6 Must-Attend Summer Conferences for Every E-commerce Entrepreneur

E-commerce is a constantly changing market. As you study your market, you’ll be forgiven if you think that everything’s in flux. To be fair, it kind of is. With changing demographics, changing algorithms, and ever-evolving user experiences, it can be hard to keep up.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It takes a village”? Let’s amend that a bit.

Where it takes a village to raise a child, it sometimes takes a giant gathering of entrepreneurs to make your e-commerce business a long-term success. That doesn’t have quite the ring to it as the original saying, but let’s run with it anyway.

Plain and simple, one of the best ways you can improve the e-commerce side of your business is through attending conferences.

In 2017, e-commerce transactions accounted for $2.3 trillion (that’s trillion with a trill). By 2021, that number is expected to more than double. You don’t experience that kind of growth without massive industry changes.

Did you know that nearly one-third of American consumers purchase through voice-assisted technology? “Alexa, teach me how to market using cutting-edge technology.”

Big companies are even turning to augmented reality to sell products. Don’t try to keep up with all of these changes by yourself. Meet up with the brightest minds in the industry and learn from them.

While there are e-commerce conferences all over the United States (and throughout the world) year-round, we’ll focus on ones you can attend during the summer months. And, to be honest, a July conference sounds a lot more appealing than one in February, right?

Below, you’ll find 6 of our recommendations. These conferences are spaced out throughout the summer months and dot the whole country, in hopes that there will be at least one that fits your busy schedule.

1) Mobile Connect — June 11-13, San Diego, CA

Start off the season at Mobile Connect … if you can score an invite.

Mobile Connect tends to be the exclusive territory of senior executives. The benefit of this exclusivity, however, is that you’ll have one-on-one meetings set up with other industry leaders who can help continue to build your business.

Although the emphasis is on individual connections and networking, you’ll still have the chance to hear from experts on the forefront of the e-commerce space. If you want the chance to rub shoulders with the best of the best and take your business operations to the next level, do whatever you can to get on the list for Mobile Connect.

2) IRCE — June 5-8, Chicago, IL

The Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition (IRCE) is a prime opportunity for you to learn, network, and meet with the solution providers your business needs.

You’ll hear from e-commerce innovators from a number of companies, including trailblazers such as Harry’s and Loot Crate. And, of course, you’ll have ample opportunities to build your network.

IRCE has curated presentation content for their conference in a variety and volume that you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Regardless of the size or scope of your business, it’s a safe bet that there will be a presentation or retailer speaking directly to your business.

3) Affiliate Summit East — July 29-31, New York, NY

Affiliate Summit East has organized just about everything you could want in an e-commerce conference. You’ll be updated on the latest news and trends by speakers whose expertise ranges from marketing to law to tech.

Knowledge in hand, you’ll also be able to participate in an industry trade show where you can meet up with agencies, tech companies, and more.

The whole event is structured in a way that will allow you to network to your heart’s desire. If you’re at Affiliate Summit East, expect to come away with a full arsenal of new business tools.

4) eTail — August 6-9, Boston, MA

Whether you just opened shop or are a multi-generational success, eTail has something for you. You’ll hear from speakers representing everything from Asics, to HelloFresh, to Citizen Watches.

eTail has been around since 1999, and attracts some of the biggest brands in the world.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in the same crowd as execs from Nike or Disney. At the same time, you won’t feel out of place. eTail’s list of attendees has just as many budding entrepreneurs as it does industry giants.

You’ll be on the receiving end of invaluable knowledge and insights that will not only improve the way you approach e-commerce; it may even reshape the entire culture of your business.

5) Shop.org — Retailer’s Digital Summit — September 12-14, Las Vegas NV

You’ll have a hard time finding a more well-rounded lot than the speakers at the Shop.org Retailer’s Summit. From fashion to Facebook, you’ll hear from some of the brightest minds in the e-commerce space.

In addition, the convention has a tech space where you’ll get a glimpse of what the rest of the world will be seeing—and buying—two years from now. If you’re looking for the opportunity to get your business ahead of the curve, this is a great place to start.

6) Retail Ascendant — October 16, San Francisco, CA

Okay, we’re cheating a bit with this one by drifting a few weeks into autumn. However, Retail Ascendant is a conference you don’t want to miss. With presenting executives ranging from Barnes & Noble to Bonobos, Retail Ascendant looks to provide “holistic customer insight” for your business.

Retail Ascendant will walk you through balancing in-store and digital marketing, marketing across media platforms, and help you find new avenues for customer discovery. It’s no secret that social media marketing can be a beast; this meetup will provide you the opportunity to pick the brains of entrepreneurs from businesses of all sizes.

Make the most of this summer by augmenting your e-commerce knowledge with one (or more, if you can swing it) of these conferences. The show doesn’t end here, though. Sourcify is the top-to-bottom source to meet your e-commerce needs.

We’ll help find the right manufacturer for your business, and you have a wealth of useful tips accessible on our blog. Think of it as a year-round conference that will keep you up to date on what you need to know about e-commerce.

Summer is short.

Before you know it, it’ll be Fall. Spend your time in these months gearing up for a full year of improved e-commerce marketing, and keep yourself and your business up to date.