Recap: The 2025 Shop! Ideation Conference & Retail Challenge

The Shop! Ideation Conference & Retail Challenge celebrated innovation and collaboration when it commenced in Providence, R.I., this Oct. 20 and 21. From education sessions from industry experts, networking receptions and the Retail Challenge, emceed by Bevan Bloemendaal, Founder, BB Creative Consultancy, this year’s event was all about collaboration and innovation in the retail industry. 

DAY ONE 

Attendees arrived at the Providence Omni Hotel for two packed days, starting with an offsite retail tour at the Providence Place Mall, which let attendees explore retailers such as LEGO, Foot Locker, Swarovski and more.

Dina Townsend (left) of Mamava and IV Dickson (SageNet; right) kicked off the 2025 Shop! Ideation Conference & Retail Challenge with a keynote discussing meaningful customer touchpoints with respects to technology integration.

Shop! Ideation & Retail Challenge officially began with an opening keynote presentation from Dina Townsend, Chief Sales Officer, Mamava, and IV Dickson, Chief Innovation Officer, SageNet, about how retail media networks, integrated technology and digital advertisements are evolving to meet customer expectations. Next, EcoScape Sustainability’s Lisa Wynne spoke about sustainability in retail and how Shop! Path Zero is helping suppliers and retailers on their sustainability journey. A presentation by local magician and mentalist Jonathan Vale kicked off a networking reception to end the first day. 

DAY TWO 

Day two saw the start of the Retail Challenge, emceed by Bevan Bloemendaal, and this year’s featured brand was German-based streetwear retailer Snipes. Snipes’ Nicole Johnson and June Padilla sat down with Bloemendaal to discuss the brand’s history, culture and style.

Retail Challenge teams comprised retailers, designers, suppliers, attendees and sponsors and worked all day to create a new retail experience for German-based retailer SNIPES.

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Then, the Retail Challenge officially commenced. Teams were charged with creating a brand activation by the end of the day – one that incorporated Snipes’ legacy working with street artists and hip-hop stars. The team led by ZenGenius’s Johan Kiszonak took home the win. The team will build and display their design during the 2026 Shop! MarketPlace trade show and conference in New Orleans, May 6-7.

Sponsors to the WaterFire event boarded a boat equipped with a fire twirler and lit braziers to officially close out Ideation 2025 and welcome IRDC 2025 attendees and sponsors.

This year’s event ended with a bang – equipped with instruments, puppets and flashing lights, the WaterFire art installation troupe led attendees to the closing celebration to watch boats carrying sponsors holding torches light braziers on Providence’s Woonasquatucket River. (A special thank you to all our WaterFire sponsors!)

Thank you for another exciting year of Shop! Ideation & Retail Challenge, and we hope to see you next year! Stay tuned for more information about the 2026 Shop! Ideation & Retail Challenge coming soon. 

Check out the curated photo gallery here.
Find the full gallery of photos here.