IMPORTANT: RetailDetail has upgraded its website. To regain access to your account and enjoy our plus-content, please select the ‘sign in’ button, enter your email address and choose a new password.
RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
RetailDetail EU
Europe - EN
  • België - NL
  • Belgique - FR
  • Nederland - NL
  • Europe - EN
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Sign in user
  • News
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Electronics
    • Beauty/Care
    • DIY/Garden
    • Leisure
    • General
  • Events
  • Hunts
  • RetailHub
thumb
Written by Stefan Van Rompaey
In this article
  • Companies AlibabaCameleonOdette LunettesPolestarRainpharmaZalando
  • Topics RetailDetail Congress
Share article
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

The RetailDetail Congress in eight quotes

iconGeneral2 May, 2022

Some 350 participants attended the annual RetailDetail Congress on 28 April. With three parallel sessions and a plenary evening programme, it was a well-filled, inspiring day. An (incomplete) retrospective in eight remarkable quotes.

“To be human, you need technology”

“You must learn from each other – not copy, but learn. Don’t invent the hot water every time,” says media personality and entrepreneur Eline De Munck of optical brand Odette Lunettes. “Make sure you can use your human capital for exactly what it is: human capital. Just to be human, you need technology.”

“Salespeople are not interested in customers”

Lies Eeckman of the disruptive electric car brand Polestar took the traditional car sector and the entire retail sector to task: “A salesperson today is not at all interested in the customer standing in front of them. We must at least reinvent the middle man so that they are genuinely interested in service and in the customer.”

“Barely 1% of all clothing is recycled”

Just about the most polluting industry in the world? That must be the fashion sector. “The production of clothes has increased by 100% in the last 25 years, less than 1% of all clothes are recycled,” knows Pascale Switten, CEO of the circular private outlet Cameleon: “That is opening the door to overconsumption. It really can’t go on like this.” The retailer bets on second-hand and is also thinking about clothing rental.

“Keep it real”

Influencer marketing may already be the new word-of-mouth, but on social media you don’t just do whatever you want. “Always be open and honest,” says lawyer Koen Vranckaert, but the influencers present were shocked by the guidelines that both the Flemish and federal governments recently published. “We’re not going to organise a witch hunt,” soothes the Flemish Media Regulator. If you soon see the hashtag #gift popping up en masse in your Instagramstories: it all started at RetailDetail.

“This isn’t about China, it’s about the whole world”

People who think that Alibaba is a shop to sell your stuff to Chinese consumers are mistaken: it is the gateway to the whole world, according to Roland Palmer, who sprinkled impressive figures like it was nothing. Belgian companies appear to be doing very well on the platform with food supplements and superfoods, a market with a potential of 40 billion dollars. Fact: 90% of e-commerce in China is mobile commerce. And on live streaming platform Taobao, 150,000 hours of content are published every day. If you want to watch it, that’s more than 17 years… per day.

“Being annoying is good”

You don’t just become a distributor of Rainpharma products like that: there’s an entire intake procedure beforehand. All the fault of founder Dominique Bastin, who wanted a company without investors, meetings or corporate culture. And without troublesome customers. So they went from 500 to 150 shops, to multiply the turnover by eight. Strong. He had another strong statement: “Pharmacies are the coal mines of the future”…

“Follow your customer”

The American Megan Maley spent her youth near Belgium, Wisconsin. So for the Zalando top woman, this conference was a bit of a homecoming. The platform wants to be the starting point for fashion, with an unprecedented range and ease of use. 50% of orders contain more than one brand. Tom Baelden of LolaLiza told us why that is good for brands. Follow your customers, was his advice. Zalando guarantees volume and you can sell at full price. The fashion label is expanding the number of countries and from June will also test Zalando’s Connected Retail service, with the processing of online orders from the shops.

“Digital or analogue? Dialogue!”

The last word was for RetailDetail founder Jorg Snoeck, who took us into a future full of virtual influencers and cyborgs, where humans transform into Phono Sapiens and the metaverse becomes a reality. “Who do you trust the most: your partner, or Waze?” The audience laughed a little uncomfortably. The icing on the cake was the official presentation of the brand new book The Future of Shopping – Re-set, Re-made, Re-tail, with co-author Pauline Neerman on stage and a stunt promotion that the attendees gladly accepted. After which, the networking drink cum walking dinner could start. We will remain discrete about that…

View photos of the RetailDetail Congress on our Facebook page via this link.

The next RetailDetail event takes place on 9 June: the RetailDetail Food Congress welcomes an interesting agenda with speakers from, among others, Deloitte, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, VLAM, Pieter Pot, Kriket, Delhaize, Gorillas and Mosa Meat. More info will follow soon, you can already order dearly bird tickets via this link.

Stay up-to-date

Receive our free newsletters and do not miss out on the latest retail news.

Subscribe
logo

Some 350 participants attended the annual RetailDetail Congress on 28 April. With three parallel sessions and a plenary evening programme, it was a well-filled, inspiring day. An (incomplete) retrospective in eight remarkable quotes. “To be human, you need technology” “You must learn from each other – not copy, but learn. Don’t invent the hot water every time,” says media personality and entrepreneur Eline De Munck of optical brand Odette Lunettes. “Make sure you can use your human capital for exactly what it is: human capital. Just to be human, you need technology.” “Salespeople are not interested in customers” Lies Eeckman...

More on General
See more
  • iconGeneral28 June, 2022
    Growth slowdown expected for European e-commerce

    European e-commerce continued to grow strongly in 2021, but is now experiencing a slowdown due to the Ukraine crisis and inflation. Retailers will have to double their digital investments by 2030.

  • iconGeneral27 June, 2022
    Of all Europeans, the Dutch spend the least in foreign webshops

    Dutch online shoppers buy mainly in Dutch webshops: the share of foreign e-commerce players is barely 16%, the lowest market share in Europe.

  • iconGeneral24 June, 2022
    The Future of Shopping: robots beyond the hype

    What does the future really hold for robots? After the hype, as they descend from science fiction and get their feet on the ground, they become more relevant than ever.

Events
  • 14
    Sep
    Captains of Retail 2022
  • 22
    Sep
    RetailDetail Day 2022
  • 13
    Oct
    Human Resources & People Congress
  • 20
    Oct
    Trade & Shopper Marketing Congress
  • 24
    Nov
    RetailDetail Night 2022
Most read
  • iconFashion17 June, 2022
    H&M grows, but still under pre-pandemic sales
  • iconGeneral27 June, 2022
    Of all Europeans, the Dutch spend the least in foreign webshops
  • iconFood17 June, 2022
    Gorillas to leave Belgium this month
  • iconHome21 June, 2022
    Ikea helps other companies to employ refugees
Follow RetailDetail
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • linkedIn
footer-logo
RetailDetail, the leading b2b-retailcommunity in the Benelux, keeps retail professionals up-to-date by means of online & offline publications, retail events, inspiring retail hunts and the unique co-creation platform retailhub, where retailers and their suppliers can experience the future of shopping.
RetailDetail Mailing Address:
Kolveniersstraat 7, bus 26 
2000 Antwerp
Visiting address:
Stadsfeestzaal – Meir 78 
2000 Antwerp
How to reach us:
Directions
© 2022 RetailDetail
general conditions | privacy policy
+32 3 500 89 59 info@retaildetail.be
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT