List of Ecommerce Events in Chicago – 2025-2026

Chicago is a major hub for ecommerce, hosting multiple conferences and networking events across 2025-2026 for ecommerce conferences, summits, and networking events. With multiple verified events spanning B2B commerce, digital marketing, retail innovation, and customer engagement, the city offers year-round opportunities for professionals to connect, learn, and grow. From massive trade shows to intimate networking mixers, Chicago's ecommerce event landscape caters to startups and enterprise brands alike. For businesses looking to maximize the value of connections made at these events, tools that help identify high-intent website visitors can transform new contacts into measurable revenue opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Chicago hosts major ecommerce events throughout 2025-2026, with peak activity between April and October
• Major venues include McCormick Place, Chicago Marriott Downtown, and Hilton Chicago
• Events range from free networking mixers to multi-day conferences attracting thousands
• B2B commerce and retail innovation represent the strongest event categories in Chicago
• Downtown Magnificent Mile corridor contains the highest concentration of ecommerce events
• Professional development opportunities span digital marketing, CRM strategy, and first-party data management

1. B2B Online Chicago 2026

B2B Online Chicago stands as the premier B2B digital commerce event in the Midwest, drawing hundreds of B2B leaders for three days of strategic sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities. The conference focuses on helping manufacturing and distribution companies accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.

Event Details:

• Date: May 4-6, 2026
• Venue: Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
• Address: 540 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
• Format: In-Person

Key Topics Covered:

• B2B eCommerce strategy and digital innovation
• AI integration in B2B commerce
• Omnichannel strategy for B2B
• Digital marketing and sales optimization
• Customer journey mapping
• Payment and pricing strategies

The conference attracts manufacturing and distribution leaders, B2B ecommerce professionals, digital marketing executives, and sales leaders. For attendees focused on lead generation strategies, the networking sessions provide valuable partnership opportunities. With early bird pricing available for advance registrations.

2. Digital Grocery Summit USA 2025

The Digital Grocery Summit represents USA's premier eCommerce conference exclusively for retailers and CPG brands. The one-day intensive program addresses the rapidly growing online grocery market, which is expected to reach $455.90 billion by 2029 according to industry projections.

Event Details:

• Date: May 21, 2025
• Time: Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM CDT
• Venue: Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile
• Address: 511 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60611
• Format: In-Person

Agenda Highlights:

• Breakfast networking reception (8:00 AM)
• Keynote sessions on scaling digital commerce
• Breakout presentations on AI-driven personalization
• Panel discussions on omnichannel retail strategies
• Roundtable debates on data-driven decision making
• Multiple networking opportunities throughout the day

The summit attracts retailers, CPG brands, eCommerce directors, digital commerce professionals, and grocery industry professionals. Topics include scaling digital commerce in grocery, elevating digital commerce through cross-functional influence, customer acquisition and retention strategies, and AI-driven personalization techniques. The intimate setting allows for meaningful connections between industry peers facing similar challenges.

3. Retail Innovation Conference & Expo (RICE) 2025

The Retail Innovation Conference & Expo stands as one of the nation's largest trade shows for retail innovation, drawing thousands of industry-leading attendees to McCormick Place. This three-day event showcases the future of retail technology, store design, and customer engagement.

Event Details:

• Date: June 4-6, 2025
• Venue: McCormick Place Convention Center - South Building
• Address: 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
• Format: In-Person

What to Expect:

• Expansive exhibit hall with hundreds of exhibitors
• Expert-led educational sessions
• Thousands of decision-makers in attendance
• Product innovations and launches
• Real-world case studies and best practices workshops

Major attendee brands from past years include Belk, Macy's, Kohl's, Hudson Bay, Meijer, Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Walgreens, Walmart, Starbucks, Ulta, and Verizon. The South Building at McCormick Place features 840,000 square feet of exhibit space and 43 meeting rooms, providing ample room for networking and product demonstrations. Retailers exploring conversion optimization strategies will find numerous technology solutions on display throughout the exhibition floor.

