The 23rd edition of RFID Journal LIVE! 2025 is beginning to take shape and one of the focuses this year is new and groundbreaking retail use cases.
The world’s largest conference and exhibition focused on radio frequency identification and related technologies, LIVE typically features more than 100 exhibitors from 26 countries showcasing best-in-class RFID tags, readers, software and implementation services.
The show in 2025 will be held May 6-8 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The 2025 conference will include three days of industry-specific and how-to tracks, as well as general education for those new to the RFID market.
Conference tracks and education sessions give participants the opportunity to hear compelling case studies, share best practices, network with their peers and learn about the latest technological advances from the vendor community.
Track: Tell Me More: Innovative Use Cases in Retail
Retail and apparel companies have been among the early adopters of RFID and IoT technologies, both internally, to improve in-store inventory visibility and accuracy, and within their shared supply chains. In this two-day track you’ll hear from acknowledged industry experts, as well as end users from around the world who have successfully implemented RFID projects with verifiable results. Retailers from Spain, Sweden, Brazil, Canada, Germany, UK and the US will share how they use technology to prevent theft, increase sales, streamline inventory management and enhance the customer experience.
Session Title: Combating Retail Theft: A Real-World Guide
Date: May 6, 10:15 AM
Speaker: John-Pierre (JP) Kamel, Managing Director, RFID Sherpas
Description: Shrinkage continues to be a growing concern for the retail industry, with organized retail crime and sophisticated theft tactics costing billions annually. Traditional loss prevention methods, such as manual audits and outdated reporting, struggle to keep up with these modern threats. In this session, Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert (2024 and 2025), John-Pierre (JP) Kamel, will focus on how organizations can leverage RFID with their ML/AI systems to unlock actionable insights by improving visibility, increasing profitability and preventing theft. Gain an understanding of how to use RFID to detect fraudulent returns, analyze internal shrink, get real-time theft alerts, develop predictive analytics, and more. Learn how to understand and address retail theft tactics and develop a comprehensive prevention plan.
Session Title: RFID Revolution: Boosting Efficiency and Accuracy in Fashion – Selmark’s Innovative Journey
Date: May 6, 11:05 AM
Speaker: Laura Alvarez, Process Engineer, Selmark
Description: Discover how Selmark, a global lingerie and apparel brand, transformed its operations with UHF RFID technology. Starting with a pilot in 2023 and scaling up in 2024, Selmark achieved 30 percent gains in picking, shipping, and receiving efficiency by tagging products at the source with SATO Global’s RFID printers and tracking them through the supply chain with RFID readers. This session explores how Selmark leveraged RFID for real-time inventory visibility, reduced errors, and streamlined processes. Learn how their innovative approach to integrating RFID with existing systems modernized production and distribution, setting a new standard for efficiency in the fashion industry.
Session Title: Global Sports Brand Scores Big with RFID
Date: May 6, 11:55 AM
Speaker: Johan Stenstrom, Supply Chain Developer, Stadium
Description: Headquartered in Sweden, retail chain Stadium sells sports-related merchandise, including apparel, in stores located throughout Europe. Stadium deployed item-level RFID technology across their retail stores, enabling them to count its stock of 30,000 items per store once a week resulting in improved inventory accuracy from 70 percent to 99 percent, as well as an increase in sales. Leveraging on that success, the firm added RFID technology to its Norrköping warehouse and its distribution center. In this session, hear how they are successfully using the technology in large tunnels equipped with RFID readers to scan incoming shipments and deliveries of products from suppliers to track and audit delivery accuracy.
Session Title: Better Together: RFID and 2D Barcodes for Retail Success
Date: May 6, 1:50 p.m.
Speakers: Chuck Lasley, Senior Director, Technology, Dillard’s
Amy Reiter, Senior Director Community Engagement – Apparel & General Merchandise, GS1 US
Description: Whether you’re a brand owner, regulator, distributor, retailer, or consumer, you need more of the right product data in the right place. GS1’s Sunrise 2027 initiative, which refers to the date industry has set to make the transition to accepting 2D barcodes at point-of-sale (POS), will significantly enhance data capacity, streamline inventory management, and provide better customer engagement. In this session, learn how 2D barcodes together with RFID as part of the smart data revolution, unlocking multiple retailer benefits.
Session Title: Carter’s Year End Inventory with RFID: “Worth Every Penny”
Date: May 6, 02:40 PM
Speaker: Anna Marie Blackburn, Sr. Strategic Initiatives Analyst – RFID, Carter’s
Description: In 2025, Carter’s successfully completed their third year of RFID fueled year-end inventory. With industry leading technology, a focus on robust store processes, and step-by-step partnerships with retail accountants across North America, Carter’s has reduced year-end spend by millions and lightened the load of closing the post-holiday books. Join us to learn more about how RFID investment led to bottom-line benefit for the market leader in children’s apparel.
Session Title: Expert Panel: Adapting to the Tech-Enabled Future of Retail
Date: May 7, 8:45 AM
Speakers: Dr. Bill Hardgrave, President, University of Memphis
Jonathan Aitken, VP Global On Product Technology, PVH
Steve LeClerc, Director, NA Distribution, Brooks Running
Gina Maddaloni, Manager, Retail Growth Initiatives, Carter’s
Hans Peter Scheidt, Delivery Lead TECH, Merchandise Visibility / RFID / EPCIS, C&A
Description: Retailers and brand owners have proven that Item-Level RFID technology brings a significant improvement to daily operations, supply chains and enhanced customer experience. But social media and ubiquitous connectivity are driving new shopping habits and ramping up consumer expectations. Join our panel of experts as they discuss the technologies that are enabling change, and how they are using RFID and other technologies to evolve and revolutionize their operations.
