Why We Sponsor Retail CIO Connect

Why did you choose to sponsor Retail CIO Connect in 2023?

Jane: We thought it would be a great opportunity to meet a lot of retailers and try something different. I haven’t attended many events this year, we chose Retail CIO Connect because we're in a quite unique position, there is no one like us here and it's the first time they’ve heard of us. It's a great opportunity to network with a different audience.

What have the quality of delegates been like?

Jane: They have been spot on. I've been talking to the right level of clients and brands, and everyone has been relaxed and open to talk. All the conversations have been very natural, nothing feels forced because Retail CIO Connect just get the right people.

How has the 1-1 model been and how many meetings have you had so far?

Jane: We had heard about Retail CIO Connect and the 1-1 model but we had been to other events like this before, and they didn’t have a great return on investment. We even questioned sponsoring, but it’s been amazing.

We’ve had seven meetings as a company so far and the great thing is that they’re not an uncomfortable forced meeting.

In terms of good follow ups, we can see opportunities from most of our meetings. They’re open to further conversations because of what we bring. We've got a big portfolio, there's lots of different business challenges we can help with. For us this is a case of getting on the radar and having those follow-on conversations. So, I’d say the buy-in at this stage has been good.

How have the networking breaks been?

Jane: We’ve really enjoyed the networking breaks because we’re getting the opportunity to spend more time with high level executives. It’s a chance to pick up with them later in the day, have a glass of wine and build that relationship. You get to know each other better and the rapport building is great. It’s people getting to know people.

How have the quality of the sessions you’ve attended been?

Jane: I’ve learnt a lot and found every session very engaging. It’s been great to catch-up on some of the trends that are happening. Everyone’s been very honest about where they are having challenges, it’s felt like a very open environment. None of them felt like a sales pitch, they were all informative business discussions.

We jumped at the chance to show thought leadership through our own speaking session, because for us to get this opportunity to speak in front of this level of execs and key retailers in this open forum, where people are really listening and engaging, is invaluable.

Would you say Retail CIO Connect could have a positive impact on your 2023 business goals?

Jane: 100%. I’m already thinking about the possibility of returning next year. I want everyone to know about CDW and this is a great opportunity to get our name out there to an audience who are really listening.

We’ve seen massive value in sponsoring Retail CIO Connect. Coming into this environment has been a great experience, and the whole team agrees.