Want to keep up with top trends in ecommerce marketing? One of the three best ways to do this is to attend a conference on the topic. With hundreds of ecommerce conferences throughout the country each year, it’s not difficult to find one that’s right for you. The question then becomes how to choose the proper fit.

15 Best Ecommerce Conferences for 2020

Here are a few of our favorite ecommerce conferences for 2020:

1. National Retail Federation

When: Jan 11-14, 2020

Where: New York City, NY | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: Branded as “retail’s big show,” NRF is the world’s largest retail conference and expo. Each year, the conference draws more than 38,000 attendees. It also hosts 16,000 retailers and 800 exhibitors from over 99 countries.

Because of this, attending NRF can act as a springboard for ecommerce professionals. At this conference, you’ll meet and connect with experts from some of the world’s most successful ecommerce brands. 2020 speakers include Annie Agle, the Brand and Impact Director for Cotopaxi, Mercedes Abramo President and CEO of Cartier, and more. 

 2. eCommerceFuel Live

When: February 2-5, 2020

Where: San Antonio, TX | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: Ecommerce Fuel Live, located in beautiful San Antonio, Texas, bills itself as the conference of choice for anyone who owns a store or small, independent business. Unlike other conferences, though, you can’t just sign up.

Instead, all registrants are vetted. Your business must be a certain size (7 figures or more each year) to qualify. According to conference organizers, “This ensures you connect with knowledgeable, experienced entrepreneurs. Last year’s average attendee did more than $3 million in annual sales.”

If you attend the event, you’ll enjoy three days of learning, networking, and entertainment with other small business owners and ecommerce entrepreneurs. 

 3. eTail West

When: February 24-27, 2020

Where: Palm Springs, CA | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: eTail West lands on the “top list of ecommerce conferences” each year – and for a good reason. This conference attracts the ecommerce industry’s top thought leaders as well as C-suite executives from the most successful ecommerce brands in the country. Attendees leave with actionable takeaways and critical new connections. 

 4. Shoptalk

When: March 22-25, 2020

Where: Las Vegas, NV | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: Known nationally as “Retail’s Best Show,” ShopTalk welcomes a variety of merchants, including ecommerce and online-based retailers and brick-and-mortar sellers.  Each year, more than 8,000 people attend. Collectively, these attendees represent more than 3,000 companies. 

If you choose to attend Shoptalk, you’ll spend three days learning from dozens of speakers in more than 100 sessions. Attendees leave with competitive insights regarding the latest technologies, business models, and trends, and increased visibility into how customers shop and engage with ecommerce brands.  

 5. Magento Imagine

When: March 29-April 2, 2020

Where: Las Vegas, NV | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: Imagine, organized each year by eCommerce giant Magento, attracts more than 3,500 attendees from 60 countries. Billed as the “must-attend global commerce conference,” Imagine is a relatively recent addition to Adobe’s Experience Cloud.

Still, it brings together some of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the entire ecommerce industry. For 2019, sessions included talks by Gary Vaynerchuk, of VaynerX, Troy Brown of Zumiez, and Jules Pierri of The Grommet. 2020’S conference promises to pack the same punch.

6. Sellers Summit

When: May 6 – May 8, 2020

Where: Fort Lauderdale, FL | US

Why You Should Consider Attending: Billed as “the ultimate ecommerce learning conference,” Sellers Summit is an event focused on teaching attendees things they can leave with and apply to their businesses.

The curriculum-based conference gives ecommerce professionals the tools they need to succeed, whether they’re selling on Amazon or running their storers. Named one of the top 11 ecommerce conferences of 2016 by Entrepreneur, Sellers Summit is not one to miss.  

7. SubSummit

When: May 29 – May 29, 2020

Where: Dallas, Texas

Why You Should Consider Attending: If you run a subscription service and you’re looking for a conference that caters to you, SubSummit is an excellent option. According to the conferences’ website, “SubSummit is the first and only conference devoted exclusively to those who work in or alongside the subscription commerce industry.”

As subscription commerce continues to grow rapidly, retailers can find it challenging to keep up. Luckily, SubSummit provides the connections, actionable skills, and best practices leaders and innovators need to scale their businesses, create a winning visual identity, and continue building a durable brand. 2020’s schedule features more than 100 speakers, including Dawn Robertson, CEO of Campus, Deena Bronze, Co-FOunder of KitNipBox, and Ryan Hogan, Co-Founder, and CEO of Hunt a Killer. 

8. Shopify Unite

When: May 6 – May 8,  2020

Where: Toronto, ON | Canada

Why You Should Consider Attending: Shopify Unite is a conference specifically designed for Shopify Partners and Developers. Held in beautiful and innovative Toronto, Ontario, Shopify Unite seeks to foster connections between the ecommerce developer and partner community and to create a generative environment for the future of online commerce. 

