Agenda  |  2025 

Sunday, March 9, 2025
2:30PM - 3:00PM
3:00PM - 4:00PM
4:15PM - 5:45PM

Refreshments Served
Longhorn Exhibit Hall BCD
6:00PM - 7:30PM
Monday, March 10, 2025
7:30AM - 8:00AM

Tate Ballroom B-C
8:00AM - 9:00AM

Tate Ballroom B-C
9:20AM - 10:35AM
9:20AM - 11:00AM
11:00AM - 2:00PM

Lunch (12:00pm - 1:00pm) & Refreshments Served
Longhorn Exhibit Hall BCD
2:20PM - 3:10PM

Take a sneak peek inside a new immersive concept.

Join a candid discussion with professional females in trade roles to learn about their challenges, successes and opportunities in the industry.

Learn how AI is automating the design process, as well as reducing costs, design time and maximizing productivity. 

Learn how integrating various building-wide systems—such as HVAC, lighting, alarms, and security—onto a single IT managed network infrastructure can improve cost and energy efficiency. 
3:20PM - 4:10PM

Take a first-hand look inside the hottest trends in retail formats. 

Explore how AI is helping retailers improve maintenance operations, manage loss prevention efforts, and automate repetitive and time-consuming facilities tasks.

Find out what it takes to fast-track the permitting process and keep construction projects moving forward efficiently.

Learn the strategies needed to transition to new, less flammable refrigerants (A2Ls), as well as their impact on HVAC equipment and new electrical requirements. 

Hear from the Skilled Trades Advisory Council (STAC) on how it is addressing the shortage of skilled labor in the retail industry and creating awareness of the growing need for skilled trades. 
4:20PM - 5:10PM

This session dives into the interactive digital tools that support collaboration and data collection to improve project management on job sites. The discussion also highlights how these solutions support better decision-making throughout project development and later, for on-site maintenance.

Learn how AI is driving more efficiency across retail professionals' day-to-day responsibilities, including new building and remodeling projects. Learn how AI tools leverage an organization's data across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, enabling to users to work more efficiently and creatively.

Learn how the practice of architectural reuse enables retailers to cost-effectively give buildings a different look or purpose—and avoid complete demolition or new construction.

This session explores the use of recyclable and renewable materials, and strategies to minimize energy consumption and waste production. 

This session will address how regular maintenance of parking lots and pavements protects against environmental damage and prevents costly repairs. Also, find out what you need know before starting paving projects and learn about available sustainable options, including semi-permeable solutions.
6:30PM - 8:00PM
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
7:30AM - 8:00AM

Tate Ballroom B-C
8:00AM - 8:15AM
8:15AM - 9:10AM

Tate Ballroom B-C
9:30AM - 11:10AM
11:15AM - 1:45PM

Lunch (12:15pm - 1:15pm) & Refreshments Served
Longhorn Exhibit Hall BCD
2:00PM - 2:50PM

Learn the strategies needed to ensure the design, marketing, fixtures and branding all come together during a store rollout. Learn how to prevent organizational and departmental silos throughout the final stages of development.

Build an action plan that will help your company decrease emissions across your business and hit net-zero goals. 

Meet some of the companies featured on Chain Store Age’s annual list of the Top Retail Center Experiences. Hear from key decision makers leading the nation's most talked about retail experiences.

Retailers are relying on already overworked staffs to detect and report maintenance issues. Discover how applying analytics, automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help retailers identify issues, prioritize projects and create more accurate maintenance budgets. 

U.S. store sizes continue to shrink, enabling retailers to drive down operating costs, simplify design concepts and pilot new formats. Hear success stories from the retailers that are opting for smaller footprints. 
3:00PM - 3:50PM

When planning projects, retailers need to stay in budget and prepare for unexpected costs. This session provides best practices when creating project budgets, and understanding build-out costs.

Explore the key drivers for site selection. Understand the tools and qualitative aspects of the process, as well as budget considerations.

This session shares tips and tricks on how to find the right vendor the right solution and define the value of potential partnerships. Hear the techniques needed for negotiating and structuring partnerships that benefit all parties involved.

This session will focus on blending digital and physical elements into brick-and-mortar locations to create consistent and engaging offerings.

Learn strategies needed to reduce energy usage, including the importance of upgrading HVAC systems, conducting energy efficiency audits, and more.
3:15PM - 3:45PM
4:15PM - 4:45PM
4:45PM - 5:15PM
6:30PM - 10:00PM

Glass Cactus at Gaylord Texan

Here’s What Retailers are Saying About SPECS!