General Questions

What's the schedule for the Summit?

The Shop.org Annual Summit kicks off on Monday morning (Sept. 12) with an Online Retail Boot Camp. Monday evening is the official opening of the Summit, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the EXPO Hall of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Summit sessions will take place on Tuesday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 14. The detailed agenda has the full session information.

Registration and check-in will take place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center each day of the event, beginning on Sunday for Boot Camp registrants and International Delegations. All others can check in on Monday beginning at 7:00 AM.

How much does it cost to attend?

See the pricing grid for event registration fees, based on retailer/non-retailer status and member/non-member status. Shop.org retail member companies can claim one free pass. Additional passes can be purchased at the prevailing rate depending upon your company type, membership level and the date on which the registration was made.

How do I get to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center?

The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center is easily accessible by car and Boston public transportation. Several parking options are also available at the Convention Center. Find out more about the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Who attends the Annual Summit?

The Summit is our largest and most important event, attracting a wide swath of Internet and multichannel retail leaders from all sorts of companies - large and small. Attendees include executives (managers, directors, VPs) who manage their company's direct and online channels with decision-making and management responsibilities at their respective companies. Other attendees include industry analysts, consultants, solution providers, and members of the press. If you are in this business, the Annual Summit is a must-attend event. Check out who attended the event in 2010.

Maybe you’ve wondered how we come up with the content for our events ... or perhaps you’ve been thinking that you should get up on stage to share your know-how with your eCommerce colleagues. For anyone who is interested in the process of how we at Shop.org go about finding topics and speakers for our events, here some information that might help.

How does Shop.org choose the topics for its presentations?

We ask a lot of questions! We talk to Shop.org members, we work with the Shop.org Content Committee, we read industry publications, we even send out online surveys to our members. We try hard to deliver content that helps you do a better job, no matter what you do in the world of e-commerce. Presentations can range from keynotes meant to inspire and challenge all of us in this industry, to very practical, tactical discussions with practitioners who have learned from their years in e-commerce and who share their experience and advice. If there is a topic you’d like us include in an upcoming Shop.org event, don’t hesitate to email or call Artemis Berry, Content Manager at berrya@shop.org or 202 626-8118.

How does Shop.org choose its speakers?

We are fortunate to know many experienced and accomplished e-commerce professionals, many of whom are extraordinarily generous with their time. We often reach out to these folks to help us: either to brainstorm about content or to actually participate in an event as a speaker. But we learn about great speakers from Shop.org members, from our Board of Directors, and from attending events in other industries. We try hard to find speakers from within the Shop.org membership—both our retail and associate members—because we know how many talented folks are part of Shop.org.

Is there a formal process for submitting an idea for a session or for proposing a speaker?

Please submit a speaker proposal for the 2011 Annual Summit. All proposals are due June 1.

Who can speak at a Shop.org event?

We draw from a wide range of professionals to speak at our events. Though we love having our members speak, we also tap into the wider business community and invite CEO’s, authors, academics, analysts, and others. If we think that someone has something to say to our community—something that will instruct, challenge, inspire, or encourage—we will try to get that person to speak for us.

Do you have to be a retailer to speak at a Shop.org event?

Anyone who can help teach, encourage, and inform our membership can speak at our events. Retailers have a lot to say about their experiences and can be great speakers. But our associate members have a lot to share, too. They are often subject matter experts with years of expertise, and they can provide insights and advice that many of our attendees find invaluable. Many of these associate members have also worked in retail at some point in their careers, making them doubly qualified to be effective presenters.

How does Shop.org ensure that speakers don’t use their presentations to make a sales pitch?

We work with all of our speakers ahead of time, reviewing their presentations and talking to them about what they will say. We also hand out feedback forms after every presentation. And we sit in the audience for every presentation. If we hear a pitch, or if an audience member feels that the presenter was “selling,” we would be extremely reluctant to ask the speaker back again.

How do I register?

Register online. If you have questions about registration, please call 708.486.0709 or email us at annual@compusystems.com.

Registration for this event is online.
However, if you are unable to process online or if your company is not in Shop.org's database, please print this registration form and fax it to (866) 593-1242.

How can I register a team of five or more attendees, using the team discount?

For Retail Members, we are offering a discount to those companies who register five or more people to receive a discounted rate of $525. The retail member company FREE PASS still applies to this offer, so you just need to register four more people and each will get the rate of $525. This is how it works:

• First Registrant FREE! Claim your Retail Member Free Pass. Each Retail Member company receives ONE free pass per event. Whomever is the first from your company to register for the event, gets that free pass.
• Second through fifth Registrants: Each registrant will receive the rate of $525, no matter when they register for the event.
• If only four people from a retail member company register, they will receive the prevailing rate at the time of registration (see the pricing grid).
• When you register, this pricing will automatically kick in after the fifth person is registered, so that everyone’s rate is now $525.

