Group announced today that nominations for the 2009 Retail Innovation Award are now open.
The Award will be presented at the Group’s 32nd annual conference in Las Vegas, May 17-20, 2009. The Retail Innovation Award recognizes the retail company with the most innovative new solution in the retail space. This Award carries special meaning because the winner is chosen by the winner’s peer group – the retail membership of the organization. The solution provider for the winning retailer is also honored with the Retail Solution Innovation Award.
Innovation has been driving competitive advantage in retail for over a century; however, in these times of rapid change it has never been more important. Judging criteria will be based on creativity and uniqueness with the ability to enhance retail: consumer experience, reducing the cost of doing business, speed up the processes and achieving a competitive advantage.
About the IBM Retail User Group
The IBM Retail Users Group has, for over thirty years, provided a platform for hundreds of retailers, IBM and IBM Business Partners to advance store systems technology. One of the last of the “true” User Groups, it is owned and run by the representatives of over 300 Retail companies that make up it’s membership, which represent an installed base of over a million IBM POS terminals and other in-store systems. The group focuses on advancing the state of the art of retail technology for all aspects of the retail enterprise. It is an independently-run, mutual benefit organization of IBM store system users, and providers of support products and services.
For more information visit www.ibmretailug.org or contact Deb Jones, VP Administration at (440) 238-5880 or issug@roadrunner.com.
Nomination Form
Press Release
IBM Retail User Group 31st Annual Conference
Delivers on All Expectations
July 8, 2008 – Strongsville, OH – The IBM Retail User Group, the retail industry’s leading association of U.S. and international IBM retail systems users, and business partners today reported on the success of its 31st annual conference, held in Orlando, FL on May 18-21, 2008. Based on attendee feedback, the conference exceeded expectations particularly in areas of education, networking and information, which is the main objective of the annual conference. "We believe that we addressed the key issues that all of us are facing in the competitive world of retail," said Kelly Hewitt, President of the IBM Retail User Group. "Our theme of "get connected, stay connected" really resonated this year with the conference delivering the latest ideas, solutions and IT strategies inside and outside the walls of the store to retail executives and IBM solution partners around the world."
The annual event brought together retailers, and IBM solution partners to discuss ideas, trends, and the technology shaping the future of retail solutions. The recent expansion of the association’s focus beyond the four walls of the store brought participation from all areas of retail management. Over 350 participants learned from their peers and networked with some of the most influential names in the retailing industry.
The conference, with an agenda developed by and for the retailers, featured presentations by prominent retailers including Office Depot, CVS, Bloom Grocery, Giant Eagle and Bob Evans restaurants. .Attendees also got to hear from Irish Senator Feargal Quinn, founder of Dublin based Superquinn Markets about the challenge of providing customer service in the 21st century. Jim Stickley, co-founder of TraceSecurity offered insights into the important issue of PCI DSS security. In addition, 37 elective sessions were offered by retail members, IBM and their retail solution partners. The sessions addressed Retail Green Initiatives, Loss Prevention, Mobile Commerce, POS Functionality, Front-End Efficiencies, The Next Wave of Self Service Innovations, PCI Compliance, and many more. Numerous "Birds of a Feather" and roundtable sessions were available which provided lively discussions among attendees on some of the more pressing and pertinent issues facing retailers today.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
"IBM Executive Perspectives"
Steve Ladwig, General Manager, IBM Retail Store Solutions
"Office Depot: Delivering Winning Solutions that Inspire WorkLife"
Garth Duff-Gray, Senior Director - Global IT Office Depot
"Customer Service: Is There Room for it in the 21st Century?
Senator Feargal Quinn, Founder of Superquinn
"IBM 2008 Retail Strategy"
John Gaydac, Executive Advocate, IBM Retail User Group
VP Sales, Retail Store Solutions IBM Corporation
"Merging Technology and Marketing – in an Unexpected Industry"
Troy Leshko, Director of Retail Services Bloom Grocery Stores
"The Evolution of Store-based Technology for Chain Drug"
Raymond Auger, VP of Retail Systems CVS, Inc.
"PCI DSS Security"
Jim Stickley, CTO, VP of Engineering, & Co-Founder, TraceSecurity
"Building Internal and External Advocacy"
Kevin Shelton, VP of Retail Systems Giant Eagle, Inc.
"Cooking Up the Right Infrastructure: The Bob Evans Recipe for Success"
Tim Wetzel, Vice President of Information Systems, Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
"Early Trend Recognition"
Daniel L. Hopping, President and CEO, Next Retail Group
Innovation and technology remains a key driver of the powerful trends that are shaping the way the consumer shops and will be served in the future. To recognize technology innovation leaders, the User Group established the "IBM Retail User Group – Innovation Award" in 2007. This year’s winner was, CVS/Caremark; "PhotoTouch, In-store Photo System", and received the 2008 award at a ceremony during this year’s conference.
About the IBM Retail User Group:
The IBM Retail User Group has, for thirty one years, provided a platform for hundreds of Retailers, IBM and IBM business partners to advance retail technology. Jointly, the group advanced the development of IBM POS and retail solutions to the resolution of common business problems and established a working partnership for mutual benefit. The representations includes all segments of the retail industry including Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Grocery, Drug, Food Service, Hospitality and many others. The User Group, a mutual benefit organization of IBM retail solutions users; owned and operated by the retail member companies is a forum for the open exchange of ideas and innovation without the pressures of sales and marketing.
To learn more about the IBM Retail User Group and how to become a member, please visit http://www.ibmretailug.org.
