At the beginning of November, retail and logistics researchers gathered in Helsingborg to present and discuss their latest research at the ninth Nordic Retail and Wholesale Conference (NRWC).
Interest in this year's conference was high, with a total of 144 registered participants from several different countries. This year it was Lund University's turn to host the conference, which is organized every two years by the NRWA network. Researchers Kristina Bäckström, Carys Egan-Wyer and Emma Samsioe from Lund University have been working on preparations for the three-day event in Helsingborg for the past two years.
"The participants seemed very satisfied with the conference, and we have had lots of exciting presentations and fruitful discussions," said Emma Samsioe, assistant lecturer at the Department of Service Studies.
The conference began with a workshop for doctoral students where early years researchers could present their work and receive valuable feedback from more experienced colleagues. After this, a welcome reception was held in the Town Hall in Helsingborg, where participants had the opportunity to network and enjoy the atmosphere.
The main conference took place at Campus Helsingborg, with presentations and discussions about the latest research in retail and logistics. Several researchers from the Centre for Retail Research presented new research in, among other things, circular clothing consumption, digitization of second-hand shopping, climate-neutral e-commerce logistics, new store formats, retail in vulnerable areas and about e-commerce managers.
The keynote speakers at the conference were Eleonora Pantano, Associate Professor in Retail and Marketing Technology at the University of Bristol, who talked about artificial intelligence in retail, and Tony Sandelius, Xplore manager at Ingka Group, who talked about Ikea's work to shape the future of retail.
"The fact that the conference is being held in Helsingborg is very important for the city's position as a leading retail and logistics hub. This is where research and business come together to find solutions to future challenges in retail and sustainable logistics flows. These are the kinds of initiatives that drive innovation and growth in the region," said Alexandra Werder Hallonkvist, Head of Growth at the City of Helsingborg.
Text: Julia Luttrup
