IRDC

So the 2009 IRDC sessions are, for the most part, set, although I'm still filling in speakers here and there for some of our panel discussions. It's a puzzle trying to determine the perfect balance of session topics, speakers, case studies, retail sector coverage, and what-have-you. We also have to follow the tide of our industry's interests from year to year, which we ascertain through IRDC attendee and VMSD reader feedback, in addition to our own retail fact-gathering and firsthand observations.

This year we knew it was important to push harder on the "international" side of our conference's promise. Everyone's talking globally, and there's plenty to talk about from a retail standpoint. So for starters, we're having a general session featuring some globe-trotting designers, each giving a fact-filled rundown of the retail scene in four key regions: Europe and Russia, Asia and India, The Middle East, and Mexico and South America. Then, we'll look a little more closely at each region through breakout sessions focused on real-world case studies. I'm really looking forward to these sessions, and I wish I could attend them all--which is why we're going to repeat a couple of popular sessions, Thursday afternoon of the conference,  for those who share my sentiments.

If you have any particular questions you'd like to see addressed about the retail scene in these regions, let me know. I'll put in in a good word with the speakers.

--Kristin