Looking for Inspiration? Shop! MarketPlace is the Place for You!

Shop! MarketPlace will bring together the top leaders and creatives from all fields of the retail industry in New Orleans this May 6-7. With the event quickly approaching, we’re excited for the networking events, retail tour and speaker presentations that will spark imagination and rethink the industry – and here are just a few of the standout offerings at this year’s Shop! MarketPlace. Join retail thought leaders from across the world to experience what’s next in retail design at Shop! MarketPlace.

Explore New Orleans Retail

Kick off Shop! MarketPlace by finding inspiration in New Orleans’ retail scene with the Shop! MarketPlace Retail Inspiration Tour on May 5. Whether your focus is design, merchandising, customer experience or retail strategy, this self-guided exploration of the city’s most unique retail spaces and architecture will showcase emerging trends and new approaches in the industry.

Connect with New Friends and Old

After exploring New Orleans, connect with other industry leaders and professionals at the Welcome Reception on May 5. With an open bar, light bites and live entertainment, this networking reception will allow you to meet retail brand leaders, reconnect with colleagues and enjoy an evening in NOLA before the show opens the next day. On May 6, happy hour will start right on the show floor, offering another opportunity to mingle and chat with an open bar and appetizers.

Activate Your Experience

With the Shop! MarketPlace floor officially opened on May 6, you won’t want to miss the Experiential Zones. The winning design of the 2025 Shop! Ideation Retail Challenge, “TAPPED IN by SNIPES”, will be brought to life on the show floor for you to experience. Drawing inspiration from local artists and athletes, this pop-up design emphasizes the creativity and community of streetwear brand SNIPES. Also, be sure to check out the ZenGenius Visual Merchandising Lab and the PAVE Pavilion for more hands-on inspiration from retail creatives.

Learn, Create, Innovate

Shop! MarketPlace will also host a bevy of educational sessions presented by top leaders of international retail brands. In the content theater, Levi’s will explore its global store rollout and New Balance will discuss how it transformed its visual merchandising strategy. Meanwhile, two SmartTalk! stations will be located on the show floor for more educational sessions that focus on emerging trends, sustainable design, consumer experience and more, including a walkthrough of the SNIPES Retail Challenge pop-up, taking you through the design, strategy and creation of the immersive brand experience.

The Best of the Best

If you’re looking for inspiration, what better way than to discover the best retail? Honoring the best retail designs of the year on May 6, the Shop! Awards Reception will celebrate the winners of the Shop! 2026 Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards, Global Awards and Design Awards. With an open bar, hors d`oeuvres and networking, you won’t want to miss one of retail’s biggest nights. A separate ticket is required for this event.

Secure your spot today to experience all the Shop! MarketPlace has to offer. Shop! members and retail brands receive discounted rates.