RLC Global Forum

What RLC Global Forum does

RLC Global Forum is an invite-only event management platform that convenes senior leaders from the global retail, luxury, fashion, grocery, and technology sectors. Operated by New York Institute of Management Inc. (NYIM) and headquartered in New York, the organization runs a portfolio of branded gatherings including the flagship RLC Annual Forum (held in Riyadh), the RLC Fashion Summit (held in Milan during Fashion Week), the RLC CEO Summit, and the RLC Honors recognition program. Founded around 2013, RLC positions itself as a cross-sector convening body linking business executives, policymakers, investors, and academia, with the 2025 Annual Forum drawing over 2,000 senior leaders from 42 countries.

The underlying operating model is event-driven rather than technology-driven. RLC distributes access through gated registration (requiring corporate email domains), invitation-only attendance, and a content platform (Retail Insights blog, gated post-event reports, newsletter). Supporting infrastructure includes a website, networking apps, and event platforms, but no proprietary AI products, APIs, or developer-facing technology surface is documented. Recent product expansions include the NextGen Retail Challenge (a hackathon series), the Kering Generation Award xMENA, and the RLC-BCG joint merchandising initiative launched at the 2026 Annual Forum.

RLC's revenue mechanics rest on two streams: event ticket sales (described as non-refundable and non-transferable, with pricing not publicly disclosed) and corporate sponsorship and partnership fees, where sponsors gain access to senior retail executive audiences and contact details for collaboration. Strategic co-hosts and institutional partners (BCG, Hamat, Saudi Fashion Commission, IGDS, PNU, Monsha'at, Tamara) anchor both content credibility and distribution. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds and a small headcount of 11-50 employees.

Name

RLC Global Forum

Legal name

New York Institute of Management Inc.

Website

https://rlcglobalforum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RLC Global Forum is an invite-only event platform that convenes senior retail, luxury, fashion, and technology executives through flagship forums in Riyadh and Milan, generating revenue from ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Event Management Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership Summits (C-Suite, Board, Strategy Offsites) (THAHAMAA), Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Retail industry events
• Leadership forums
• Fashion summits
• Executive networking conferences
• Corporate event management

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event Ticket Sales: RLC Global Forum sells tickets to attend its flagship forums, fashion summits, and CEO summits. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable per the terms and conditions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; attendance is subject to acceptance and availability.
2. Sponsorship and Partnership: The forum generates revenue through official sponsors who gain access to attendee lists and networking opportunities with senior retail executives. Sponsors receive contact details of participants for industry collaboration purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RLC Global Forum is a conference and events platform that organizes invite-only leadership gatherings for senior retail, fashion, and luxury industry executives. Its core offerings include the RLC Annual Forum (held in Riyadh), RLC Fashion Summit (held in Milan during Fashion Week), and RLC CEO Summit, which convene C-suite leaders, policymakers, investors, and academics for high-level dialogue on retail strategy, AI integration, and global commerce.

Product overview

RLC Global Forum is a conference and events platform operating as a suite of branded gatherings for the retail, luxury, and fashion industries. The core portfolio includes the RLC Annual Forum (flagship annual event), RLC Fashion Summit (fashion-focused summit), RLC CEO Summit (executive-only gathering), and RLC Honors (awards recognition program). Supporting offerings include the Partner Network for industry collaboration, Featured Industry Voices for expert content, and Retail Insights as a publication platform covering retail trends and analysis. Special initiatives include the NextGen Retail Challenge (talent development hackathon) and various partnerships such as the RLC-BCG merchandising initiative and Kering Generation Award. The organization is operated by New York Institute of Management Inc. (NYIM) and hosts events primarily in Riyadh and Milan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RLC Annual Forum: Flagship annual forum convening global retail leaders for high-impact dialogue and collaboration
• RLC Fashion Summit
• RLC CEO Summit
• RLC Honors
• NextGen Retail Challenge

