Retail Cannabis Forum

Please note that this event has passed. Please view our upcoming events page or contact [email protected] for inquiries about future events.

Keeping the retail community strong is Retail Council of Canada’s top priority. In light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, we are cancelling the Retail Cannabis Forum scheduled for April 2, 2020. All registrants will be provided with a full refund for their registration. If you are a member of RCC, please take advantage of the regular Coronavirus/COVID-19 updates and resources we are providing to keep you informed and prepared. Visit RCC’s COVID-19 update page for more information.

Creating new opportunities in Retail Cannabis

Canada’s newest retail sector offers exciting opportunities. Join the “who’s who” of retail cannabis in Canada as they discuss how, in a highly regulated market, they are finding some of the most innovative ways to create immersive brand experiences, market merchandise and educate consumers, as well as recruit and train talented retail teams.

Who Should Attend?

Current and prospective cannabis retailers as well as those who want to work with them. Retailers who are looking for new ways to infuse their marketing and merchandising with a fresh approach will also benefit greatly from the discussion and networking with Canada’s retail cannabis experts.

Interested in sponsoring this event?

Download our Sponsorship document and contact Mary Markou at [email protected]

Member Attendee $199 Non-Member Attendee $299 Independent Retail Member (Sales under $10mil) $99 Independent Retail Non – Member (Sales under $10mil)

(Includes 1-year RCC membership) $349 Download Registration Form (English)

Agenda – April 2, 2020 7:30 am Registration Open 7:30 – 8:30 am Breakfast and Networking 8:20 am – 8:30 am Welcoming Remarks 8:30 am – 9:00 am Navigating the Regulatory Landscape With regulation, you need to be obsessed. Retailers have constant questions about navigating marketing and other challenges while staying within the provincial and federal frame works. Alanna Sokic, Senior Consultation and National Cannabis Coordinator with Global Public Affairs shares her expert insights on these concerns and what reasonable expectations for evolved regulations might look like. Retailers will leave this session with renewed confidence and fresh ideas. Alanna Sokic, Senior Consultant, Global Public Affairs 9:00 am – 9:05 am “Fast Five” Sponsor Highlight 9:05 am – 9:45 am Change Enablement and Creating a Confident Outlook Now is the time to engage and affirm employees and new talent of the long-term viability in a market that has seen exhausting transformation with mergers, and acquisitions and changing licensing regulations. Retailers discuss how they are building confident teams and the modifications they have made along the way that have helped them navigate the mutually murky waters. Jesse Cheetham, Director, Team Relations & Engagement, Fire & Flower Alexander Liszka, Chief Executive Officer, Pioneer Cannabis Corp Eleanor Lynch, President of Operations, Kiaro Rob Fisher, Principal, JRoss Retail Recruiters (Moderator) 9:45 am – 10:15 am Networking Break 10:15 am – 10:45 am Going Against the Grain: A Retail Success Story Discover Superette and what sets apart this multi-award-winning brand that is known for standout store design and elevated customer service. Lauren Davie, VP Retail and Sales, joins us to share the behind-the-scenes story of the strategy that created a distinct theme while remaining focused on delivering quality products, superior service and growing their footprint in the Canadian market. Lauren Davie, VP Retail & Sales, Superette 10:45 am – 10:50 am Dispensary in a Box “Fast Five” Sponsor Highlight In a rapidly expanding cannabis retail landscape there are more than 700 applicants for an Ontario Retail Operator Licence and to attain a retail store authorization the AGCO prioritizes applicants who are “ready to open” so now is the time to discover the tools that can bring your plans to life! Neal Claassen, Business Strategy, Seven Points Interiors 10:50 am – 11:20 am The Brick and Mortar Story of Merchandising and Design The next generation of brick and mortar brings to light new challenges and increased competition for market space. Product education remains the center point of design strategy and with challenging packaging regulations how can retailers guide the consumer journey and set themselves apart? The right location, the right design and guiding new consumers through the journey is an exciting yet challenging component in the second generation of cannabis stores in Canada. Sponsored by Aedifica Stephane Bernier, Design Studio Director, Aedifica Federico Carbajal, Senior Project Manager, Aedifica 11:20 am – 11:50 am Everything You Wanted to Ask the Ontario Cannabis Store Get the inside scoop with provincial wholesaler the Ontario Cannabis Store. We ask Cheri Mara, Chief Commercial Officer, at OCS all the hard questions that are keeping retailers up at night. OCS sets the market in Ontario with what’s available but how are the decisions made? What is the outlook for 2.0 products? What is the reality of expected consumer data pre-legalization vs now? Discover what is working, what’s not and the opportunities that lie ahead. Cheri Mara, Chief Commercial Officer, Ontario Cannabis Store Michael LeBlanc, Senior Retail Advisor, Host / Producer Voice of Retail Podcast, Retail Council of Canada (Moderator) 11:50 am Closing Remarks

Event Level Sponsor

Questions?

For event related inquiries, please contact [email protected] For sponsorship related inquiries, please contact [email protected]