2020 DC Retail Summit: Our Recovery
The 2020 DC Retail Summit: Our Recovery will bring together local retail & restaurant businesses, thought leaders from the private & public sectors, and community stakeholders.
Discussions will provide practical and solutions-based advice and resources to help entrepreneurs and local businesses adapt during COVID-19 and identify market opportunities in a changing economic landscape. All session videos can be found on WDCEP’s YouTube page.
DATES & TIMES:
- Tuesday, September 15, 2020 – Day 1: Adapting to the New Normal
• Session 1: 9:00am – 10:15am – video recording
• Session 2: 11:00am – 12:15pm – video recording - Thursday, September 17, 2020 – Day 2: The Economic Recovery
• Session 3: 9:00am – 10:15am – video recording
• Session 4: 11:00am – 12:15pm – video recording - Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – Day 3: Navigating Your Reopening & Recovery
• Session 5: 9:00am – 10:15am – video recording
• Session 6: 11:00am – 12:15pm – video recording - Thursday, September 24, 2020 – Day 4: Diverse Businesses = Big Impact
• Session 7: 9:00am – 10:15am – video recording
• Session 8: 11:00am – 12:15pm – video recording
HOSTED BY:
Day 1: Adapting to the New Normal
Session 1: The Future of Retail, Restaurants & Consumers
DATE: Tuesday, September 15
TIME: 9:00am – 10:15am EDT
Video Recording: Online
Retailers & restaurateurs have always had to adapt to new models, competition, and changing consumer preferences. However, COVID-19 has brought about seismic shifts forcing businesses to change operations and their customer’s shopping behavior and expectations. This session prepares for the business and consumer by exploring the changing landscape of the retail & restaurant experience, the availability of goods and services within the supply chain, change in consumer behavior, and the effect on the long-term brand health and sales growth.
Attendees will learn:
- Proven and emerging strategies that have helped businesses survive during COVID-19
- How consumer demand has shifted and how businesses can adapt
- Shopping & dining experience trends during Phase 1 and Phase 2 and directives moving forward to Phase 3
Welcome Remarks
Panelists
- Keith Sellars, President & CEO, Washington DC Economic Partnership (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Laura Hayes, Food Editor, City Paper
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Kathy Hollinger, President & CEO, RAMW
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Emma Liem, Editor, Restaurant Dive
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Katherine Cullen, Senior Director, Retail and Consumer Insights, National Retail Federation
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Session 2: Working with the Virtual Human Touch
DATE: Tuesday, September 15
TIME: 11:00am – 12:15pm EDT
Video Recording: Online
COVID-19 has accelerated many digital trends in the retail industry including an increased need for online and app-based shopping. Businesses limited ability to serve customers within their establishment during COVID-19 has led to alternative methods for B2C sales. This session will discuss the framework for developing an E-commerce ordering systems, fulfillment and consumer demand, best practices on successful implementation and execution, and how to measure sales and revenue.
Attendees will learn:
- How to understand your customers and build a robust customer list (tools, tips, and software)
- Outreach tactics that go beyond social media
- Social media “must-dos” to drive sales to your website/app
Panelists
- Che Ruddell-Tabisola, CEO BBQ Bus DC & Interim President, Think Local First DC (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Danielle McGee, Founder, Black Business Boom
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Joe Lapan, Co-Owner & Marketing Director, Songbyrd Music House
Twitter | Website - Pennye Jones-Napier, Co-owner, The Big Bad Woof
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Mari Rodela, Co-Owner, Chief Community & Culture Officer, DC Brau
Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Day 2: The Economic Recovery
Session 3: Building Financial Resiliency
DATE: Thursday, September 17
TIME: 9:00am – 10:15am EDT
Video Recording: Online
According to the JPMorgan Chase Institute, prior to the coronavirus crisis, the average retail and restaurant business has less than 20 days of cash in reserve. Even the toughest business owners are struggling right now. This session focuses on managing cash flow, sourcing the capital you need for new lending options, and government programs to non-traditional methods.
Attendees will learn:
- Which sources of capital provide businesses with the most flexibility
- How to take advantage of government financial relief programs
- How to establish cash reserves as a business owner
Panelists
- Eddie Tuvin, Chief Lending Officer, FSC First (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Website - Xavier Epps, Founder, FinanceGuyX & XNE Financial Advising, LLC
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Oswaldo Acosta, President & Executive Director, City First Enterprises
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Michael Shuman, Director of Local Economies Programs, Neighborhood Associates Corporation
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Lauren McDanell, National Director of Programs, SEED SPOT
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Session 4: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Compliance
DATE: Thursday, September 17
TIME: 11:00am – 12:15pm EDT
Video Recording: Online
The PPP program has undergone numerous additions and guidance changes since it first passed as part of the CARES Act in March (with potentially more changes still to come). For example, the PPP Flexibility Act was signed into law on June 5th, 2020 and ensures full forgiveness for self-employed, freelancers, and independent contractors who took the maximum loan amount based on 2.5 times their 2019 monthly income. In addition, The Act reduced the amount that you needed to spend on payroll in order to obtain forgiveness from 75% to 60%. This session will provide up-to-date information on PPP compliance guidelines and extension and how-to tie-up loose ends to ensure full loan forgiveness requirements are met for a business’ loan.
