Spring Fair has announced its new theatre line-up for February’s show. Across five days and three stages, visitors can access fresh retail sector insights from world-renowned industry innovators and disruptors.
The programme is designed to help identify opportunities to invigorate retail businesses and fuel sales and profits, focusing on current and future trends. ‘Queen of Cakes' Mary Berry and ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas are among the names announced so far.
The Inspiring Retail stage in hall 6 will host seminars, celebrity Q&As and expert panel discussions covering hot topic issues from sustainability, customer experience, and the ever-increasing move towards hybrid retailing. This stage will also delve into consumer trends and equip retailers with everything they need to better engage with their customers and the community around them.
Major industry keynotes include John Lewis, Selfridges, Google, PWC and Mintel, as well as show trend partners Colour Hive.
The Design and Source stage will feature as part of the show’s all-new Sourcing area in hall 18. Speakers will provide insight-led talks on how to get one-step ahead of market rivals in 2020 by looking beyond the UK’s borders for the best and most competitively priced products. They’ll also address the latest design practices and inspiration sources, while helping educate on more practical issues like product lifecycle management and sourcing techniques.
There will be speakers from some of the UK’s best-known retailers and brands, including Oliver Bonas, Harrods, JML, West Elm, Penguin and Random House, alongside interior designers and international sourcing experts.
Essential must-know tips, tricks and best practices for the retail industry in 2020 will be explored from the stage of the Retail Skills Theatre in hall 2. Speakers, including management coaches, HR experts, digital consultants and PR strategists, will offer practical insights for everyone from fledgling start-up retailers to established online indies looking to improve their offering, and Google Digital Garage will run workshops.
Charlie Cracknell, Spring Fair’s portfolio director, said: “The climate that retailers operate is in a state of transformation. Whilst many businesses are making it work, business models are being challenged. At Spring Fair, we want to give ambitious retailers the knowledge and assurance that embracing real change and transformation opens the door to opportunity. Those that have that fresh thinking in their approach and put their customers at the centre of their business are those that will thrive.
Spring Fair runs from 2–6 February at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Register to attend for free here.
