The CHPTA-COPA “Discovering the Future of Consumer Behaviour” Fall Conference is being held on November 21st at the Richmond Hill Country Club with a great line-up of speakers.
Presentation Topics:
- Economic Update & Outlook: Join TD Economist Rishi Sondhi for a presentation by one of TD Bank’s top economists on the key factors impacting the Canadian, U.S. and Global economies. This session will provide you with key insights into GDP, consumer spending and the Canadian housing market; forecasts for inflation, interest rates and the Canadian dollar; as well as update you on other important economic issues to keep you in the know as you finalize your business planning for 2025.
- Consumer Purchasing Behaviour Insights: Join us for a presentation by Brian Lamar of Open Brand (formerly TraQline) who will provide insights into consumer purchasing behaviour and key industry trends. Understand what is motivating consumers to buy products within a number of our industry product categories; where are they buying from; what brands are they buying; and what are the factors influencing their decisions. OpenBrand is a real-time market intelligence provider, delivering actionable insights and expert analysis for the consumer durables industry and beyond. Their tools merge market share, mindshare, pricing, promotions, and media data to empower brands and retailers to drive results.
- A Deep Dive into Canada’s Home Refresh Industry: Join Michael Scida, VP Retail, Business Development, Environics Analytics, as he presents valuable market size data for the home goods & improvement market; info on key customer groups and secondary markets; insights on consumer demographics, spend, behaviours and trends. This session will identify where the opportunities are to grow your business. Environics Analytics (EA) is the largest data & insights solution provider in Canada. From developing your analysis strategy to implementing and measuring your results, EA will partner with you to achieve the results that data promises.
This conference is an invaluable opportunity for professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve in understanding and responding to the dynamic shifts in consumer behaviour. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with peers, learn from industry experts, and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the future successfully.
Industry Hall of Fame Luncheon:
After the conference presentations, join us for the Hall of Fame Luncheon as we induct Michael McLarney (Hardlines) and Bill Morrison (formerly of Ace Canada, TruServ Canada, HBC) into the Canadian Hardware & Housewares Industry Hall of Fame.
Agenda:
Registration: 8:00 am – 8:30 am
Welcoming Remarks: 8:30 am – 8:45 am
Speaker Presentations: 8:45 am – 10:30 am
Break: 10:30 am – 10:45 am
Speaker Presentations (Continued): 10:45 am – 12:45 pm
Hall of Fame Luncheon: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Hall of Fame Inductions: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Pricing (does not include HST):
Speakers & Hall of Fame Luncheon (This ticket will provide you with access to the full day including morning speaker presentations, Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $295
Speakers & Hall of Fame Luncheon, 3 tickets (This option provides tickets for 3 attendees to access to the full day including morning speaker presentations, Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $800
Speaker Presentations Only (You will be registered to hear our conference presenters only, does not include the Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $220
Hall of Fame Luncheon Only (This ticket will provide you with access to the Hall of Fame Luncheon only, including the Inductions Ceremony) $75
Non-Members: Non-Member Speakers & Hall of Fame Luncheon (This ticket will provide you with access to the full day including morning speaker presentations, Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $369
Non-Member Speakers & Hall of Fame Luncheon, 3 tickets (This option provides tickets for 3 attendees to access to the full day including morning speaker presentations, Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $995
Non-Member Speaker Presentations Only (You will be registered to hear our conference presenters only, does not include the Hall of Fame Luncheon & Inductions Ceremony) $285
Non-Member Hall of Fame Luncheon Only (This ticket will provide you with access to the Hall of Fame Luncheon only, including the Inductions Ceremony) $75
Meet the Speakers:
Rishi Sondhi has been with the TD Economics team since 2017, where he is responsible for analyzing and forecasting provincial economies and housing markets and is a contributor to a variety of TD publications.
Prior to TD Bank, he worked with a real estate consulting firm where he researched and forecasted housing markets across Canada, as well as provincial and municipal economic activity. His extensive forecasting experience includes work with the Bank of Canada, the Ontario Construction Secretariat, CMHC and another major financial institution. In the latter role, he forecasted the economic performance of both the U.S. and Canadian economies. Rishi holds an Honours B.A. degree in Economics from The University of Western Ontario.
Currently, Brian serves as the Strategic Director of Survey Products at OpenBrand, where he leads efforts to integrate diverse data sources, including DurableIQ, to help brands optimize their market research efforts and drive actionable insights.
Brian has held a variety of leadership roles across the consumer insights landscape, from guiding custom market research projects to designing strategic initiatives that address complex business challenges. His passion for improving research quality and his ability to implement forward-thinking solutions—such as leveraging artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, and third-party data—has made him a sought-after thought leader in the field.
An active contributor to the market research community, Brian frequently speaks at industry conferences and has served in leadership roles, including on the Insights Association Board, industry committees to improve survey data quality, and various advisory boards. He has also conducted and published research that furthers industry best practices and innovation.
With a constant drive to push the boundaries of market research, Brian continues to focus on shaping the future of the insights industry through cutting-edge data techniques and creative, strategic solutions.
Michael Scida, Vice President, Retail Business Development, Environics Analytics, has over 18 years of experience in retail, gaming, real estate, marketing, financial services, analytics, customer insights and geodemography. Michael brings his passion for combining technical and analytical expertise to deliver data-driven insights in support of strategic objectives.
His expertise lies in leveraging omnichannel opportunities to help retail, restaurant and gaming clients find the best location opportunities and to develop the optimum media mix in reaching targeted consumers for future growth.
