Through another year of upheaval, stores have stood as the bedrock of retail resilience. But it’s certainly not been easy.
Supply chain challenges, rising costs and heavily squeezed consumer discretionary spend have all been piling on the pressure. However, there is light on the horizon.
Retail footfall, while still on a slight downward slope year on year, saw improvement in January. Consumer confidence has been moving primarily upwards since September 2022. And inflation is gradually falling, albeit slowly.
What’s becoming clear is that customer-centricity is proving key to retailers’ improving fortunes. The stores that are thriving are the ones building on strong, digitally driven and adaptable omnichannel foundations, supporting customers to shop when, where and how they want.
But which strategies, technology and investments will be most pivotal to store success in 2024 and beyond?
Find out with your free pass to Retail Week’s Stores Summit 2024, which will include five compelling in-person content sessions with leading retailers and industry experts, and dynamic networking opportunities to connect with your peers.
You will explore:
- What customers really want from stores in 2024 and beyond
- The shape of the stores of the future: locations, formats and seamless CX
- How to support store staff to maximise retention, returns and job satisfaction
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid to implement artificial intelligence (AI) in store
- Stores’ new role as the face of fulfilment – and why it matters for sustainability
Apply for a place
Attend the Stores Summit in person from 8.30am to 12.30pm on May 8, 2024, at Events @ No 6, Aldgate, London
Places are exclusive to retailers and retail brands only
Agenda
8.30am-9.15am
Breakfast and networking
Network with your peers and discover disruptive brands destined to shape the sector in our networking showcase.
9.15am-9.20am
Welcome from host Rebecca Taylor, Commercial Content Manager, Retail Week
9.20am-9.35am
Data insights unlocked: the key to retail success
Today’s retail landscape is constantly changing: changing consumer expectations, rising costs, ESG concerns, and international expansion all increasingly pose significant challenges.
And retailers are having to adapt – recognising the need to connect with their customers in increasingly innovative ways.
But how can retailers ensure they’re making the right decisions today, to reflect the wants and needs of their customers of tomorrow?
Join us for this keynote presentation from Mark Lindsay, Sales Director – Marketing Services, Experian, as we explore:
- The spending and mobility trends set to impact shopper behaviour in 2024 and beyond
- Emerging retail developments and what these mean for customer-centric innovation
- How to best leverage insights to make impactful decisions shaping your location and format strategies
- Why both internal and external data sources hold the key to enhancing customer engagement and driving loyalty
9.35am-10.05am
Stores of the future: where to invest to see success
Panel
Offering an engaging, compelling and frictionless in-store experience used to help retailers stand out in a crowded market. But in 2024 seamless shopping experiences are a requirement to survive.
New formats, new locations and a new way of approaching in-store experiences are set to form an essential part of nearly all retailers’ roadmaps to success.
But what does the store of tomorrow look like? And where should retailers be prioritising their next investment to stay ahead of the curve?
In this masterclass, hear from a panel of top retailers and industry experts as we explore:
- What an omnichannel experience really looks like in 2024, and where stores fit into the mix
- Formats of the future: can shops exist without attention-grabbing innovations?
- High street, retail park or shopping centre: where retailers should invest to maximise footfall in 2024 and beyond
- Measuring the impact of stores: which KPIs really count
Speakers include:
- Julian Beer, Store Director, Liberty
- Ross Monaghan, Sales Director, Pandora
- The Cotswold Company
- Megan Dunsby, Senior Commercial Content Editor, Retail Week (moderator)
10.05am-10.30am
Power in people: why investing in your teams is key to unlocking growth
In conversation with…
2023 divided frontline retail teams. On the one hand, devastating crime and abuse levels and the impact of wide-scale automation have left many store staff feeling uneasy about their role in retail.
But on the other, we’ve seen retailers across the board commit to supporting their people. The past couple of months alone have seen Lidl become the first supermarket to double paid maternity and adoption leave, and Greggs implement its biggest pay increase in 12 years.
So, in 2024 and beyond, where should retail leaders prioritise investments to best support frontline teams?
In this conversation, we will explore:
- The technologies you can leverage to boost both productivity and job satisfaction
- The role of transparency and trust in empowering leadership, pride and personal accountability across your staff teams
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid to implement AI – how to get the roll-out right and bring your teams along on the journey
Speakers include:
- Louise Rix, Retail Director, DFS
- Sam Westwood, Head of People, The White Company
- Grace Bowden, Head of Diversity Content, Retail Week (moderator)
10.30am-11.15am
Coffee and networking
11.15am-11.45am
The new face of fulfilment: how store innovations have transformed the supply chain
In conversation
As customer expectations for rapid delivery increase and government-mandated sustainability deadlines draw ever closer, stores are becoming an increasingly big part of retailers’ supply chain and sustainability strategies, offering a lower emission and practical fulfilment solution for customers.
