Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging CriteriaThe challenge:
Retail has been impacted by the rise of discounting, the
disruption of digital and the fast fashion that has stretched
globally from single country origins.
Traditional retailers in food, fashion and general merchandise are
all today taking a full “omnichannel”, approach to serve
customers. They provide seamless interactions to customers
across numerous on line and traditional stores. Taking this base for
this years challenge, the task of each team will be:
Select a “Pureplay “retailer in your country that has been
successful and has no ‘ Bricks and Mortar stores “. Develop
a plan to launch a store reflecting the brand and positioning of the “online business’ It can be food, fashion
or general merchandise.
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Develop as a plan:
1. How would the team envisage the store being brought to life as a
retail concept in a seamless way linking to the online offer?
2. How does the store capture the brand positioning and target market
represented on line?
3. What products will you sell?
4. How would the retail concept look?
5. How would the team market the retail business to its chosen market?
6. What would make this business sustainable for the long term $
7. What is the operating model?
8. What is the service model?
9. What is the merchandising strategy?
10.What is the competitive advantage ?
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
The teams selected by each college will then attend the final at the
World Retail Congress in Dubai April 4-6th at the Madinat Jumeriah.
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Preparing for the final – Stage 2 requirements:
Each team should continue to develop their Bricks and Mortar
store and its core benefit proposition and their differentiation
Written submission:
For the final presentation and judging, each team will be
required to submit by March 25th their written submission for
the judges. This should be no more than 10 pages in length
and should set out a more detailed explanation of the
concept and the thinking. Please think about the judging
criteria and try to address these key elements.
Additional pages (maximum of 5) can be included with graphics, illustrations or imagery for your concept
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
The retail concept:
• Provide a detailed description of how you developed the concept
and how it links to the online offer.
• A description of the concept: both originally as a Pure-play and now
as a “omnichannel” offer
• For the physical space, where would you open the first store and if it is
planned to expand, which would be the target locations?
• Outline the products that you envisage retailing and any differences
to the online offer (merchandising strategy)
• Your target customers – and why. Show how you have tested your
ideas with this target group of consumers
• An outline of the business model: anticipated sales and bricks and
mortar expansion costs envisaged.
• What is your strategy on price, service, promotions and operating
model
Also required:Please provide colour graphics or illustrations to your new retail concept
which will be sent to the judges
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
The Pop up :
• During the congress space will be made available in a shopping mall
to test and trial the concept in a Pop up format. This will enable the
testing of the store functionality and practicality while securing
customer feedback on the viability and attractiveness of the Pure
play turned Bricks and mortar offer
• The Pop up store or pod will proved a unique method of “ proof of
concept” for the Pure Play retailer to test the offer in a real life
environment
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Key dates and requirements to be sent to World Retail Congress:
Please send a picture of the team, full names and ages with
college logo to the World Retail Congress by January 27th latest
so that this can be included on the Retail Futures Challenge
web page within the World Retail Congress site.
Please send high-resolution, print quality images of your
concept to the World Retail Congress by March 18th so they can
be prepared for the display area at the Congress in Dubai
Send a 100 word description setting out your concept. This will
be used as part of the display area for your team – by March
11th
Additionally, a 100 word description of the retail concept for the
display board – by March 11th
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
At the Congress: a special display area will be designated for each college. Each team will be expected to attend their display during each break session to be able to talk to delegates.
The final presentations: These will take place on the morning of April 14th and as one of the breakout sessions for delegates to attend. It will take place in the main plenary room on the main stage. Each team will present their concepts to a panel of judges and an audience of Congress delegates in a special business stream. Each team will present for a maximum of 8 minutes
followed by 3 minutes of questions from the judges. The judges will then consider their verdict and the retail audience invited to cast their own secret votes.
Rehearsal times and space will be allocated by the World Retail Congress team
The winning team will be announced at the Congress Closing Gala event on the evening of April 5th
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Judging Criteria
The Judges will be looking at:
• How well you establish and market the expanded Bricks and
Mortar store and how it interfaces with the online offer.
• How well your plan is thought out
• How you secured the site
• How you selected the Pure-play operator to work with
• How well your offer shows differentiation
• How your business case stacks up financially
• How you plan to build a profitable and sustainable business
• The quality and customer friendliness of the Pop up pod
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Judging format and process at the Congress
The congress Judging will take place at the congress itself at
one of the streams and involves Three to Four impartial Judges
who will assess the presentations based on The criteria Listed
Note the following:
• 8 minutes to present
• 3 minutes for questions ( one per Judge)
• The paper must be provided including the business case to
the judging panel
• The audience also gets a vote which is incorporated into the
judging scores
• The presentations are shared by the group rather than any
one individual presenting
• Presentations should be informative and entertaining
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Judging format and process at the Congress
The congress Judging will take place at the congress itself at
one of the streams and involves Three to Four impartial Judges
who will assess the presentations based on the following
Scoring;-
1. Quality of presentation and team involvement
2. Content of presentation
3. Knowledge of topic
4. The business model and business plan
5. Question response
Retail Futures Challenge Brief and
Judging Criteria
Key contacts:
Ian McGarrigle, Chairman, World Retail Congress (for all issues
to do with the content of the challenge)
Natalie Wilkins, World Retail Congress Logistics Manager (for all
issues relating to display materials at the Congress and
arrangements for attending in Rome and the final
presentations)
T: +44 (0) 20 3033 2336
M: +44 (0) 7568 101 132
Judging:
Bernie Brookes CEO, Edcon
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