Autumn Fair, the UK’s leading marketplace for home, gift and fashion, has announced an all-star Task Team of retail experts to support its Retail Makeover Mission campaign including award-winning independent retailers, visual merchandising experts, and buyers.
The Retail Makeover Mission, which launched on Tuesday 10th June in partnership with SaveTheHighStreet.org, has already been inundated with entries from independent retailers keen to win a retail transformation package worth over £10,000 including support from the elite team of experts.
The Retail Makeover Mission directly addresses the sector’s most pressing challenges, from improving merchandising and margins to enhancing customer experience and adapting to evolving consumer behaviour. From strategy to shop floor, the winning businesses will receive bespoke support from seasoned professionals across merchandising, operations, marketing, finance, and more - each committed to helping them unlock growth, improve profitability, and thrive in today’s rapidly changing retail landscape.
A Mission with Measurable Impact
The campaign is more than a competition - it’s a comprehensive transformation experience. Participating businesses will gain access to tools and strategies that address the most critical challenges facing independents today. The Task Team will take a deep dive into the winning businesses, offering hands on, face to face support.
All entrants will receive Toolkits created by the team offering practical resources and guides covering everything from visual merchandising to customer retention strategies.
The Task Team will also attend Autumn Fair offering exclusive 1-2-1 consultations at the Retail Makeover Mission Hub, with priority given to businesses who entered the competition.
Introducing the Task Team: A Dream Line-up of Retail Experts
The Task Team brings together high-profile retail leaders with decades of experience:
Deryane Tadd, founder of award-winning boutique The Dressing Room, brings fashion curation, styling, and customer connection expertise. She’ll support independent retailers, especially in fashion, by sharing practical, real-world strategies for staying competitive, building loyal communities, and navigating evolving retail trends.
Samantha Gibbs, founder of Nest, offers hands-on insight into running successful lifestyle stores across multiple locations. As an experienced bricks-and-mortar retailer, Samantha brings grounded, practical solutions to the real challenges independent shop owners face daily. From merchandising and stock management to creating engaging in-store experiences, she’ll offer actionable advice to help retailers thrive on the high street.
Claire Bevan, Head of Retail at The Natural History Museum, focuses on immersive destination retail experiences and storytelling. Claire brings deep expertise in destination retail, customer experience, and museum merchandising. She can help independent retailers think creatively about product storytelling, customer engagement, and turning retail spaces into memorable, experience-led environments that drive loyalty and sales.
John Abbate, visual merchandising expert. John brings international experience in meanwhile space projects, retail consulting, customer experience, visual merchandising and retail store design conception. He is a fellow of the British Display Society and has worked with brands such as Ralph Lauren and Levi’s. Passionate about using his skills to support the evolution and vibrancy of the UK’s high streets, John will support independent retailers by helping them elevate their in-store experience - using layout, storytelling, and visual merchandising to maximise space, attract customers, and drive sales.
Sara Allbright, Director, Retail100 Consulting, has more than 18 years of buying experience. Sara specialised in brand relationships and growing small emerging brands into market leaders. Previous to Retail 100 Consulting, Sara spent 18 years at John Lewis & Partners, working in buying, predominantly in home and seasonal categories, Gift and Home fragrance. She’ll help independent retailers sharpen their business models, improve in-store performance, and build brands that resonate with today’s customer.
Neil Amer, Director at Retail100 Consulting, has more than 17 years of Head Office retail experience. Neil is skilled in negotiation, planning and supply chain management, with hands-on experience leading store operations, stock management, and retail development for brands like FatFace and The White Company. Neil brings expert knowledge in stock flow, inventory control, and operational efficiency. His practical, solutions-driven approach will help shops streamline stock processes, improve sell-through, and run smoother, more profitable stores.
David Whiteley, COO of Together Futures Limited, the parent company of SaveTheHighStreet.org and Thriver (HelloThriver.com), the first agentic AI co-pilot designed to support high street businesses. With a background in strategic consulting and venture development, David has held leadership roles across various sectors, including technology, finance and infrastructure. For the past 8 years, David has been focused on developing support for high street businesses, and his extensive experience makes him a valuable asset to the Advisory Board.
Andrew Goodacre CEO of BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association) is passionate about working with the high street and supporting small businesses. Andrew has a strong background in retail and hospitality, and since taking up the role, has been integral in pushing forward independent retailers and showcasing their importance to the local communities. Andrew will support retailers in accessing better deals, strengthening supply chains, and improving profitability through the power of collective buying
Alex Schlagman, Founder of SaveTheHighStreet.org and a leading voice in championing the future of independent retail. Alex is a serial entrepreneur on a mission to change high streets for the better. He co-founded SaveTheHighStreet.org in August 2016, with a manifesto about the future of high streets and how we achieve it together. In 2024, SaveTheHighStreet.org launched a range of new solutions to unlock value from vacant space across high streets and shopping centres. HelloThriver.com was also launched to radically improve the economics and impact of support for high street entrepreneurs, from startups to scaleups. Alex will be providing hands-on support and mentorship to the competition winners.
Lauren Strivens and Felicity Harris, from the Marketing and Content teams at Autumn Fair, will help the winning retailers amplify their brand reach and customer engagement.
Sharon Good, PR specialist and owner of Good Results PR, brings a wealth of PR experience specialising in the retail sector. As well the PR for Hyve’s retail events including Spring and Autumn Fair, clients have included Hoopers, Morleys, The Dressing Room, and many collaborations between brands, designers and retail partners. Sharing her years of experience, Sharon will offer guidance on creating an actionable PR strategy and tools to help the winner to maximise their profile and grow their community.
Samantha Gibbs says, “As someone who's spent years working as an independent retailer, I know firsthand the challenges other indie retailers on our high streets face - from rising costs to changing consumer behaviours. The Retail Makeover Mission represents exactly the kind of support these businesses need right now. At Nest, we believe strongly in the power of independent retail and the value they bring - these are the businesses that give our high streets character and offer customers something truly special. I'm excited to be part of a campaign that doesn't just talk about supporting indies but actually rolls up its sleeves and does something meaningful to help them succeed. These retailers are the backbone of our communities, and they deserve every opportunity to flourish.”
Claire Bevan says, “With three shops onsite at the Natural History Museum, thinking creatively about how to connect our visitors with a retail experience that excites, inspires and educates – in the same way that our galleries and exhibitions do – is a wonderful adventure. From sustainability and encouraging shop footfall from the passing crowds to pop-up collaborations and creating brilliant products, there’s a wealth of experience from the last 17 years that I’m excited to share with the independent retailers we’ll be working with. We can learn so much from these independent businesses and how they bring joy to their customers. Helping them to thrive as resilient, sustainable retailers as part of the Retail Makeover Mission task team will be a real privilege.”
Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director, Autumn Fair adds, “We are delighted to reveal such a high-profile team of experts offering a wealth of knowledge and experience. The Retail Makeover Mission presents a rare opportunity for indies to gain access to expertise and tools, previously out of reach for many small businesses. The initiative comes at a critical time for independent retail, as businesses face rising operational costs, shifting customer expectations, and the urgent need for digital and experiential evolution. Retailers need more than advice - they need partners who can roll up their sleeves and achieve results – our brilliant Task Team will do just that.”
The two winning businesses will be selected and supported through a structured programme, with their transformation journey documented and revealed live at Autumn Fair 2025.
A Mission with Measurable Impact