Session Title: Total Value for Retail: Let’s Talk About the “ID” of “RFID”
Date: May 7, 9:35 AM
Speaker: Randy Dunn, Director, Customer Success, Zebra Technologies
Description: A lot of time has been spent talking about the benefits of “RF” – long range, non-line of sight data capture. Join us to talk about what you can find out from the “ID” – item traceability to follow items through their full lifecycle, including outbound, inbound, and returns. When you start tracing items through a process, you can begin to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the process and where you need more capability and more importantly, where you can stop doing things because of an outdated data capture. This session promises to offer valuable insights into how different industries can piggyback on advancements made in the retail space, enhancing their own operational strategies and positioning themselves for future success.
Session Title: Carucci Shoes Steps into RFID to Automate Inventory Management
Date: May 7, 10:25 AM
Speaker: Janice Hu, Operations Director, Carrucci Shoes, King Windsor Group
Description: Men’s shoe company, Carrucci Shoes, is deploying an inventory management system to automate the receiving, as well as the shipping, of its goods. In 2023 when the firm received an RFID technology mandate from the retailers that sell its products, it chose to leverage the RFID tags into every boxed pair of shoes it makes, enabling the firm to achieve the inventory accuracy needed to support online purchasing from its website and creating additional internal benefits. Founded nearly 20 years ago in Los Angeles, Carrucci makes men’s dress and casual shoes, and its products are sold at department stores as well as boutiques around the world. Learn how the system has resulted in a low cancellation rate for its ecommerce sales, and high accuracy in order fulfillments to retailers.
Session Title: Retail Loss Prevention: Outsmarting Theft and Fraud
Date: May 7, 11:15 AM
Speaker: Joe Coll, VP Asset Protection Operations & Strategy, Macy’s Inc.
Alexandre Ribeiro, RFID Expert and Board Member, Abrappe-Brazilian Association for Loss Prevention
Gary Tattersall, Profit Protection Director, Harding+ GT Secure Business Strategies
Mark Roberti, Founder of RFID Journal and President of RFID Professional Institute, RFID Professional Institute
Description: Even before COVID-19 gripped the world, minimizing losses due to theft, fraud, and operational errors was always top of mind with retailers. Today, more than ever, retailers are turning to technology to combat fraudulent activity and organized crime, reduce inventory shrinkage, protect their brands and prevent inefficiencies in the supply chain process. Mark Roberti, Founder of RFID Journal and President of the RFID Professional Institute, will moderate a panel of experienced retail executives from the U.S., U. K. and Brazil in a discussion focused on proactive strategies to protect the bottom line while maintaining a secure, safe environment for shoppers and employees.
Others tracks to be held during the conference include:
- Digital Product Passport: Gateway to Sustainability, Transparency
- Beyond The Pilot: Real World Implementations and Outcomes in Manufacturing
- IoT, ChatGPT? Blockchain? AI? NLP? What Do I Do with This Stuff
- Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: What’s AI And ML Got to do With It?
- Utilizing Cutting-Edge Solutions in Healthcare, Food and Pharma
- Navigating Healthcare, Food and Retail Compliance
- Digital Doppelgangers: Powering Operations with Digital Twins and Gen AI
- DOGE Ready: Harnessing Technology to Improve Efficiency in Government and Aerospace
Training Opportunities
In addition to track sessions, LIVE! 2025 will present an advanced, one-day fast-track RFID certification course, presented by RFID4U, covering the latest equipment and relevant RFID deployment scenarios. This course will provide a solid foundation to design, install, configure, monitor and troubleshoot RFID deployment, as well as prepare participants for the RFID Professional Institute Certified Associate exam. Each participant will receive a voucher to take the exam online, after the event.
Another offering is RAIN Alliance Training, presented by RAIN Alliance, and the RAIN Alliance Sustainability and Circularity Community. As companies face increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets and build more resilient operations, understanding how RAIN technology can support these goals is essential — especially in light of evolving regulatory requirements and shifting consumer preferences toward the circular economy. Whether you’re managing projects, optimizing supply chains, or driving corporate sustainability goals, these sessions offer actionable insights and hands-on strategies tailored to your needs.
RFID Journal Awards
The awards, in their 19th year, recognize outstanding achievements in RFID and related technologies. The RFID Journal Awards honors companies that have distinguished themselves by their successful use of RFID, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies or the introduction of a valuable new RFID or IoT product or service.
These prestigious awards honor organizations and innovators who have successfully leveraged RFID and IoT technologies to transform operations, enhance efficiency, and achieve remarkable results. The awards cover seven categories this year.
- Best Manufacturing or IIoT Implementation: Recognizing the manufacturer with the most effective use of RFID, IIoT, NFC, or related technology.
- Best Retail Implementation: Honoring the retailer or brand owner with the best deployment of RFID, IoT, NFC, or related technology.
- Best Supply Chain/Logistics Implementation: This award will be given to the end-user company that has demonstrated the best use of RFID, IoT, NFC, or related technology to improve its logistics or supply chain operations, including warehouse and distribution center operations.
- Best Healthcare Implementation: Awarded to the end-user company (e.g., hospital, clinic, or pharmaceutical firm) with the most transformative use of RFID, IoT, or NFC.
- Best RFID Implementation (Other Industry): Open to end-user companies in any industry showcasing exceptional applications of RFID, IoT, NFC, or similar technologies.
- Best RFID/IoT/AI Implementation: Award recognizes organizations that have successfully integrated RFID, IoT or AI technologies to achieve transformative results.
- The Best New Product Award: The award will be given to the company that exhibits the best new RFID, IoT, NFC, or related technology product or service. To qualify for the award, the product must have been introduced after April 11, 2024.