Speaking Engagements
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NRF '25 Retail's Big Show
Making Your Stores Irreplaceable: How Retailers Can Survive and Thrive in the Replacement Economy
We live in an age where everything can be replaced through an app on a handheld device. So, how can physical stores compete with these easier, cheaper, and more convenient digital replacements? They can tap into other human desires, such as the need for sensory stimulation, belonging to a community, and participating in cultural celebrations. For the last three decades, Kevin Ervin Kelley—an experience designer and author of IRREPLACEABLE—has been helping retailers compete on dimensions other than price, variety, and convenience. During this provocative presentation, he will outline the key principles, tools, and techniques he and his team deploy to help retailers deliver store experiences that are irreplaceable.
Past Speaking Engagements
CMA | SIMA Conference
The Bonfire Effect: How to Create Stores That Survive and Thrive in a Digitally Dominant Era
We live in a time of digital replacements, where everything we used to do physically in place—shopping for groceries, getting dinner at a restaurant, and going to the movies— can now be achieved virtually online.
So how can place-based entities survive, much less thrive, in an era of digital dominance? By creating irreplaceable places that have the power to convene people around a quality that Kevin Ervin Kelley calls the Bonfire Effect.
Through engaging storytelling, human behavior insights, and real-world case studies, Kevin Ervin Kelley—an attention architect and cofounder of Shook Kelley, a strategic design firm that pioneered the field of “convening”—unfolds why physical places are essential to business, community, and civil society.
Join fellow retail and consumer professionals by registering here!
2024 Summer Fancy Food Show
Retail's Hidden Strength: Convening Consumers in Place
Join Kevin Kelley, renowned retail architect and author of 'IRREPLACEABLE', to uncover the next big thing in retail. Forget chasing after robots and AI trends. Instead, let's focus on what truly matters: human connection and experience.
Kevin argues that beyond meeting basic needs, consumers crave immersive experiences and a sense of belonging--and because of this, small to medium-sized brands can thrive by offering more than just products. Through real-world case studies, Kevin will showcase how successful food retailers are leading the way by creating unique, unforgettable experiences that bring communities together. Don't miss this thought-provoking session that will reshape your understanding of retail's true power!
Register here!
PCBC
Leader-to-Leader Program
Kevin Kelley, AIA, is an architect who gets inside the minds of consumers to understand how physical environments affect behavior and purchase decisions. His recently-released book, Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together, explores how and why physical places are essential to civil society, business, and community—and how we can do a better job of creating them.
Register here for an insightful event!