Seven key questions for day one at the World Retail Congress

By: Dean Best - 19 September 2012 09:25

1. How does Tesco CEO Philip Clarke, a man facing his own challenges in the UK, believe retailers can eke growth in the toughest economic conditions for a generation?

2. How should multinational retailers look to adapt to eking out growth in the mature markets of the West but ensuring they get their share of the rewards in faster-growing markets?

3. Should retailers operating in the faster-growing economies look to build in local marketing strategies into their offer?

4. What impact is the shift - in both mature and emerging markets - to e-commerce having on traditional physical stores?

5. What is the short-term outlook for India? Will reform of rules on foreign investment be implemented? Will the plans again be stymied by local opposition?

6. What are the new concepts and formats that are transforming the retail sector?

7. How should retailers exploit the rise of the mobile and digital shopper?