
VIP Connect: Las Vegas 2025
Strengthening Partnerships, Shaping the Future
Continuing the Conversation from VIP Connect: Chicago 2024
VIP Connect: Las Vegas 2025 built upon the foundation set in Chicago, continuing a powerful series of intimate, solution-focused gatherings designed to bridge the gap between retailers, vendors, and industry thought leaders. This exclusive, invite-only event at the scenic Bali Hai Golf Club provided a dynamic space for open discussions, fostering meaningful relationships that drive innovation and growth within the retail industry.
Key Themes and Takeaways:
1. The Power of Human Connection
Authentic relationships remain the cornerstone of successful retail partnerships. Retailers and vendors alike emphasized the importance of trust, transparency, and collaboration in creating long-term success.
2. Breaking Down Barriers
Understanding the unique challenges, pressures, and perspectives on both sides of the retail-vendor relationship is key to shifting away from an outdated “hunter and hunted” mentality. VIP Connect continues to promote a “grow together” mindset.
3. Transparency as a Trust Builder
Honest conversations about pricing, differentiators, budgets, and internal processes enable stronger, more effective partnerships.
4. Improving the Sales Process
Long sales cycles and complex RFP processes remain a challenge. Attendees explored strategies to streamline communication and improve efficiency in forming partnerships.
5. AI as a Retail Game-Changer
Emerging technologies, particularly AI, are reshaping the retail landscape. VIP Connect sessions provided an opportunity to explore the impact of AI on retail operations, customer experience, and vendor collaboration.
6. Value Beyond the TransactionShared values, cultural alignment, and mutual commitment to success matter just as much as financial negotiations. Building partnerships based on these principles creates a more resilient and innovative retail ecosystem.

Why VIP Connect Matters
The VIP Connect series is more than just a meeting of minds—it’s a movement. These events provide an essential platform for the VIP and greater retail community to address key challenges, foster real connections, and collectively shape the future of the industry. By creating small, thoughtfully curated cohorts of leaders, VIP Connect ensures that every conversation is meaningful and every relationship has the potential to drive real impact.

Be Part of the Next VIP Connect Event
VIP Connect is an ongoing series of intimate, high-impact gatherings that bring together the brightest minds in retail. If you are a retailer, vendor, or industry leader looking to be part of these transformative discussions, we invite you to reach out.
Get Involved Outside of the Room
While the VIP Connect event itself is a closed discussion with limited seating, the outcome is designed to serve the industry as a whole. Sign up for the Vendors in Partnership newsletter to learn more about how the event went, what we learned, and how you could get involved in a future VIP Connect gathering or other Vendors in Partnership event.