N O T A E What 9th Annual UA Global Retailing Conference When April 1-2 Where Westin La Paloma Resort Cost/Admission See text below Contact Information Media - Melinda Burke 520-621-1140 mburke@ag.arizona.edu Registration - Kim Brooke 520-621-1715 kbrooke@u.arizona.edu Related Web site Conference Web site

Professionals and executives from some of the country's largest retail firms will be in Tucson for the ninth annual Global Retailing Conference, "No Borders, No Boundaries: Evolving Markets," coming April 1-2 to the Westin La Paloma Resort, 3800 E. Sunrise Drive in Tucson.



The conference is sponsored by the Southwest Retail Center for Education and Research in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona.



Conference speakers will address current issues and perspectives on retailing in the global economy, explore the strategies companies need to stay competitive in a changing market, and share their best practices and “fresh thinking” that improves business.



Conference attendees will hear how to maximize opportunity in all aspects of business - from product to people - and how to compete locally and around the globe, says Melinda Burke, director of the SRC.



Phil Francis, chairman and chief executive officer of PETsMART, will present the keynote address on practices and solutions for retail success in the future through building a foundation of passion for business.



Other sessions at the conference will include best business practices in driving growth, meeting customer expectations in an online world, apparel retailing strategies from Europe, workplace and workforce forecasts and multi-cultural branding.



Speakers will include executives from Office Depot, JCPenney, Putumayo World Music, University of Ulster, Khimetrics, Selfridges, The Herman Group, Wal-Mart, Bridgestone/Firestone, Newport Furnishing and NEWNOHOW.



Participants will include retail personnel, managers and executives, consultants, marketing executives, franchisers, marketing executives, consumer researchers, business representatives, educators and students. The conference is open to the public.



Registration is $350 per person from partner companies; $450 per person from non-partner companies; $375 full-time faculty and students; and discounts are available for groups of six or more. A $100 discount is available by registering before Friday, Feb. 13.



Complete registration information is available at the conference Web site, online at http://ag.arizona.edu/fcs/srcer/conference/home.htm



For registration information, contact Kim Brooke, program coordinator at 520-621-1715.