A year in the preparation and planning, and in three days the World Retail Congress 2012 was all over.

A year in the preparation and planning, and in three days the World Retail Congress 2012 was all over. Being part of such an enormous annual event with so many ‘moving parts’, it is often hard to digest all the themes and ideas that pour out of the sessions, breakouts and speakers. So when someone asked what was the single, standout quote I’d heard from this year’s congress, it really forced me to go back and relive it all for an answer.

What is always fascinating with any major event, the congress included, is it gives you a barometer of what the industry is thinking and doing. Despite blood-curdling predictions on prospects for the eurozone and its effects on the world economy, the mood from retailers seemed far more positive and proactive. HSNi chief executive Mindy Grossman, from the US, summed it up well, saying: “I only worry about what I can control.” John Lewis Partnership boss Charlie Mayfield added: “Rather than focusing on the market getting better, focus on what you can do better”.

J Crew boss Mickey Drexler, speaking with Sir Philip Green, provided, as ever, lots of retail common sense without ignoring the massive challenges facing all retailers. “Every day I look at the lack of discussion on product,” said Drexler. “It’s always about closing stores, opening stores and going for growth for growth’s sake. I look around the world and I think that everyone is a bit too ubiquitous, including even us.”

One of Sir Philip’s mantras is how shoppers have a keen awareness of what they mean by value. “They want steak cheap, not cheap steak,” he said.

But the biggest focus was on how online and now mobile are changing the shape of retail. Asos boss Nick Robertson put it succinctly: “Our 20-year-old customer has been brought up on a digital world and buys up to 50% of their clothes online.”

So there wasn’t a single quote to summarise the event – how could there be? But the last word is probably worth reserving for Tesco boss Philip Clarke. Referring to the huge challenges of the digital era he said simply:

“I want us to be part of the revolution in retailing, rather than a victim of evolution.” An aspiration for everyone.

  • Ian McGarrigle, Director, World Retail Congress