Take the Co-op, which expanded its successful electric robot-delivery service, turning local convenience stores into micro-distribution hubs, to a fleet of more than 2,000-strong in 2023. Or Ikea and B&Q, which both opened smaller-format city and high-street stores in the last year, optimised for click and collect.
Join us for this exclusive content session as we uncover the future place of stores in the supply chain.
We will discuss:
- What customers really want from final-mile supply chain and where stores fit into the mix
- How through-store fulfilment can support retailers’ sustainability initiatives
- Can fulfilment become an exciting part of customers’ in-store experience?
Speakers include:
- Amélie Gallichan-Todd, Supply Chain and Logistics Director, B&Q
- Briony Yeates, Customer Experience Manager, Seasalt
- Ritika Bhoora, Reporter, Retail Week (moderator)
11.45am-12.15pm
The impact of AI and emerging tech in store: automation, efficiencies and unrivalled experiences
Panel
AI was the buzzword of last year. From efficiencies across inventory control, demand forecasting and pricing strategy to reductions in retail shrinkage, and automation across the board, AI’s positive impact on in-store operations can’t be denied.
Retailers have been leveraging emerging technologies to boost in-store experiences, too: think frictionless smart checkouts, AI-powered robots helping customers navigate the shopfloor and smart mirrors in changing rooms as just a handful of examples.
But how much of the technology's impact has outlived the hype? Join us for this concluding session as we discuss the big questions.
We will explore:
- Where emerging technologies are set to have the biggest impact over the coming year
- How AI can be your store colleagues’ ultimate co-pilot
- What’s next for in-store tech innovation in 2024
Speakers include:
- Lisa Byfield-Green, Data and Insights Director, Retail Week
12.15pm-12.25pm
Retail Week closing remarks
Julian Beer
Julian Beer
Ross Monaghan
Ross Monaghan
Sam Westwood
Sam Westwood
Louise Rix
Louise Rix
Amélie Gallichan-Todd
Amélie Gallichan-Todd
Briony Yeates
Briony Yeates
Mark Lindsay
Mark Lindsay
Lisa Byfield-Green
Lisa Byfield-Green
Grace Bowden
Grace Bowden
Ritika Bhoora
Ritika Bhoora
Rebecca Taylor
Rebecca Taylor
Megan Dunsby
Megan Dunsby
Speakers
Julian Beer, Store Director, Liberty
Store Director Julian Beer leads the esteemed Liberty retail team in their iconic Soho flagship store. His experience exceeds 20 years, having previously worked at other renowned luxury brands including Fortnum and Mason.
Julian’s current role at Liberty involves managing day-to-day operations of the store's running, as well as leading Liberty’s diverse and eccentric retail team to achieving retail success and offering a first-class consumer experience. Julian and his team work hard to bring the store to life and create a shopping experience that differs to that of a simple transaction.
Ross Monaghan, Sales Director, Pandora
Ross Monaghan has been Sales Director for Pandora for almost five years. Before that, he held leadership roles at various fashion brands including Joules, Warehouse, Monsoon Accessorize and Karen Millen. Ross started his retail career in a car wash back in Ireland and worked his way up from sales assistant to store manager, area manager, head of retail and now director. He is a retailer through and through and loves nothing more than seeing our strategies come to life with customers and store teams.
Sam Westwood, Head of People, The White Company
Sam is Head of People for The White Company taking responsibility for a broad HR agenda including HR business partnership, reward, OD, employee relations, L&D and talent acquisition. In his current role, Sam has supported The White Company with global expansion and overseen a programme of change aimed at improving employee experience.
Sam has worked for several large brands within the retail and hospitality industries including McDonald’s, Topshop/Topman and Whitbread. His passion is for optimising employee experience to drive engagement and business performance.
Sam holds both a BA and an MA in human resource management and is passionate about the role education can play within the modern workplace.
Louise Rix, Retail Director, DFS
Louise Rix is the Retail Director at DFS who brings a fresh and friendly approach to leadership in the retail world. Known as a visionary, Louise has a knack for nurturing high-performing teams and driving market growth, seizing every opportunity that comes her way.
