Overall sales have slipped, but apparel, footwear, and beauty are posting solid gains.
With consumers buying more intentionally and rewarding brands that deliver stronger experiences, Puerto Rico’s retailers are rethinking leadership, talent development and store execution.
Against that backdrop, the Retail Trade Association (ACDET) will bring together more than 1,000 executives, managers and suppliers on August 26 for its annual Retail Out of the Box summit, this year rebranded Retail Rewired – Leadership Edition.
The event arrives as retailers reassess how they allocate capital, develop talent and redesign customer experiences for a consumer who is more selective and more digitally empowered. According to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, retail sales on the island are down 2.2% year‑over‑year. Yet footwear, apparel and beauty — categories often tied to brand loyalty and experiential shopping — posted gains of 9.7%, 9.1% and 8.7%, respectively. Large chains also saw modest growth, contributing to a fiscal‑year total of $43.27 billion, up 1%.
The divergence underscores a sector in transition rather than contraction. Retailers are contending with a customer who is still spending but is more intentional about where and how they shop. That shift is forcing companies to revisit store‑level execution, workforce development and the role of technology in decision‑making.
ACDET president José González, founder of Pepe Ganga, said the industry’s challenge is no longer simply driving traffic but earning trust. “The consumer continues to buy, but with greater intention,” he noted, pointing to execution and talent development as competitive differentiators.
One of the summit’s central conversations — Categorías Ganadoras: De la Estrategia a la Tienda — will examine how brand positioning, merchandising strategy and operational discipline are influencing the categories that are outperforming the broader market. Executives from fashion, beauty and shopping centers will discuss how companies are recalibrating to meet new expectations.
Artificial intelligence is also reshaping the retail landscape. Salesforce data shows that 39% of consumers and more than half of Gen Z already use AI tools to discover products, while 75% of retailers say inefficient processes are hurting productivity. The summit will address this tension through TED‑style sessions on AI, productivity and the future of retail work, focusing on how companies can deploy technology without eroding the human elements that drive loyalty.
The keynote speaker, Rodrigo Fernández de Paredes — CEO of Xcustomer Group and a leading voice in customer and employee experience — will explore how companies can design experiences that reduce churn at a time when nearly one in three consumers has abandoned a brand due to a poor interaction, digital or in‑store.
Talent development remains a pressing concern. ACDET executive director Lymaris Otero pointed to World Economic Forum data showing that 39% of core job skills could shift by 2030 due to AI and other technological changes. Retailers, she said, will need to invest not only in digital competencies but in judgment, collaboration and problem‑solving — skills that directly influence store performance.
The summit will close with an inspirational session by attorney and speaker Arturo Mejía on personal leadership and decision‑making during periods of change.
Corporate registrations and tickets are available at acdetpr.com/events.
Up to $5,000 available for eligible businesses affected since June 1
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