ABOUT

A three-day experience focused on giving attendees the tools and strategies they need to succeed in today’s race at retail. From panels and peer-to-peer power hours to keynote speakers and editor meet-and-greets, this unique event allows individuals and teams to get ahead of the rapidly changing world of commerce.

You bet! We promise to provide all the fuel and refreshments you need to be energized and inspired. All meals are included with your i3 All Access Pass.

Participants and attendees are comprised of remarkable experts, brand strategists, and marketing gurus from every point along the path purchase.

This event is intended to be fun, casual, and highly interactive. From guided retail tours, to hackathons, to immersive workshops, come prepared to be inspired -- but also to roll your sleeves up and engage with fellow attendees as we work on critical industry issues and challenges. Dress is business casual and jeans are totally fine. Comfortable walking shoes strongly recommended. Please note that the Effie Gala is often much more dressy. We anticipate that most attendees will want to go back to their hotel rooms to freshen up and change into more elegant evening attire. Changing areas will be available for attendees who are not staying nearby.

LOGISTICS

TUESDAY, MAY 5
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Revel Motor Row

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
7:00 AM - 10:00AM | 10:00AM - 7:00PM
Marriott Marquis | Revel Motor Row

THURSDAY, MAY 7
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Revel Motor Row

Oh no! We're bummed you can't join us. But don't worry you can certainly send your favorite colleague in your place. Lucky them! To transfer your registration, email [email protected]​ with the name, title, address and email of the colleague who will be attending.

i3 will be take place at two venues!

The majority of i3 events will be held at Revel Motor Row, 2400 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. 

Wednesday morning, May 6, the Keynote will be held at Marriott Marquis Chicago, 2121 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL. 

RETAIL TOURS

The i3 Guided Retail Tours will help you discover the best that Chicago retail has to offer. From some of the most talked about retail experiences, to best in class icons, to new pop-up experiences, we'll provide you with an upfront look at retail innovation. You will see and explore the best of retail innovation in the two-hour-plus experience led by industry professionals and members of the EnsembleIQ editorial teams from brands like Progressive Grocer, Convenience Store News, Drug Store News, Retail Leader and Path to Purchase IQ.

The tours are being designed and curated by Dan Hodges. Dan has distinguished himself as one of the world’s leading business futurists by accurately predicting and monetizing the profound ways in which technology has impacted consumer behavior during the last twenty-five years. He is the founder and CEO of Retail Store Tours, which creates business and consumer programs for attendees at industry conferences and other themed events. These programs help attendees navigate and network the events while encouraging them to explore and engage with the technologies and trends driving the pace of change in retail today. Most recently, Retail Store Tours has been selected to provide the store tour program at The NRF 2020: Retail’s Big Show.

EFFIE AWARDS GALA

Each year Effie Worldwide, in partnership with the Path to Purchase Institute, presents the winners of the Shopper & Commerce Effie Awards. This prestigious award is given to integrated campaigns that best demonstrate how they effectively solve shopper marketing challenges, connect with shoppers and influence behavior along the path-to-purchase.

The Effie Gala is often much more dressy. We anticipate that most attendees will want to go back to their hotel rooms to freshen up and change into more elegant evening attire. Changing areas will be available for attendees who are not staying nearby.

HALL OF FAME

Each year since 1994, the editors of Path to PurchaseIQ (formerly Shopper Marketing magazine) have selected three industry leaders for induction into the Hall of Fame. From the work they produce to their daily business practices, these inductees represent the very best of the path-to-purchase and in-store marketing industry. They foster best practices and demonstrate a supreme understanding of all marketing efforts. The 27th Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony and cocktail celebration will be held on Wednesday, May 6th as part of the inaugural i3 experience.

The Hall of Fame Awards will immediately follow the end of the education sessions on Wednesday, May 6th. We anticipate attendees will just come as they are and attire will be business casual.

LEAGUE OF LEADERS

Omnichannel commerce is rapidly changing the way consumers, brands and retailers interact. Shopper marketers have been at the forefront of these changes as the discipline best suited to help consumer product manufacturers responde to evolving marketplace dynamics.

By gathering the collective insights of the industry’s most advanced thinkers, the Path to Purchase Institute’s League of Leaders delivers incredible benefits to its participants while simultaneously empowering the Institute to be a catalyst for making the entire marketplace more vibrant, robust and healthy.

Membership in the League of Leaders is extended to a select group who believe we can help drive the global understanding and acceptance of shopper marketing. This group is an elite mix of forward-thinking individuals representing all major industry segments: Agencies, Consumer Product Manufacturers, Consultants, Field Forces/Retail Execution, Packaging Firms, Path-to-Purchase (Digital, Mobile & Other Path to Purchase Media), P-O-P Firms, Research Organizations and Retailers.

The League of Leaders is designed for individuals and companies that are both positioned and predisposed to take strategic leadership roles within the shopper marketing industry. Our editorial staff, advisory board and senior management access many factors in determining which companies are best suited to support the Institute – and the industry – through this program.

Approximately 50% of the League will be brands and retailers and the other 50% are solution providers/suppliers. Each of these industry segments will be represented by 5-8 companies: agencies, consumer product manufacturers, consultants, field forces/retail execution, packaging firms, path-to-purchase (digital, coupons, mobile, sampling, etc.), P-O-P firms, research organizations and retailers.

The League of Leaders is for organizations that are strategically aligned to help grow the industry and are personally committed to an “open forum” atmosphere and candid participation to effectively advance the goals of the League. Only 5-8 companies per industry segments (agencies, consumer product manufacturers, consultants, field forces/retail execution, packaging firms, path-to-purchase, P-O-P firms, research organizations and retailers) will be selected for the League and only 1-2 senior executives from each member company can participate. This collective group of minds will be committed to identifying best practices and deepening the understanding of all marketing efforts that culminate at retail. Those invited to join the League don’t just follow the path to purchase; rather, they pave the path to purchase. Put simply, you have to be excellent – and you have to stay excellent. Each member company may send two represntatives to the League meeting. One of the attendees must be a senior level executive (SVP level or higher).