As we enter 2023 with many businesses having fully embraced remote work, some are wondering whether retail conventions are still worth the cost. If you are looking for new customers or vendors, then it’s possible to find them online.
However, Zoom meetings and online webinars cannot replace the value of meeting new people in the retail industry in person, learning from great speakers, or getting to experience the latest technology. That’s why retail loss prevention, asset protection, and physical security events are still popular destinations for many in the industry.
Here is a list of the best B2B retail conventions you should attend in 2023. Note that we also have a collection of the best restaurant events in a companion article.
Retail loss prevention, asset protection, and physical security events are held by many different organizations, from professional convention companies to individual brands and industry groups. They are places for professionals in the retail industry to come together for networking, business, and camaraderie.
What is it like at a retail convention?
Excitement is in the air at most retail events. They can be big, loud, and busy. There is usually a full slate of official lectures, panel discussions, and speakers, a showroom floor, and many outside events for less formal networking.
Why should you attend a retail expo?
There is a lot of value to be gained by going to retail events in 2023. If you are a salesperson, you can often find yourself speaking with decision makers and upper management. Those looking for new vendors, business partners, or suppliers can usually make great connections. The innovative technology on display at some booths can be fun and informative to demo, while there is something to learn at every presentation, even for veterans of the retail industry.
What types of retail events are there?
The retail industry is huge, and with that size comes many different needs. Aside from a few big retail events (including “The Big Show”), it is impossible to have everything under one roof. That’s why retail conventions tend to have a specific theme and focus on only one part of the retail business.
Here are just a few of the retail event themes.
Security conferences
Loss prevention and physical security are two of the most important aspects of the retail industry given how much employee theft and shoplifting can affect profit margins. For this reason, there are many events dedicated to loss prevention and asset protection, such as the ones hosted by industry groups including the Loss Prevention Retail Council (LPRC).
As the wall between brick and mortar and eCommerce collapses, cybersecurity events are also becoming common within the retail industry. This is also a consequence of the increased reliance on technology within physical retail stores.
Technology expos
As mentioned above, retail is an early adopter industry for new technologies. As such, there are entire retail conventions dedicated to showing off the newest technology. In addition, major technology conventions also tend to have exhibitors showing off the latest retail industry technology.
Retailer-specific conferences
While not as common as for restaurant events, some major retail companies have events dedicated to their own brand. These events invite vendors and suppliers to exhibit their products and services for regional managers.
Where are retail security and loss prevention conferences usually held?
While we focus on retail conferences hosted in North America here, a few international events of note are mentioned below. Indeed, there are famous physical security conferences in global hotspots for event hosting, including London, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
As for North American events, most retail security and loss prevention conventions can be found in Las Vegas or other warm climate destinations, for example in Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California.
List of retail events in 2023
Here is a list of every retail event in 2023. (If you are the host of an event and don’t see it on this list, please contact Timothy Ware, Solink’s Content Manager, to have it added.)
January 2023
Event: CES 2023
When and where: 5-8 January at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Venetian, LV, NV
Event: NRF 2023 Retail’s Big Show
When and where: 14-17 January at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC, NY
Event: Intersec Dubai
When and where: 17-19 January at the Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE
Event: LPRC Kickoff
When and where: 18 January at Bloomingdale’s, NYC, NY
Event: Store Point Retail
When and where: 22-25 January at the Dallas Hyatt Regency, Dallas, Texas
Event: RILA: The Retail CEO Forum
When and where: 29-31 January at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Palm Beach, FL
Event: CISO Forum Canada 2023
When and where: 30-31 January at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites, Toronto, CA
February 2023
Event: Solink Secure Summit
When and where: 6-8 February at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona
About: This is the first ever event for Solink customers. Guests will learn a great deal from top notch speakers with decades of experience in asset protection and loss prevention, operations management, sales, and IT transformation.
