SILVER SPRING, MD (October 19, 2022) – Exploring everything from changing consumer purchasing behavior, digital commerce, and inventory/supply chain trends, to NIL and Title IX’s impact on the industry, the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) hosted the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit, presented by Credova, in Chicago on October 24-25, 2022.
“SFIA was thrilled to gather the industry’s top industry executives for this year’s ILS,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “You could feel the energy and excitement in the room from just being able to be back together again, and to be engaging on a variety of important industry topics with our members, partners, and sponsors.”
Some of the highlights included Wendy Yang, former president of Hoka, who kicked off the conference with a discussion about how brands can be “pro-ruptors”. Yang shared how brands can create positive industry change by challenging the status quo. Rustom Dastoor, Mastercard’s Executive VP of Integrated Marketing and Communications for North America, provided a captivating analysis of consumer insights. He highlighted the three emerging trends in how consumers are living: virtually, with intention, and with impact. Tuesday afternoon featured panels about hot new brands, company culture and retention, digital products and web 3, and Title IX. The day wrapped up with networking sessions and an industry awards ceremony, capped by a celebration of the winner of the 2022 SFIA Start-Up Challenge, Ida Sports.
On Wednesday, the day kicked off with one of the most respected and widely followed sports retail analysts in the country, Matt Powell, who shared year-to-year retail data and outlined industry trends in footwear, apparel, and equipment. The day also included an expert panel on the hot topic of NIL and concluded with Tom Stockham of ExpertVoice presenting the keys to successful influencer marketing and Vince Iacopella with Alba Wheels Up International LLC presenting a timeline of supply chain issues, future problem areas, and potential remedies to improve U.S. port and transpacific congestion issues.
Click here for a brief video recap of the 2022 ILS.
If you are interested in a brief event recap or have any questions about the 2022 Industry Leaders Summit, please contact Lisa Futterman.
Thank you to our sponsors: Credova, Merchant Cost Consulting, The NPD Group, Re:Build Manufacturing
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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.