Products and services

• RLC Annual Forum Flagship annual gathering convening senior voices from retail, investment, policy, and academia to exchange strategic foresight and drive collaboration on global commerce. Held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• RLC Fashion Summit Specialized summit bringing together global CEOs, institutional leaders, policymakers, and key voices from the fashion and luxury ecosystem for high-level exchange on forces reimagining growth across the industry. Held in Milan.
• RLC CEO Summit An exclusive, intimate gathering of chief executives for focused dialogue on strategic leadership and industry direction within retail and adjacent sectors.
• RLC Honors Recognition program honoring outstanding leadership and innovation across the retail and fashion industries, featuring Lifetime Achievement Awards presented at events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 senior leaders from 42 countries participate in flagship forum events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026RLC Global Forum partnered with IGDS on the 2026 World Department Store Summit held in Mexico City. IGDS has 43 members across 38 countries generating over US$43 billion in combined sales in 2024.
• HamatflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Co-host of the 2026 RLC Global Forum in Riyadh. Hamat partnered with RLC to deliver the flagship forum event featuring high-level dialogue among senior retail executives, policymakers, and investors.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Launched RLC-BCG joint initiative on merchandising at the 2026 RLC Global Forum. Deep strategic partnership focused on industry research and merchandising innovation across the retail sector.
• TamaracoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 February 2026Built the NextGen Retail Challenge with Tamara at the 2026 RLC Global Forum. Tamara provided support for the innovation competition that awarded Mersad, Bite Box, and Riyal with cash prizes and mentorship.
• Saudi Fashion CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Partner for the second edition of the Kering Generation Award xMENA, launched at the 2026 RLC Global Forum. Collaboration supports emerging fashion designers and regional fashion industry development.
• Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at PNU partnered with RLC Global Forum to launch the NextGen Retail Challenge, Saudi Arabia's first industry-led initiative dedicated to retail talent development.
• Monsha'atcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Saudi Arabian General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) partnered with RLC Global Forum to support the NextGen Retail Challenge and retail talent development aligned with Vision 2030 priorities.
• International Retail CouncilcoreOthersRLC Global Forum maintains an International Retail Council as part of its stakeholder network, representing a broader ecosystem of retail industry collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pitti Immagine: Organizes Pitti Uomo and other major fashion trade shows in Florence, attracting global fashion and luxury executives and buyers. Comparable as an Italian-rooted fashion executive event platform, with overlapping luxury brand participation though focused on menswear/trade show format.

Direct peers

• National Retail Federation (NRF): Operates the NRF Big Show, the largest annual retail industry conference in the US, plus year-round policy and research programs for senior retail executives. Direct competitor in the executive retail conference category, with a similar mix of flagship events, sponsorships, and policy dialogue.
• Fondazione Altagamma: Italian foundation that promotes Italian high-end cultural and creative industries (fashion, luxury, design) and convenes Italian luxury CEOs (Altagamma logo appears as a partner on RLC's site). Directly comparable as a luxury/fashion industry convening body with overlapping executive attendees and partnership signals.
• Shoptalk: Runs large-scale retail and consumer goods conferences (Shoptalk, Shoptalk Fall, Groceryshop) in the US and UK, attracting retail executives, brands and technology providers. Directly comparable as a multi-event retail conference platform, though Shoptalk is more open-registration and broader in scope than RLC's invite-only format.
• Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana: Organizer of Milan Fashion Week and other Italian fashion events, bringing together fashion houses, luxury brands and policymakers. Directly comparable as the organizer of the very Milan Fashion Week ecosystem in which the RLC Fashion Summit is embedded, with shared Italian luxury attendees.
• Business of Fashion (BoF): A media and events company covering the global fashion and luxury industry, including the BoF Professional Summit and BoF China Summit. Comparable as a fashion/luxury executive event platform with overlapping attendee profiles (CEOs, institutional leaders, investors).

Broad incumbents

• CES (Consumer Technology Association): Runs CES in Las Vegas, the largest consumer electronics and technology trade show, with massive sponsorship, ticketing and exhibitor revenue. Comparable as a flagship global trade event platform with overlapping retail/technology executive audiences, though broader in scope.
• World Economic Forum: Operates the annual Davos forum and other convenings that bring together CEOs, policymakers, and thought leaders across industries. Comparable as a large-scale invite-only executive forum platform with similar public-private dialogue positioning, though broader than retail/luxury.

Emerging players

• Vogue Business / Vogue Forces of Fashion: Vogue Business runs executive-level fashion/luxury summits (e.g., Vogue Forces of Fashion) targeting CEOs and creative leaders. Comparable as a media-affiliated luxury executive event brand with overlapping attendee and sponsor profiles.
• Jing Daily: Media and events company covering luxury in China and the wider Asia-Pacific market, including executive events for luxury executives. Comparable as a luxury-focused event and content platform, with overlap on China/Asia-facing retail and luxury executive audiences relevant to RLC's expansion plans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rlcglobalforum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rlcglobalforum8370
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rlcglobalforum
• Instagraminstagram.com/rlcglobalforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RLC Global Forum