With more than 700,000 independent retailers across the United States all looking for an edge in a challenging economy, The Gourmet Retailer, the leading voice for specialty food and kitchenware retailers as well as a sister publication of Progressive Grocer, is hosting “Retail 2020: Surging Ahead in Challenging Times” next month.

The intensive three-day conference, which is designed to help retailers thrive in difficult times, will be held at the Bentley Reserve in San Francisco from Aug. 4 through Aug. 6, just prior to the Gourmet Housewares Show, which will take place Aug. 8 through Aug. 10. Specialty independent retailers and industry experts will meet in a retreat environment to discuss the nuts-and-bolts strategies for maintaining growth and profitability and a culture of fun and customer service.

Featured speakers, including consumer guru (and PG contributor) Phil Lempert, and Joe Wheeler, co-author of “The Ownership Quotient,” will provide the vision and tools as independent retailers listen and share business successes. Panel discussions include “Cheaper & Better: Profitable Retailing in an I-Pod Age: Empowering Your Team; and The Perfect Storm: Solutions for Today’s Challenges, to name a few.

For a detailed schedule of events please visit www.gourmetretailer.com. For reservations, book online at http://events.ambassadors.com/ret09, by phone at (888) 267-0943 or by e-mail at retail2020@ambassadors.net.

The Gourmet Retailer has been serving retailers in the specialty food and housewares industries for over 20 years. The publication offers comprehensive articles on various issues that concern specialty food and housewares retailers, from staff training to the latest trends in prepared foods. Issues feature articles on a wide variety of topics, including product merchandising, display ideas, the coordination of special events, product introductions, gourmet food retail marketing, trade show previews and reviews, coffee and tea studies, housewares research reports, perishable foods, and much more.