Social Networking Breakfast Summit - 14 May at The Gore Hotel, London

Paul Mason Consulting and Retail Systems have joined forces once again to organise an important summit to discuss the opportunities and challenges the rise of social networking presents the retail community today: ‘Social Networking – how can retailers use it to raise brand awareness?’

This takes place at The Gore Hotel in London on 14 May 2008 and is an opportunity for senior retailers and technology providers to discuss if social networking is just another chance to target consumers with more advertising or is it something more? Do retailers’ focus on existing sites such as My Space, Facebook, BEBO and others or do they use the concept to create their own social network?

The ‘rise and rise’ of social networking indicates that if retailers could create their own version of social networking, with their own social sites, they could increase leverage across their product range and improve brand loyalty. There’s increasing talk about users leaving the big social networking sites in favour of supplier-driven sites. Is that because on traditional sites social networking is the focus, whereas on meaningful retail sites it is but a feature, with information-exchange and product advice driving discussions?

The summit will look at the key questions, such as:

What is the social networking opportunity for retailers? Are social networks just another way to target your advertising or are they something more powerful? Those retailers that create their own social networks will benefit now and in the future – but what are the opportunities and how do retailers make the most of them?

Will social networking influence the way your customers shop? How should retailers look at the importance and impact of the ‘social network experience' and how could existing approaches provide the answers? What are the expected influences on customers?

What needs to happen to technology to facilitate this? What do technology providers need to do to make customised social networking happen and how are they developing solutions? Who are the 'one's to watch' and what’s on offer – now?

Will social networking change retailers’ advertising spend? What are the current proportions of advertising spend that go on broadcast and published media, and new media? Research shows that today, young people increasingly ‘Sky Plus out’ the advertising and read fewer magazines and newspapers. Will social networking make retailers change their advertising spend ratios?

This summit is a must for all retailers looking to win at social networking. For more information on how to attend please contact Retail Systems on 020 7562 2431 or email paul.copperwaite@retail-systems.com

We are looking for a small but select group of retailers and technology suppliers to attend this important summit - between eight and ten people. The potential impact of social networking should be high on your radar and we are certain you would personally add a lot of value to the discussion.