Stanford Business Behind the Scenes: Giordano International Limited:
Site Visit and Senior Management Q&A

(including the CFO, COO, GM Shenzhen, General Counsel and Corporate Controller)

Morning, Saturday, 7 March 2015, 09:00 am to 13:45 pm @ Giordano Shops, Shenzhen

Retail in Transition Site Visit (new vs. older generation) with Detailed Senior Management Discussion of Strategy & Challenges with GSB Attendee Feedback

Event Details:

As part of the Chapter’s Mission Statement on life-long learning, the Business Behind the Scenes Program was initiated to give our Membership rare insights on how leading organizations operate from the inside, combining an on-site tour with the opportunity during the same to have engaged dialogue with senior management.

For 2015’s first “Stanford: Business Behind the Scenes” event, senior Giordano management (including Dominic Irwin, CFO; Gary Chan, Executive Director and COO; Michelle Yam, Corporate Controller; Mark Loynd, General Counsel; Vivian Shen, GM Shenzhen) have generously agreed to host an insider’s visit of their newest generation retail stores designed to meet the PRC consumer market’s specific challenges.  The site visit will include both latest and legacy model stores with a detailed discussion by management of the thinking and objectives behind each.

China, with over 1000 stores, represents Giordano’s single most important market.  Yet the PRC retail sector is under significant pressure – from oversupply, from high rents, from declining sales, and an increasingly sophisticated and demanding customer base with global knowledge and requirements.  The impact of online channels on physical store retailers should not be underestimated.  Giordano is also considering how the emergence of mobile and other digital technology will transform the retail landscape going forward.

Founded in 1981, listed on the HKSE (709.HK) and boasting today 2400 stores in 40 countries and 8,000 employees, Giordano, after an initial unsuccessful foray into high-end retail, facing near bankruptcy, was repositioned into one of the earliest pioneers of fast casual clothing in Asia, inspired by United Colors of Benetton, Gap, Marks & Spencer and even McDonald’s in its simple design, value for money proposition and bright colors and high quality. From these same competitors, Giordano drew inspiration to reimagine then-Hong Kong mid-priced store customer service.

The Behind the Scenes site visit is a unique opportunity to see how Giordano is seeking to address these challenges and a unique opportunity for GSB attendees to proactively engage with management and exchange views on the same.  Management is keen to listen to Stanford alumni and their ideas, observations and insights into Giordano’s challenges. We look forward to welcoming you to this special event.