4. CRMC 2025 (Customer Relationship Management Conference)

CRMC 2025 marks the 31st annual conference for customer relationship management professionals, attracting hundreds of brand marketers and solution providers to the Hilton Chicago. This premier retail marketing conference focuses on data-driven personalization and customer experience transformation.

Event Details:

• Date: June 4-6, 2025
• Venue: Hilton Chicago
• Address: 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
• Format: In-Person

Conference Features:

• Keynote insights from major retail brands
• Case studies from major retail brands
• Expert panel discussions
• Structured networking sessions
• Peer-to-peer collaboration opportunities
• Cross-industry insights

Presenting brands from past years include Bealls, Big 5, Bombas, Carter's, Gap, Great Clips, Hilton, Liverpool, Lowe's, McDonald's, Omni, PepsiCo, Petsmart, Pizza Hut, Sephora, Subway, The Home Depot, Ticketmaster, TopGolf, Tyson Foods, and Wendy's. The conference provides both formal and informal networking, including member-vendor meetings designed to facilitate meaningful business relationships. Teams focused on customer retention strategies, CRMC offers actionable insights from leading brands who have successfully transformed their customer engagement programs.

5. B2B eCommerce Summit Chicago 2026

The B2B eCommerce Summit offers a boutique-style, one-day experience focused on real business conversations rather than broad industry presentations. The event, also known as "eCom Edit: B2B" by Retail Summits, attracts hundreds of senior decision-makers for focused discussions on B2B digital transformation.

Event Details:

• Date: April 1, 2026
• Venue: City Hall Events
• Address: 838 W Kinzie Street, Chicago, IL 60611
• Format: In-Person

Summit Format:

• Keynote presentations on B2B eCommerce strategy
• Executive panels covering marketing and operations
• Peer discussions on digital transformation roadmaps
• Exhibitor showcases featuring emerging technology solutions
• One-on-one meetings for targeted networking
• Structured networking sessions

The summit attracts B2B digital commerce professionals, operations executives, B2B marketers, VPs, C-suite leaders, and department heads from manufacturing, distribution, healthcare supply, and enterprise SaaS sectors. Topics include budget allocations, sourcing partnerships, channel innovations, bulk pricing strategies, online purchase orders, and self-service portals. Professionals implementing marketing automation solutions will find relevant case studies and partnership opportunities throughout the day's programming.

Additional Chicago Ecommerce Events to Watch

Several additional events round out Chicago's ecommerce calendar, though specific details remain to be confirmed for upcoming editions:

• Chicago Online Sales Techniques Seminar (July 2025): One-day seminar at Chicago Marriott Downtown focusing on conversion rate optimization and digital sales strategies
• Midwest E-Commerce Networking Mixer (August 2025): Evening networking event specifically for Illinois-based online retailers
• Illinois Digital Retail Workshop (September 2025): Two-day intensive workshop with hands-on learning focused on practical implementation strategies
• Illinois Omni-Channel Strategy Forum (Fall 2025): Features "problem-solving stations" for peer and expert input; typically sells out three weeks in advance

These regional events help local retailers connect and collaborate for Chicago-area businesses to connect with local peers and build lasting professional relationships within the ecommerce community.

Planning Your Chicago Ecommerce Event Experience

Successful event attendance requires thoughtful preparation for Chicago's variable weather and multiple venue locations across the city. Whether attending one event or planning to hit multiple conferences throughout the year, proper planning maximizes your return on investment.

