They have on the same problems because we have a lot of legacy in Europe with their GDP AI act that they don't have here. So, they go faster and [music] I think it's important that in Europe we understand that now we have to move quickly. Hello and welcome to the Retail Podcast live from the I was going to say the shop floor but it's not. It's the conference floor. I'm joined by the fantastic Annabelle Sarris, show director of NRF Europe. So, we're going to do a little bit of talking about the fantastic show that's coming in September and then I'd love to get your thoughts on this show. But, if we just sort of look at NRF Europe's only 3 months away, what do you think is most important to retailers right now?
First of all, thank you for the inside. Thank you my pleasure. My pleasure. Alex, uh so yes, what I've seen is that there there is a lot of discussions about AI of course. People are looking at if they can implement AI and in their own retail stores and on all the how do how can I say that? Environments? Yes. Yes, because the AI is not only on logistics or in marketing, they are everywhere in reality and they they try to understand how they can implement on each part of their business and how is complex to do it. Sure. Okay. So, AI is a a key element. When you think about the show in September and you know, I'm a retailer thinking to come or not, what would you say for you because to be fair, we didn't talk about this yet, but you've only been in role 3 months as well, right? So, [laughter] you're learning, you're you're working with your teams, you're meeting associations, you're meeting retail eggs, exhibitors. But, you know, a lot of retailers are thinking, why should I attend? What what will I what would I get if I'm going to come to Paris for 3 days?
The thing is NRF is a community, so you're going to met all your partners and obviously your peers. And uh in way you're going to found all the innovation on the NRF because NRF US in New York is the flagship and we have the same thematic and the same way to see the future because the thematic is the next now. So, you will found a lot of innovations. We have the innovator showcase and uh all the conferences. There is a lot of conferences with a big keynotes and you can find the exhibitors big ideas where really interesting for all the retailers who want found innovation, have ideas and they are concrete. It's not only It's really concrete.
Yeah, I think it's interesting. Last year when I was there, I think it was REWE and I forget who was talking, but it was one of the only conversations I heard all year where the person presenting was, I don't know, CIO somebody like one of the execs from from that, but they put their blueprint for AI as like here's our AI modern blueprint and you know, companies have to pay thousands to get access to that type of knowledge and it was like, there you go, that's what we're doing, that's our blueprint. So, I love that fact and I think that's probably more of a European thing that we share we share more of that knowledge cuz I don't know, it's it was an interesting one. I really really enjoyed it. We're obviously here in NRF APAC. Yeah. What's been and it's the last day today, what's been the standout moment for you? What have you What are you going to take away from the show? What have you That they are more in advance than in Europe. They haven't the same problems because we have them a lot of legacy in the Europe with their G GPD AI act that they don't have here. So, they go faster and I think it's important that in Europe we understand that now we have to move quickly.
Yeah. If we don't want to lose time. Sure, I got you. If I'm coming to NRF Europe, what are the key standout moments at the show physically? So, there is the all the conferences. You have three kind of conferences, the key keynote sessions, of course the breakout sessions and the exhibitor big ideas. And on the floor, you will have the one area dedicated on innovation with the innovator innovator showcase as you have in US and and in APAC, too. And all of the startups and of obviously all the exhibitors weather their innovation. Okay. This is a question I ask a lot of show operators. If you put yourself in the shoes of an executive from a retailer who has come to Paris in September and now they're on the train on the flight, they're in the airport and they're going home. What you want to be that one thing you want them to be thinking about?
Ah, it's a good a question. I think the the the the multiplicity of the innova- innovation they have seen seen on the on the show and all the connections that they made during the show, the networking, met met their peers and all the other and think about the next step will be New York. Yeah. So, New York is just after NRF Europe. So, jump in the next show and come back next year. That's fantastic, Annabelle. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Thank you.
