The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) Conference is a beacon for innovators, thought leaders, and influencers within the dynamic retail realm. With its annual gathering, RILA fosters a collaborative environment where industry pioneers convene to exchange ideas, address challenges, and explore emerging retail trends. Rooted in a commitment to advancing the sector, the conference serves as a nexus for executives, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to forge meaningful connections, gain valuable insights, and chart the course for the future of retail. From transformative technologies to evolving consumer behaviors, the RILA Conference provides a platform for dialogue and innovation, driving the industry toward greater resilience, sustainability, and success.

This past month, our 3SI+Wren team attended RILA 2024 as a team for the first time since we announced the 3SI+Wren and Edge360 merger! Throughout this conference, we enjoyed collaborating and sharing our products as a comprehensive solution for security and protection.

Thoughts From the RILA Floor

RILA in One Word!

Our team thoroughly enjoyed our experience at RILA 2024. It provided 3SI+Wren the opportunity to connect with current and new customers, learn new things, and bond as a team. Here is how our team members describe their overall experience:

Whitney Wochner – Account Executive – “Exciting”

Tony Winkelman – VP Business Development – “Friends”

David Almasi – VP Sales – “Great”

Ben Tucker – Edge EVP Sales – “Solid”

Tom Meade – Sales Rep – “Awesome”

 

Unveiling Insights From RILA

The tradeshow was an invaluable experience, providing a wealth of insights and takeaways for our team. We had the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, showcase our products, and gather feedback directly from potential customers.

“My biggest takeaway at RILA is the security solution industry is moving fast, and we need to be ahead of it and continue our robust innovations and products.” was an insightful takeaway from Whitney Wochner, Account Executive.

Stepping into the world of RILA, one never quite knows what gems of knowledge await. For our Account Executive, Tom Meade, navigating the maze of new and current customers was a chance to learn “Different concerns from what the stores are experiencing.” With these new insights, our 3SI+Wren team can better understand how we can better understand and address these concerns with our collaborative security solutions.

Additionally, networking was instrumental in expanding our reach and forging new partnerships. We also gleaned valuable market intelligence, identifying new market segments and customer preferences that will inform our future strategies. Overall, the tradeshow catalyzed growth and innovation, inspiring us to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

How Do You Feel About CLEAR and RILA Collaborating?

David Almasi – VP of Sales

“I thought it was positive. We had many LE and DAs come into our booth to converse.”

Matt Blotevogel – National Account Manager

“I heard from several law enforcement attendees that they found the interaction with retailers valuable.”

Collaboration is Key!

During the conference, the synergy between 3SI and Wren was palpable. Our teams found common ground effortlessly, fostering a productive atmosphere. Beyond the professional collaboration, the personal connections forged during the conference further solidified our partnership, laying a solid foundation for future endeavors. Together, we navigated challenges, celebrated successes, and left the conference with renewed purpose and excitement for the possibilities ahead.

 “It was very positive.” Our Account Executive, Tom Meade, describes the collaboration: “There were clients to walk from one booth to the other. Participants engaged with each other. We are working toward being one team.” 

Amongst 3SI and Wren collaborating for the first time, this was also the first time CLEAR and RILA joined forces to create a more immersive experience. This brought together law enforcement and DAs to strategize further on how to #stopthecrimecycle. With this opportunity, 3SI+Wren broadened its audiences and connected with various members impacted by the crime cycle. “We had lots of LE and DAs come into our booth to have conversations,” said David Almasi, VP of Sales.

A Brighter Future

Next year, our company is revolutionizing our approach to attending tradeshows, embracing a more dynamic and interactive strategy. Part of this strategy is having 3SI, Wren, and other partners become fully integrated as one business, thus making this a game changer in our industry where we can show current and new customers how we are the one-stop shop for #stoppingthecrimecycle but creating comprehensive security solutions for retailers.

Ben Tucker – EVP of Sales – “We can and will be fully integrated as one business.”

It’s A Wrap!

In summary, following RILA 2024, 3SI+Wren is excited at the opportunities for us to work with all types of retailers – including jewelers, mobile providers, clothing, and more – to take them to the next level by protecting their operations, their assets, their brands and, most importantly, their people. With these efforts, we can #stopthecrimecycle and create a #SaferWorld!