By James Wells
BRISBANE, QLD: BSR Group has confirmed over 260 delegates will attend this year’s national conference from 26-30 July in Shanghai – the largest attendance in the group’s history.
According to BSR Group general manager, Ian Brown, the location of the conference relates to the importance of China and its manufacturing facilities which influence the Australian electrical retail market.
“Shanghai was announced as the venue for 2010, with this year’s conference playing host to the most comprehensive business agenda the group has enjoyed in the past four years,” said Brown.
The first day of the conference will open with an annual address from Brown and the group’s chairman, Garry Thyer, as well as a guest keynote speaker. This will be followed by breakout sessions hosted by senior BSR representatives across a variety of business topics.
“This rolling workshop format met with great success during the 2009 conference and we have bought this back to the retailers in Shanghai,” said Brown.
The group’s annual general meeting for shareholders will wrap up the first day’s proceedings followed by the conference’s welcome function to be held in ballroom of the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel.
The conference will continue with a full day for delegates to take in the sites of the Shanghai World Expo, from which BSR has drawn inspiration from its theme for the conference ‘Better City, Better Life, Better Partners’.
The final business session of the conference will be concentrated around four discussion panels, hosted by key supplier presenters from the whitegoods, brown goods, portable appliance and information technology categories – who will be discussing each category’s future challenges and opportunities for retailers during the coming twelve months.
The event will conclude with the formal Gala Dinner at which a number of supplier and retailer awards will be presented, said Brown.