Attendees will learn:
- Impact of the PPP on Business /Personal Taxes
- The do’s and don’ts of utilizing the PPP/EIDL Loan
- Answers to frequently asked questions by borrowers when applying for loan forgiveness
Panelists
- Harold Pettigrew, CEO, WACIF (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Lori Bettinger, Co-President, Alliance Partners
LinkedIn | Website - Omar Velasco, Director of Small Business Development & Lending, LEDC
Twitter | Website - Darryl Maxwell, Assistant Director, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Antonio Doss, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Day 3: Navigating Your Reopening & Recovery
Session 5: Tenant & Landlord Relationships —Strategies for a Successful Outcome
DATE: Tuesday, September 22
TIME: 9:00am – 10:15am EDT
Video Recording: Online
Local retailers and restaurants have been forced to close or significantly reduce operations due to the health pandemic. Less revenue has resulted in reducing as many expenses as possible. However, certain obligations such as their real estate lease remain. Leases that were signed during an economic growth cycle which provided certainty have now become a liability. This session covers lease and payment options to help businesses remain in their space and how landlords engage with business tenants on lease extensions, termination, and remaining terms.
Attendees will learn:
- Strategies on how to engage your landlord for rent relief
- Commercial tenants’ rights and landlord obligations
- What landlords & developers can do to support small & local business – aside from rent abatements
Panelists
- Tom Martin, Partner, Goldblatt Martin Pozen LLP (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Website - Lisa Banusiewicz, Founder/Principal Broker, Abeille Retail
LinkedIn | Website - Daniel Koffman, Attorney, Veritas Law of DC
LinkedIn | Website - Tazra Mitchell, Policy Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Lisa Mallory, CEO, DCBIA
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Alex Stepick, Director-Legal Program, Start Small Think Big Inc.
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Session 6: Employer + Employee, Public Health and Safety
DATE: Tuesday, September 22
TIME: 11:00am – 12:15pm EDT
Video Recording: Online
During the District reopening strategy, safety is top of mind of the business community as well as customers. Providing a safe and welcoming environment is critical during a health epidemic. This session seeks to ensure preparedness of businesses reopening by outlining DC Government and the Center for Disease Control regulations and guidelines, operational changes to reduce risk and safety processes to employees, and compliance measures for public health safety.
Attendees will learn:
- Best practices on keeping customers and employees safe
- Latest government guidelines businesses and customers should follow
- What the latest research tells us about the Coronavirus
Panelists
- Aisha Addison BSN, MSN, CRNP, Founder & CEO, London Addison (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Website - Erina Moriarty, HR Specialist, The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Dr. Reed Tuckson, Founder, Black Coalition Against COVID-19
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Arian Gibson, Associate Director, DC Health, Office of Food, Drug and Community Hygiene
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Day 4: Diverse Businesses = Big Impact
Session 7: Minority Business Development in the District
DATE: Thursday, September 24
TIME: 9:00am – 10:15am EDT
Video Recording: Online
Nationally over the last 10 years, minority business enterprises accounted for more than 50 percent of the two million new businesses started in the United States and created 4.7 million jobs. There are now more than four million minority-owned companies in the United States, with annual sales totaling close to $700 billion. This session offers strategies on growing, scaling, and supporting Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous business ownership in the retail & restaurant industry as the ecosystem landscape is forged.
Attendees will learn:
- Resources and programs targeted to help grow minority businesses in DC
- How to build a supportive community and business network
- Best practices and success stories from local minority businesses
Panelists
- Xina Eiland, President & CEO, X+PR | Co-Host, Get Found Get Funded Podcast (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Connie Evans, President, Association of Enterprise Opportunity
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Mary Blackford, Founder, Market Seven
LinkedIn | Website - Erinn Tucker, Founder, DMV Black Restaurant Week
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Ben de Guzman, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website
To view the recording of this session, click here.
Session 8: Restoring the Creative & Gig Economy
DATE: Thursday, September 24
TIME: 11:00am – 12:15pm EDT
Video Recording: Online
The District is home to more than 61,000 entrepreneurs who participate in the “gig” economy representing more than $3 billion in annual sales. This critical sector provides the foundation for future business and employment growth. Many of these businesses are looking to grow into brick & mortar and e-commerce retail businesses while others are vital to the restaurant industry’s supply chain. This session will cover strategies and resources available to the creative & gig economy businesses as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and how creativity can help enable the shift to address consumer and business needs through the pandemic.
Attendees will learn:
- How to adapt/shift to the new landscape as a Creative and Gig Economy Business
- Social media “must-dos” to drive sales to your website and create sustainability
- A “one person” business is a company. Finetune your back-office policy and procedures
Panelists
- Angela Stribling, Host, WHUR 96.3FM (Moderator)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Lee Wellington, Executive Director, Urban Manufacturing Alliance
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Ian Callender, Owner, Suite Nation (The Sneaker Suite)
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Shelly Steward, Associate Director of Research, Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative | Gig Economy Data Hub
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website - Madia Brown, Principal, Chief Storytelling Strategist, Brandire
LinkedIn | Twitter | Website