Event: RILA: The Retail Supply Chain Conference
When and where: 19-22 February at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Event: LPRC Ignite
When and where: 21-22 February at the LPRC Labs in Gainesville, Fl
Event: The NGA Show
When and where: 26-28 February at the CAESARS Forum Convention Center, LV, NV
Event: Innovision
When and where: 27 February to 1 March at the The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Event: Convenience Distribution Marketplace
When and where: 27 February to 1 March at the The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, The Woodlands, TX
Event: eTail: The eCommerce & Omnichannel Retail Conference
When and where: 27 February to 2 March at the JW Marriot Desert Springs, Palm Springs, CA
March 2023
Event: MRC Vegas 2023
When and where: 6-9 March 2023 at the Aria Resort & Casino, LV, NV
Event: The Gulf Coast Food & Fuel Expo
When and where: 8-9 March at the Raising Cane’s River Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Event:RCC Excellence in Retail Awards
When and where: 11 March at the Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, CA
Event:Retail Secure Conference
When and where: 21 March at the The International Centre, Mississauga CA
Event: FMI Asset Protection and Grocery Resilience Conference
When and where: 19-22 March at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orlando, FL
Event: Adobe Summit
When and where: 19-23 March at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center, LV, NV
Event: Shoptalk
When and where: 26-29 March at Mandalay Bay, LV, NV
Event: ISC West 2023
When and Where: 28-31 March at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center, LV, NV
April 2023
Event: 2023 ISCPO Conference
When and where: 11-13 April at the 7-Eleven Store Support Center in Irving, Texas
Event: Retail Human Resources Conference
When and where: 20 April at the International Centre, Mississauga, CA
Event: National Convenience Show (NCS)
When and where: 24-26 April at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, UK
Event: RSAC 2023
When and where: 24-27 April at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
Event: World Retail Congress
When and where: 25-27 April at the Hotel Arts Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Event: Retail Asset Protection Conference 2023
When and where: 30 April to 3 May at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, CO
Event: C-StorePoint
When and where: 30 April to 3 May at the Austin Marriott Downtown, Austin, TX
Event: ICS Security Summit & Training 2023
When and where: 30 April to 8 May at the Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Buena Vista, FL
May 2023
Event: Reuters Events: Automotive Retail 2023
When and where: 3-4 May at the MGM Grand Conference Center, LV, NV
Event: RFID Journal Live! 2023
When and where: 9-11 May at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
Event: 12th Annual Shopping Malls Summit
When and where: 17-18 May at the True Icon Hall, Bangkok, Thailand
Event:RCC Store Conference
When and where: 30-31 May at the Toronto Congress Centre – North Building, Toronto, CA
June 2023
Event: Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit
When and where: 5-7 June at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD
Event: NRF Protect
When and where: 5-7 June at the Gaylord Texan Resort, Grapevine, TX
Event: Retail Innovation Conference & Expo
When and where: 13-15 June at the McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Event: Future Stores
When and where: 20-22 June at the Sheraton Seattle, Seattle, WA
July 2023
Event: NRF Nexus
When and where: 10-12 July at the Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
August 2023
Event: Salt Lake City Cybersecurity Conference
When and where: 23 August in Salt Lake City, UT
September 2023
Event: Global Security Exchange
When and where: 11-13 September at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX
Event:Retail Marketing Conference
When and where: 19 September at a TBD location
Event: Texas Cyber Summit
When and where: 28-30 September at the JW Marriott, Austin, TX
October 2023
Event: LPRC Impact
When and where: 2-4 October at the LPRC Labs in Gainesville, Fl
Event:Retail Sustainability Conference
When and where: 3 October at The International Centre, Mississauga, CA
Event: Techspo
When and where: 11-12 October at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Event: 2023 Retail Law Conference
When and where: 25-27 October at the Lansdowne Resort and Spa, Leesburg, VA
November 2023
No retail security, asset protection, or loss prevention events scheduled for November 2023 have been found yet. Please reach out if you are hosting a retail conference in November 2023.
December 2023
No retail security, asset protection, or loss prevention events scheduled for December 2023 have been found yet. Please reach out if you are hosting a retail conference in November 2023.
Summary
Retail conventions are a great place to meet new people in the industry. The speakers are there to offer great insights into sales, security, marketing, merchandising, and more. Whether you attend an event with a set agenda or just want to see the latest trends and technologies, a retail conference is a great way to learn new things about the industry.
If you can’t wait to visit a Solink booth at a retail event, sign up for a demo today.
Timothy Ware | 
Solink stands at the forefront of security solutions, excelling in loss prevention and asset protection for businesses. Our content is rich in industry expertise and crafted to provide actionable insights and innovative strategies. We empower businesses to enhance their security systems, optimize operations, and protect their assets more effectively. Discover how our advanced cloud video management system can transform your security approach.
