Insights · June 17th, 2009
I’m preparing a program I’ll be delivering next month for RetailNOW, the conference trade show for the Retail Solutions Providers Association.
A bellweather sector, the retail industry supplies important information on the progression of the economic downturn. How is one of its main providers heading into its annual industry event?
Evidently with some hopeful expectation. The organization president, J. Joseph Finizio, blogs this week about the projected increase in attendance over 2008. Exhibitor numbers are holding steady and may exceed last year as well.
In this industry, like so many others, advantages are gained at the bottom of the cycle. While it’s always hard to pinpoint exactly when things will begin to turn around, we may read some optimism in RetailNOW. At the very least, their numbers indicate an industry-wide committment to increasing key capacities during the downtime. At best, they may be pointing to the early indications of an upswing.
Glen Hiemstra is a futurist speaker, consultant, blogger, internet video host and founder of Futurist.com. To arrange for a speech contact Futurist.com.
