Birmingham stage covers trends, e-commerce advice, sustainability guidance and business tips
With just a few days before Spring Fair opens its doors this coming Sunday, 5 February, the full Inspiring Retail Stage line-up of 40 speakers has been unveiled, along with talks on the Responsible Sourcing Stage.
Located in Hall 6 at Birmingham’s NEC, the Inspiring Retail Stage has a jam-packed programme with trend updates, e-commerce advice, sustainability guidance and business tips across the four days of the show, which runs from Sunday to Wednesday, 5-8 February.
The full list of 49 speakers across the show can be found here, as the Inspiring Retail Stage roster sees leading industry professionals and rising stars sharing exclusive market intelligence, insights and valuable industry information all designed to provide buyers with the opportunity to increase their knowledge, understand critical market trends and themes, and connect with leaders in the field.
With sustainability front of mind Sara Simmonds, CEO and chief mentor at The Conscious Innovator, will share her roadmap for business owners to reimagine their products in How To Sell More And Waste Less: New Era Of Conscious Consumerism And Sustainability.
Highlighting the scale of the ecommerce delivery network and how to minimise the impact of supply chains, Josh Pitman, MD of Priory Direct – Planet Friendly Package, offers Delivering Sustainably – How Ecommerce Supply Chains Can Make The Difference, and Element Four MD Georgia Elliott-Smith will be looking at A Disruptive New Model For Corporate Sustainability And ESG.
During Delivering The Sustainability Message: Reaching Buyers, Retailers, And Consumers, Made In Britain CEO John Pearce will field a stellar panel from leading British manufacturers including Dartington Crystal, Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Co, and Little Soap Company.
Top of the bill is retail entrepreneur and ex-TV dragon Theo Paphitis who will be in conversation with The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong, looking at some of the current challenges facing businesses across the UK today, and the opportunities that arise out of tougher trading conditions.
Kubi Springer, director of brand marketing for Avantgarde Dubai, will be exploring the impact of personal branding while the Style Sisters will share their knowledge and expertise on the hybrid home where we work, play and rest, and the stage will also host TrendBible’s Trend Update: 2024 Home & Lifestyle and Trends Trend Update: 2024 Celebration & Gifting Trends.
On the tech front Tom Puukko, founder of architecture & interior design community for the metaverse Superdwell, will delve into the myths, truths, and opportunities of this exciting new space during How to Win In The Metaverse, and Charley Crocker, founder of The Pop Up Shop Agents, moderates a retailer-led panel discussion on Growing The Next Generation Of High Street Retailers – How Savvy Brands Are Making The Most Of Hybrid Shopping.
Therese Oertenblad, founder of Small Business Collaborative, and fashion and textiles brand consultant Elizabeth Stiles discuss How To Sell On TikTok, plus there’s Zero To Podcaster In 30 Days from Alex Ryan, marketing mentor and Marketing 101 Agency owner.
Award-winning business coach Roo Davies will be leading a discussion on How A Positive Mindset Can Help you To Grow Your Business With Confidence, DCUK’s head of marketing Steve Manser explores how adopting child-like approaches and attitudes can improve marketing, selling and business tips in Child Mindset Marketing: Are You Kidding?, and The Resilient Retail Club founder Catherine Erdly explains Five Crucial Figures You Need To Know To Boost Your Business In 2023.
Over at the Responsible Retail Stage within Source Home & Gift, Europe’s newest responsible sourcing show that’s within Spring Fair, the seminar programme is designed to spark the imagination and inform the mind, the programme has internationally renowned professionals and experts from across the industry attending to share knowledge and advice for the coming season on topics from the latest retail trends to B Corps movement and sustainable packaging development.
Suzanne Ellingham, director of sourcing for Source Home & Gift, said: “Whenever we talk about sustainable and responsible sourcing, the biggest thing that comes out of those conversations is everyone wants to know what good really looks like, and how they can achieve it.
“At a time when sustainability can mean almost anything, and there are no measurements, no definitions, no common language, many businesses are simply doing their best, but there is a community that wants to learn from each other.
“The Responsible Retail Stage is packed full of innovators and business leaders who are on that journey and willing to not just share their successes, but also share where things didn’t quite go to plan and use that insight to move their own journey forward faster. If we can give people even one great idea or actionable point to take back to their business, then we will all be delighted.”
The line-up includes a keynote with Laura Tenison MBE, founder of JoJo Maman Bébé, called ReCommerce Revolution: The Second-Hand Industry Comes Of Age discussing the rise of thrifting, the second-hand market, reverse commerce, and how to build an ethical business.
Terrie Isaac and Gwyneth Holland, of trend forecasting fashion retail specialists BDA London, will be looking at The Evolution Of Trends as ever-changing speeds of production and consumption demand a more considered approach, and packaging solutions business Wrapology and jewellery brand Enibas discuss Shop In A Box: Use Less Packaging, Make More Impact, at 1.30pm, discussing their 10-month journey redesigning 12 pieces of packaging.
For a deep dive into Going For Green: A Sustainable – And Profitable – Retail Supply Chain there’s Tom Barton, Honest Burgers’ co-founder and director of food, quality and sustainability, while Pyrexa Global strategic adviser James George joins Products Of Change founder Helena Mansell-Stopher to ask Circular Economy: What Is It And Why Should You Care?
Top: There’s a jam-packed speaker programme at Spring Fair and Source Home & Gift
