Future Consumer Debate Running Order
Tuesday 14 May
11:30AM – 12:30PM | REGISTRATION & BRUNCH
12:30 – 12:35PM | WELCOME FROM RETAIL GAZETTE
Gemma Goldfingle, editor, Retail Gazette
12:35 – 1:10PM | OPENING SCENE-SETTER
Embracing the Future Consumer: a new era of omnipresence
Human interactions, behaviours and demands are constantly shifting. How can retailers prepare for – and embrace – the future consumer? When digital meets physical meets demographic demands, where do you focus? Drill down into the needs, behaviours and values of the future consumer, and ensure your brand and business align with this new era.
Featured speakers:
Indranil Das, retail industry leader, EMEA, Microsoft
Helen Dickinson, CEO, British Retail Consortium
Hosted by Fawn Hudgens, brand storyteller and consultant
1:10 -1:40PM | THE BIG QUESTION
The next shiny thing: should retailers adjust their demographic focus, or stick to what they know?
We’ve picked a retail leader to discuss the question on everyone’s lips: can any retailer afford to ignore the younger consumer: Gen Z, Gen Alpha and beyond? They will share their viewpoint and experience, and we’ll close with a vote on your demographic focus.
Featured speaker:
Amy Harman, head of customer marketing, Hotel Chocolat
Hosted by Fawn Hudgens, brand storyteller, consultant and podcaster
1:40 – 2:20PM | NETWORKING & REFRESHMENTS
2:20 – 3:00PM | RETAIL RULES ROUNDTABLES: deep dive into the future consumer
Join peers for our expert-led roundtables; dive into the future consumer and what they are looking for, and share insights into how retailers can deliver.
DATA & AI-LED INNOVATION – BLUE ZONE
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION – GREEN ZONE
NEXT-GEN OMNICHANNEL – PINK ZONE
3:05 – 3:45 | PANEL DEBATE
Tech of the future – what’s relevant for retail?
Diving into the tech and data that will allow retailers to operate differently and attract future loyalty. We’ll explore innovative ways that retailers are working (from AI-led personalisation to gamification, immersive experiences and beyond), as well as discussing what’s emerging, and how this will continue to evolve across both digital and physical platforms in the future.
Featured speakers:
Nick Bamber, digital director, Domino’s
Andrew Goulton, director of product, Trust Retail
Muktar Muhama, head of product for digital customer experience, The Very Group
Paul Sims, chief architect, Primark
Hosted by Fawn Hudgens, brand storyteller, consultant and podcaster
3:45- 4:15PM | NETWORKING & REFRESHMENTS
4:15 – 4:40PM |PRESENTATION SPOTLIGHT
Maintaining your digital presence everywhere: responding to human behaviour
Featured speaker:
MJ Paradiso, regional vice president, Northern Europe, Yext
4:40 – 5:20PM | CLOSING PANEL DEBATE
Everything, everywhere, all at once? Building retail resilience and captivating an omnipresent customer
Digital disruption, changing demands and consumption patterns, and challenging economic times call for an agile approach to business:
- How do you ensure you shape – and transform – your retail business to captivate your consumer
- Continuous improvement in a continuously changing environment: from new products and platforms to harnessing data-led opportunities, or refining what you do best
- Connecting on a deeper level: exploring and optimising the importance of storytelling and brand values to the future consumer
Featured speakers:
Asif Aziz, retail director, EE
David Gomez Cardona, group marketplace director, Kingfisher
Ron Sachs, commercial director – shopping, Deliveroo
Keith Cahoon, EMEA vertical retail lead, Juniper Networks
Hosted by Fawn Hudgens, brand storyteller, consultant and podcaster
5:20 – 5:25PM | CLOSING REMARKS
Gemma Goldfingle, editor, Retail Gazette
5:25PM | DRINKS & NETWORKING
Wednesday 15 May
09:30AM – 10:00PM | REGISTRATION, TEA & COFFEE
10:00 – 11:00AM | FUTURE CONSUMER THINK TANKS
Kick off the day by picking one of our unique Chatham House rules sessions: deep dive; real talk; real insights, all off the record.
Our speakers will share their expert insights, before we dive into Q&A and then connect around tables to discuss further.
Think Tank 1
– hosted by Fawn Hudgens
Gen Z: Future-proof and diversify your business by bringing Gen Z into your teams
Sara Brennan, positive business director, Pentland Brands
Kian Bakhtiari, founder, The People
Think Tank 2
– hosted by Gemma Goldfingle
The mid-life female consumer: no longer an overlooked demographic?
- Exploring the increased focus on the mid-life market, and particularly the female consumer
- As 40 and 50+ women rewrite the narrative on how they want to be seen, what will this mean for your business and how you communicate and connect with this audience?
Lina Chan, director of women’s wellness, Holland & Barrett
11:00 – 11:30 | NETWORKING & REFRESHMENTS
11:30 – 12:15 | PANEL DEBATE
Challenger insights: building retail’s gamechangers
Take the chance to gain insights into brands, retailers and consumer approaches that break the mould in terms of passion, product and proposition, and leave with insights that can help you capture the attention of a future consumer – as well as the challenges inherent in doing so.
Speakers include:
Neil Brading, marketing director, The INKEY List
Shani Oslerne, international expansion director, Astrid & Miyu
Dana Grabiner, head of grocery and convenience UK, Just Eat Takeaway.com
Charlie Markland, Chief Breadwinner – Director of Sales, Marketing & Taproom, Toast Brewing
Hosted by Gemma Goldfingle, editor, Retail Gazette
12:15 – 12:50 | THE BIG INTERVIEW
Elevating experiences, disrupting expectations and driving growth: meeting the future consumer
The unforeseen move back into physical retail has coincided with elevated consumer expectations. Join us as we explore what captivates today’s in-store consumers; uncover a localised, consumer-led, collaborative approach to retail, and take away insights into driving growth.
Featured speakers:
Andrew Harrison, managing director, WHSmith Travel
In conversation with Gemma Goldfingle, editor, Retail Gazette
12:55 – 13:00 | CLOSING REMARKS
Gemma Goldfingle, editor, Retail Gazette
13:00 – 14:00 | LUNCH & CHAT: CLOSE THE DAY WITH YOUR PEERS
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