Global Retail Forum (GRF) partnered with Retail Business Technology Expo to run a whole series of meetings with key industry speakers over the two days during the Expo. They held a series of panelist meetings in their own dedicated theatre at Retail Business Technology Expo. This provided its members, their colleagues and non–member retailers the opportunity to meet and network in a specially created International Pavilion at Retail Business Technology Expo.
The panelist meetings were based around specific business areas within retail and were hosted by a key industry speaker along with a carefully selected panel of experts to provide their views on todays hot topics as well as answer attendees questions. Once the meeting was over, there was the opportunity to move into a dedicated networking area to provide quality time to make new connections. With the Pavillion set in the environment of the Expo it offered a useful day out to catch up on the latest innovations for the industry.
THE MEETINGS
Each session had a main speaker with a panel of speakers who discussed relevant issues to these job areas with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion afterwards. The meetings were focused on key areas: Legal, Merchandising, IT, Business Management, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain and eCommerce, supporting Retail Business Technology Expo’s campaign to make the event a must visit for the entire retail team. Panelists included Kevin Rusling, Head of George International; Tom Enright, Business Solutions Manager, Marks & Spencer; Gordon Lee, Marketing Director of Accolade Wines; Melissa Loddo, Digital Marketing Manager, New Look; Nigel Darwin, Managing Director International, New Look; Miles Young, General Manager, Landmark International; Marc Christian-Riebe, Founder of Location Group; Tom Purton, Head of Commercial, Travers Smith and Venn Luscombe-Mahonney, head of Limited Brands - VS, La Senza.
PROGRAMME
Tuesday 13th March
| 09:30-10:30 | Merchandising - Global price and margin management strategies, what the experts say? |
| 11:30-12:30 | Marketing – How digital marketing drives deeper consumer engagement and sales |
| 13:00-14:00 | Business Management – International growth: the right strategy for your business |
| 14:00-14:30 | Special Session - Jayne Rafter's On-The-Couch interview Iain Burton, Founder, Aspinal of London |
| 14:30-15:30 | Supply Chain– Behind the numbers: How supply chain operations drive financial results, avoiding the pitfalls retailers make when expanding internationally |
| 16:00 | Reception for all GRF attendees |
Wednesday 14th March
| 09:30-10:30 | Legal – Legal challenges that could prevent your brand from being a success overseas |
| 11:30-12:30 | Finance – Navigating through the economic headwinds and structural changes |
| 13:00-14:00 | IT – Maintaining brand values whilst driving growth in international expansion |
| 14:30-15:30 | eCommerce – Best practices in developing your eCommerce offer alongside international bricks and mortar expansion strategy - FULL |
| 16:00 | Reception for all GRF attendees |
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PROGRAMME
One of the key opportunities of GRF is the opportunity for retailers to network with each other. The networking area outside the meeting theatre provided the perfect opportunity to use after the meetings and throughout their visit to the Expo.
HOW TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS
The bookings for the GRF meetings have now closed.
SELECTION OF GRF MEMBERS:
