Innovation in Spotlight at X/SPECS

Innovation is today’s buzzword. And it was all the talk at Chain Store Age’s X/SPECS 2016, as key executives from some of the nation’s leading retail and restaurant chains zeroed in on real-world strategies designed to innovate stores and elevate customer experiences.

The annual event, held from Oct. 25 to 27 at the historic Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort in St. Petersburg, Fla., targeted retailers and suppliers involved in store planning and design, construction and facility management. The nation’s biggest retail powerhouses were in attendance, including Walmart, Target, J.C. Penney, Ulta Beauty, The Home Depot, L Brands and Walgreens to name a few, along with such up-and-comers as Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, and Kit and Ace.

The restaurant category was represented by such fast-growing brands as Smashburger, Zoës Kitchen and Dunkin’ Brands.

Combining business and peer networking with insightful presentations on cutting-edge trends and crystal-balling by top-notch experts in their field, X/SPECS has grown into one of the industry’s most valuable and rewarding forums.

The program included four dynamic presentations that focused on how technology is transforming the in-store customer experience. Tony Hurst, J.C. Penney’s senior VP of store operations, provided an inside look at how the company is using immersive technologies to personalize and elevate its in-store experience — and gain a competitive edge.

X/SPECS also gave retailers the chance to network with suppliers in a more private fashion, in rapid-speed face-to-face “information exchanges” that were the perfect opportunity for business strategizing and partnering.

Catch all the action from X/SPECS 2016 by visiting: http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/top-retailers-influencers-talk-innovation-xspecs.