Contact: Deb Jones, VP Administration
(440) 238-5880
issug@roadrunner.com
Press Release
The IBM Retail User Group
Bob L Martin to Speak on
‘Chasing Change’
at IBM Retail User Group Conference
STRONGSVILLE, OH – April 23, 2007 – Bob Martin, Independent Business Executive and former President and CEO Wal-Mart International, serves on the Boards of Directors of several public companies and private institutions. Mr. Martin has been at the forefront of retail Innovation for over three decades and continues to lead the way in the use of technology to allow retailers to be more competitive and innovative.
Mr. Martin will discuss how technology has changed the rules of competition and how it is now changing the corporate culture. The retail industry at large has thrived through three decades of change that has catapulted some players to the forefront and closed the book on others.
During this era, technology found its seat in the retail board room of the winners and has moved to the center of corporate strategy. Now the enlightened consumer is driving up the rate of change and the gap between what can be imagined and what can be accomplished has never been smaller nor the speed of change faster. Technology continues to be the enabler of how retailers are using innovation to shape the way the consumer will be served in the future.
He will discuss his perspectives on using technology to make Innovation pay and on the missed opportunities when retailers don’t take risks.
The IBM Retail User Group is holding its 30th Annual Conference at the J W Marriott Resort in Las Vegas, May 20 to 23. Mr. Martin was one of the founders of the group in 1977. In 1973 Mr. Martin installed the very first IBM Retail Point of Sale System when he was CIO of Dillard’s Department Store..
About the IBM Retail User Group
The IBM Retail User Group has, for thirty years provided a platform for hundreds of retailers, IBM and IBM business partners to advance store systems technology. The User Group represents an installed base of over a million IBM POS terminals and other in-store systems. This representation includes all segments of the retail industry including Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Mass Merchandisers, Drug, Food Service, Hospitality and many others. The User Group is a mutual benefit organization of IBM store system users, and providers of support products and services.
To learn more about the IBM Retail User Group and how to become a member, please visit http://www.ibmretailug.org.
The IBM Retail User Group
Expands scope beyond the store to include all aspects of retail
STRONGSVILLE, OH – December 18, 2006 – The IBM Retail User Group (formerly the IBM Store Systems User Group) announced plans for its 30th Annual Conference at a recent board meeting. To celebrate this milestone, the conference will be held in Las Vegas on May 20-23, 2007.
Kelly Hewitt, from Belk Stores, President of the User Group, is excited to be leading this Group as they expand their reach and focus. “Where else could a retailer be able to talk about e-commerce, retail business models, POS, Linux, store architecture, self service possibilities and much more with experienced, knowledgeable retailers and IBMers, all in one place?”, said Hewitt.
Hewitt added that the ability to literally make change happen is one of the more exciting benefits for members of the User Group, but he cautioned that “the experience is only as good as members make it. If you come committed to learn, to share, to engage actively, then the benefits are enormous.”"
Other officers include: Michael Sachar, Beall’s, Vice President & Treasurer, Charlie McWeeney, Wakefern Foods, Vice President and Karen Paramore, Pier 1, Secretary. In addition, the User Group Board of Directors includes Joe Rosolanko, Toys R Us International, Mark Olson, VF Outlet, Scott Krienbring, Kohl’s Department Stores, Bobby Lewis, CompUSA, Don Intile, Shopko; Associate Liaisons to the Board are Rick Legue, Tekserve POS, Steve Haic, Ultimate Technology Corporation, and Jeff Boyle, 4690World.
The User Group is coming off of its most successful conference yet, which was held in San Francisco, CA on May 15-18, 2006. With the theme of “IT Tradition and Innovation – Bridging the Gap”, the 29th annual conference delivered retail industry’s latest ideas and IT strategies through keynote speeches and offered 48 challenging elective sessions to retail executives, IBM business partners, and IBM executives and developers. In addition, almost 60 business partners participated in the exhibits showing products and services that support the retail environment.
The event is attracting a larger attendance than ever before. This year’s event saw a jump of almost 20% in attendance from last year with participants learning from and networking with some of the most influential names in retailing. The keynote speakers came from a diverse retail landscape. Andy Melson from the UK’s John Lewis Department Stores stressed the importance of customer service -- which isn’t a strategy, it’s a way of life -- and how IT underpins the drive to enhance service at John Lewis. Michael Sachar from Family Dollar spoke about PCI security, which was a hot topic at the conference. Steve Evans, VP of Information Systems at the PGA Tour, Inc. showed how technology is being used to enhance the fan experience – capturing “every shot, every player, real-time”, to transform data into compelling entertainment.
Innovative customer facing technologies drew large crowds at this year’s event. New and innovative uses for Kiosks sparked much interest and discussion by retailers. At the same time, attendees learned the importance of the business case for innovation..
About the IBM Retail User Group
The IBM Retail User Group (formerly the IBM Store Systems User Group) has, for thirty years provided a platform for hundreds of retailers, IBM and IBM business partners to advance store systems technology. The User Group represents an installed base of over a million IBM POS terminals and other in-store systems. This representation includes all segments of the retail industry including Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Mass Merchandisers, Drug, Food Service, Hospitality and many others. The User Group is a mutual benefit organization of IBM store system users, and providers of support products and services.
To learn more about the IBM Retail User Group and how to become a member, please visit http://www.ibmretailug.org.
Contact: Deb Jones, VP Administration
Phone: (440) 238-5880
email: issug@roadrunner.com
IBM Retail User Group
8421 Lorraine Drive
Strongsville, OH 44149
Phone: (440) 238-5880 Fax: (440) 238-6698
email: issug@roadrunner.com
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