What are the onsite registration hours?

Registration will take place at the Boston Exhibition & Convention Center and the registration hours are as follows:

What are the Registration Policies?

To qualify as a Shop.org Retail Member, you must be a member in good standing. A Shop.org member in good standing is defined as a company whose membership has not expired before September 12, 2011.

• Shop.org 2011 Annual Summit registration will not be processed without FULL PAYMENT.
• Badges and credentials will be available for pick up onsite at the registration area during hours of operation. Please print your e-confirmation, which is emailed to you at the time of online registration, and bring it onsite to expedite this process. Be prepared to show identification in order to pick up your badge and credentials.
• Transfer or substitution of a pass to a colleague from the SAME RETAIL MEMBER COMPANY as the original pass holder can be made online through the link provided in your e-confirmation. Registrations and badges cannot be shared among attendees and transfers and substitutions cannot be made once a pass holder has checked into the event. This includes the reception and dinner events. To request a transfer or substitution, send an email by September 1, 2011 to annual@compusystems.com.
• SEPTEMBER 1st CANCELLATION DEADLINE: To receive a full refund, cancellation requests must be received at annual@compusystems.com no later than September 1, 2011.
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FREE PASS HOLDERS: Persons who register for a FREE PASS but do not sign in onsite, transfer or cancel their registration will be assessed a $325 “no show” fee to help offset costs incurred by Shop.org based on expected attendance. All other attendees who were charged for registration but do not sign in, transfer or cancel their registration prior to the above deadline will not receive a refund.
• Registrants are responsible for their hotel and travel accommodations. We have booked blocks of rooms at various hotels which include a discounted rate for the Shop.org Annual Summit attendees. Please book your hotel within this room block. 
• Registration will be accepted onsite if space is available.

Final details about the Shop.org 2011 Annual Summit networking events will be available online no later than September 1.

Can I register onsite?

Yes, but we recommend that you register in advance to take advantage of discounted rates and to ensure that you secure a seat. Our events fill up quickly.

Where/when can I pick up my badge?

Badges will be available for pick up onsite at the designated registration area during hours of operation. Please print your e-confirmation and bring it onsite to expedite this process. Your e-confirmation has a barcode which allows us to pull up your registration information more quickly onsite. Be prepared to show some form of identification in order to pick up your badge and credentials.

How can I get a receipt for my registration?

Upon completion of registration, a confirmation letter is sent to the email address provided by the registrant. If you have not received an e-confirmation, please call 708.486.0709 or email annual@compusystems.com.

What if I can't attend after I have registered for the event?

For anyone who is unable to attend and cannot transfer your pass, then a written cancellation notice to cuevass@nrf.com is required. A full refund will be issued for cancellation notices sent prior to the September 1st cancellation deadline.

Anyone who registered for a free full conference pass and cannot attend will need to cancel or transfer their pass to a co-worker prior to the event date. If you cannot attend and do not cancel formally, in writing to annual@compusystems.com prior to September 1st, or transfer your pass, you will not receive a refund. For Shop.org retail Members who receive a free pass and do not transfer or cancel in time, you will be assessed a $325 no-show fee.

How to Transfer Your Pass

Any attendee, who wishes to transfer a pass, must follow this procedure:

1. A transfer may be completed online by clicking "Direct Modify Link" within the body of the original registrant's emailed confirmation letter.
2. If the transfer must take place onsite, then the substitute registrant should bring the e-confirmation issued to the original registrant.
3. Transfers and substitutions cannot be made once the pass holder has checked in to the event or sub-event.

How can I get a copy of the press list for the Annual Summit?

The press list is an exclusive benefit for exhibitors and sponsors. If your company is sponsoring or exhibiting at the Annual Summit and you would like a copy of the press list, please contact Kathy Grannis at grannisk@nrf.com or 202.626.8189.

Can Press Attend?

Yes, members of the press receive complimentary admission to the Shop.org Annual Summit. Register via the link below and select Shop.org Annual Summit 2011 from the event list: http://www.nrf.com/press/PressRegistrationForm.asp.

If you do not qualify as a member of the press (e.g., reporter, editor), an analyst, or blogger, please visit the Summit Registration page for conference rates. For more information about press at Shop.org events, contact Kathy Grannis at 202.626.8189 or grannisk@nrf.com.

Read the accompanying blog post.

Networking @ the Summit

The Shop.org Promise
We are so confident that retailers attending Shop.org events will acquire valuable strategies and tactics to improve their online and multichannel retail business. If not, let us know and we'll refund your registration fee.

Questions?
Contact us with questions or help with registration.

Sponsor/Exhibitor Information
Contact Tami Sakell, Sr. Director, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales at  202.661.3044.