Inaugural Retail Customer Experience Summit Launched by Two Leading Networking Firms

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - April 9, 2008) - Two of the retail industry's most recognized networking and events leaders today announced the joint formation of the first Customer Experience Summit. The Summit will be a hands-on exploration of retail from the customer's point of view and the ways in which retailers can take steps to remain relevant in an information- and technology-empowered shopping environment.

The inaugural Customer Experience Summit, co-hosted by RetailConnections and by Cathy Hotka & Associates, will take place August 17-19, 2008 at The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. The unique event will provide insights into how today's consumers make buying decisions and how successful retailers change business practices to stay competitive.

Keynotes include Larry Selden, Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia University; Emeritus, Wharton School of Business; Salomon Brothers Faculty Research Fellow, and key advisor to Best Buy's customer-centricity efforts; and Marshal Cohen, renowned Chief Industry Analyst at market research firm, NPD Group, and author of the bestselling book "Why Customers Do What They Do."

The new Summit was spurred by the massive changes in pre-shopping social networking, instant communications and information gathering. It was also created at the request of retail CIOs and other senior retail executives, all of whom noted that brand loyalty has all but died and the consumer-of-the-moment rules. Out of stocks, poor service and uninspiring online and store experiences no longer have a place in the retail enterprise.

The highlight of the Summit will be a three-hour hands-on business school workshop moderated by Professor Selden. Participants will examine a fictional company, consider its shortcomings and create solutions. For more details, and to register for the summit, visit http://www.cathyhotka.com/CustomerExperienceSummit.htm.

About Cathy Hotka & Associates

Cathy Hotka & Associates is retail's relationship marketing firm, with top-level contacts at all of the retail IT shops that make all the noise in this industry. Cathy Hotka & Associates creates meetings, parties, dinners, and marketing campaigns that bring you close to the decision-makers that technology companies want to meet. CH&A owns the smash Retail Insiders Party, and manages the Retail IT Network, a peer knowledge and idea consortium where retailers can exchange information. For more information, visit www.cathyhotka.com.

About RetailConnections

RetailConnections, founded by long-time retail industry insider Marc Millstein, hosts the annual RetailConnections Business Executive Summit, recently held in Boca Raton, FL, is co-founder of the Customer Experience Summit in Nashville this August, and stages numerous customized events for vendors and retail executives. The company maintains an extensive practice hosting networking dinners throughout the United States and as well as consulting with retail technology vendors and service providers on go-to-market strategies. For more information, visit www.retailconnections.biz.

Contact Information: Press Contacts: Marc Millstein RetailConnections 914-620-5947 Cathy Hotka Cathy Hotka & Associates 202-549-3954 Tier 1 Public Relations Dan Dyer 513-478-7818