Essential Preparation Tips:

• Book hotels in the Magnificent Mile corridor for easy access to multiple venues
• Use CTA public transportation to avoid parking fees ($45-$65/day typical)
• Register early for events that offer early bird discounts (savings of 10-25% common)
• Consider group rates when sending multiple team members (15-30% savings for 2-7+ attendees)
• Download event apps in advance for scheduling and networking features
• Bring business cards and prepare your elevator pitch for networking sessions
• Review attendee lists when available to identify key contacts before the event
• Set specific goals for each event (e.g., meet 10 qualified prospects, learn 3 new strategies)
• Schedule post-event follow-up time to ensure connections convert to business value

Venue Access Information:

• McCormick Place: Multiple parking lots, CTA access via Green, Red, and Orange lines, shuttle services available from downtown hotels
• Magnificent Mile hotels: Accessible via CTA Red Line (Grand Station)
• Hilton Chicago: Walking distance to Grant Park, near CTA Red, Orange, and Green lines at Roosevelt station
• West Loop venues: Urban area with Blue Line access at Morgan, Clinton, and UIC-Halsted stations

For businesses looking to maximize ROI from event connections, implementing tools that help identify website visitors ensures no lead falls through the cracks after initial conversations. Many companies report that following up within 24-48 hours of making event connections significantly increases conversion rates.

Making the Most of Your Investment:

Chicago ecommerce events represent significant investments of time and money. To maximize your return, develop a comprehensive event strategy that includes pre-event research, active participation during sessions and networking breaks, and systematic post-event follow-up. The most successful attendees treat conferences as the beginning of relationships rather than one-time interactions.

Consider creating an event calendar at the beginning of the year to identify which conferences align with your business goals. This allows you to budget appropriately and ensure the right team members attend the most relevant events. Many professionals find that attending 2-3 major conferences plus several smaller networking events throughout the year provides the optimal balance of education and relationship-building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What professional development opportunities exist at Chicago ecommerce events?

Chicago ecommerce events offer extensive professional development including CRM strategy sessions at CRMC, B2B digital transformation workshops at B2B Online Chicago, and retail technology demonstrations at RICE. The Digital Grocery Summit provides AI-driven personalization training specifically for grocery retailers and CPG brands. Many events feature certification-level training, hands-on workshops, and peer learning opportunities that provide actionable strategies you can implement immediately in your business.

How do I network effectively at Chicago ecommerce events?

Effective networking starts with using event apps and meetup platforms offered by most major conferences. Attend structured networking sessions and arrive early to breakfast receptions and evening events when attendees are most open to conversations. CRMC offers both formal and informal networking including member-vendor meetings designed to facilitate business relationships. The B2B eCommerce Summit provides one-on-one meeting scheduling to ensure you connect with the most relevant contacts. Prepare your elevator pitch, bring plenty of business cards, and follow up within 48 hours of making connections to maximize relationship-building opportunities.

When should I register for Chicago ecommerce events?

Register as early as possible to take advantage of early bird pricing, which typically offers 10-25% savings compared to regular registration rates. Popular events like CRMC and RICE often sell out weeks in advance, particularly for specific session tracks or networking events. Group registrations (2-7+ attendees from the same company) frequently receive additional discounts of 15-30%. Most event organizers release registration information 3-6 months before the event date, so monitoring event websites and subscribing to email lists ensures you don't miss early registration deadlines.

How can I measure ROI from attending ecommerce events?

Measure event ROI by tracking specific metrics including number of qualified leads generated, partnerships formed, and revenue attributed to event connections. Set clear goals before attending (e.g., meet 10 prospects, identify 3 potential partners, learn 2 new strategies to implement). Use tools that help identify when event contacts visit your website after the conference, allowing you to prioritize follow-up efforts. Many companies find that implementing systematic post-event processes, including 24-48 hour follow-up emails and CRM tracking of event-sourced leads, dramatically improves conversion rates and overall event ROI. For businesses focused on email marketing best practices, event connections provide valuable opportunities to grow engaged subscriber lists with pre-qualified prospects.

What should I bring to Chicago ecommerce events?

Bring plenty of business cards (at least 50 for multi-day events), a smartphone with relevant event apps downloaded, portable charging cables, and a professional notebook for taking notes. Dress in business casual unless the event specifies otherwise, and bring layers to accommodate varying room temperatures. Many attendees find that bringing a small bag or backpack helps manage collected materials, though be mindful that some venues have size restrictions. Most importantly, bring clear goals for what you want to accomplish and an open mind for unexpected opportunities that may arise.