According to the conference’s website, “Shopify is building for the long-term—a future of unprecedented opportunity that would not be possible without you, our valued partners and developers.”

9. Adweek’s Challenger Brands Summit

When: March 4-5th, 2020

Where: New York | New York

Why You Should Consider Attending: It’s no secret that the ecommerce world has changed rapidly in recent years. Today, innovation and agility are more important than ever before, and something as simple as seemingly simple as consumer insights can spell the difference between a company’s success or its failure.

If you’re one of the many ecommerce leaders who want to foster agility and innovation, the Challenger Brands Summit is a great conference to attend. This year represents the brand’s second-annual conference and focuses on 12 essential topics that impact the ecommerce environment. 2020 speakers include Mayur Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer of Freshly, Noah Kerner, CEO of Acorns, John Sheldon, CMO of Smile Direct Club, and Carolyn DeWitt, President and Executive Director of Rock the Vote. 

10. eTail Canada

When: May 4-6, 2020

Where: Toronto, Ontario | Canada

Why You Should Consider Attending: Since its inception, eTail Canada has sought to educate and connect Canadain retailers. The conference brings together ecommerce business owners to share ideas, forge connections, and discuss rapidly-shifting industry trends.

Each year, the agenda covers everything from ecommerce branding to innovative growth strategies. Open to anyone from big-box retailers to lean ecommerce startups, this conference is an excellent place to learn more about engaging with the Canadian market. 

11. Empowery

When: February 20-21, 2020

Where: Los Angeles, California

Why You Should Consider Attending: The Empowered eCommerce Cooperative Conference is a woman’s only eCommerce event held on February 20th and 21st this year. Organized by a group of female ecommerce leaders, for other eCommerce leaders, Empowery believes that we go further together than we do separately and that intelligent connections and partnerships are critical to keeping the ecommerce industry adapting and growing.

According to conference organizers, “The Empowery eCommerce Cooperative is about uniting the power of individual Internet Sellers so that each member can accomplish more. In the co-op culture, you are never on your own.” This conference is ideal for  Amazon sellers, retail arbitrageurs, and third-party or private label sellers who have moved their stores to Shopify or WooCommerce, rather than (or in addition to) Amazon. 

12. IRCE

When: June 9 – 11, 2020

Where: Chicago, IL

Why You Should Consider Attending: A Chicago-based conference, IRCE brings together marketers, developers, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, analysts, and more. Like some of the other conventions on this list, IRCE welcome both online and offline retailers and seeks to marry the efforts of experience and education. Here, you’ll learn to enable optimization for your business in the ever-changing retail landscape. 

13. West Coast eCommerce

When: January 28 – 29, 2020

Where: Los Angeles, CA

Why You Should Consider Attending: Each year, West Coast eCommerce attracts more than 400 eCommerce professionals. The conference provides space for these ecommerce experts to share knowledge, generate new ideas, find innovative solutions to problems, and more. If you’re looking for a place where you can learn and evolve as a business owner, this is an excellent option.

A collaborative learning experience, the conference brings together regional, national, and international retailers. 2020 speakers include Jeff Borsuk, Head of Growth for Harper Wilde, Alyssa Perry, Senior Director of Marketing for FabFitFun, and Douglas Roy, VP of Supply Chain for Dollar Shave Club. 

14. B2B Online

When: April 20 – 22, 2020

Where: Chicago, IL 

Why You Should Consider Attending: B2B Online is the only ecommerce event that brings together the top leaders in manufacturing and distribution, and creates an environment where professionals can meet, learner, build a community, and generate new ideas.

This year’s agenda was developed by leaders in the industry, and is billed as including “the most disruptive digital and eCommerce content.” No matter what stage of business your ecommerce efforts are currently focusing on, B2B Online will give you the actionable insights you need to grow your business faster.

15. eCommerce Operations Summit

When: April 14 – 16, 2020

Where: Orlando, FL

Why You Should Consider Attending: Enjoy an immersive experience and learn the skills you need to grow your ecommerce efforts this year with the eCommerce Operations Summit.

Dedicated to teaching innovative mindsets, as well as the tactics and strategies ecommerce professionals need to survive and thrive, this Orlando-based conference teaches attendees to cut costs, find creative solutions to common problems, and more. 

Expand Your Knowledge With Conferences This Year: Why you Should Attend

Attending at least one ecommerce conference each year is an excellent way to build your business and learn new skills. While any conference provides education, ecommerce conferences are a special breed.

As the ecommerce industry continues to grow, ecommerce conferences remain the best opportunities for leaders to connect, solve problems, and continue driving the industry forward. 

Ready to learn more about how ecommerce companies can boost their businesses in the coming year? Check out the H Hub blog today.