Editor’s Note: The following was originally published on LinkedIn by Seth Ellison, EVP/President of Europe at Levi Strauss & Co.
I recently had the chance to participate in the Financial Times Future of Retail Summit, where a group of experts from across the industry discussed the changing role of the physical store and what that means for consumers and our businesses. My first observation: every time I attend an event like this, I’m struck by how quickly the pace of change is accelerating in our industry.
Lines are blurring between traditional channels, new technologies are available at an increasing pace, and consumers have so many new ways to connect with brands and products. At Levi Strauss & Co., we’re proud of our heritage, but we take these changes in the marketplace seriously. “What’s old is new and what’s new is old,” has never been more relevant. We know we have to continue to evolve, and fast, if we want to make the next 160 years just as successful as the first.
Here are a few thoughts I shared with the audience and my fellow panelists at the Summit about how we’re thinking about the future…