With over 30 years of experience, Louise has left her mark at companies including Habitat, Currys and DFS. It's in these roles that she's not only perfected her skills but also crafted her own unique style of sales leadership.
For Louise, the customer always comes first. At DFS, she's on a mission to make every interaction with their fantastic showrooms or amazing online products an absolute delight.
Her engaging, friendly, and approachable demeanour has revolutionised traditional sales environments into inclusive cultures where every team member feels valued and empowered to shine.
Amélie Gallichan-Todd, Supply Chain and Logistics Director, B&Q
Amélie Gallichan-Todd is the Supply Chain Director at B&Q, a position she has held since 2018. Amélie has over 20 years’ experience in the consumer goods industry having previously held leadership roles for Loreal UK and Ireland, Reckitt and Kingfisher. Amelie is passionate about gender equality and is the sponsor of B&Q’s Gender Equality Network.
Briony Yeates, Customer Experience Manager, Seasalt
As CX Manager at Seasalt, Briony is responsible for ensuring it puts the customer first in everything it does, from CX initiatives to business projects. Championing the customer and driving results that positively impact customer sentiment, acquisition and retention are critical to delivering the best core and new customer journeys. Seasalt runs an in-house created CX journey framework, alongside ownership of VoC (Voice of Customer) to cascade insights business-wide to inform decision making and strategy. Devoted to creating, improving and delivering excellent customer experiences that differentiate Seasalt as a brand and utilising the best talent, technologies and efficiencies to achieve this; now and for the future.
Mark Lindsay, Sales Director – Marketing Services, Experian
Mark Lindsay leads dynamic go-to-market teams, crafting tailored marketing solutions to meet the unique needs of clients across diverse industries, including a wealth of experience in retail. Mark is known for his strategic foresight and proven track record of driving market growth.
His leadership has been instrumental in navigating complex challenges, particularly within the retail sector, where he demonstrates a keen understanding of consumer behaviours and trends. Leveraging data-driven insights and digital marketing solutions, Mark's team helps clients to make informed decisions, staying ahead of the competition in the face of evolving sector challenges and opportunities.
With a commitment to fostering collaboration among retail peers, Mark looks forward to hearing from you and exchanging ideas.
Lisa Byfield-Green Data and Insights Director, Retail Week
Lisa is responsible for Retail Week’s data insight, analyst content and advisory research. Previously, she worked as a senior retail analyst for online and digital, leading research at IGD and Planet Retail (now Edge by Ascential) in the UK and more recently LZ Retailytics in Germany.
Lisa regularly provides commentary on the retail industry and presents at briefings, conferences and workshops.
Grace Bowden, Head of Diversity Content, Retail Week
Grace is head of diversity content at Retail Week and oversees content for the Future Leaders programme.
She was previously head of content for the Retail Week editorial team and has covered the retail sector for 10 years.
Ritika Bhoora, Reporter, Retail Week
Ritika Bhoora is a reporter at Retail Week. She joined Retail Week in 2023 and covers all things health, beauty, sports and gifting.
After graduating with an MA in Multimedia Journalism from The University of Westminster, Ritika gained experience at The Evening Standard and Islington Tribune.
Rebecca Taylor, Commercial Content Manager, Retail Week
Rebecca Taylor is Retail Week Connect’s Commercial Content Manager, and is responsible for helping to grow and deliver Retail Week’s bespoke sponsored reports and events, across themes from stores and the consumer to supply chains and tech.
With more than seven years' experience in content-focused roles, Rebecca specialises in across-the-board brand interactions and storytelling; engaging audiences at all stages of their brand lifecycle through authentic, vibrant and quality content.
Megan Dunsby, Senior Commercial Content Editor, Retail Week
Megan Dunsby is Retail Week’s Senior Commercial Content Editor. A former journalist and features editor, she joined Retail Week in January 2019 to help brands leverage content to reach the people that matter in retail. Megan leads Retail Week’s flagship reports, the Retail 100 and Tech List, which recognise the most influential people in the sector, and the businesses they represent. In 2018, she was named among The Drum’s 50 Under 30 Top Women in Digital.
Networking showcase
Who Gives A Crap
Who Gives A Crap is a B Corp-certified business, recognised for the highest levels of environmental and social impact. Their products are plastic-free, made using recycled and sustainable materials that are FSC Chain-of-Custody certified and delivered to nearly 40 countries with complimentary carbon-neutral shipping.
The business launched in 2012 when co-founders Simon Griffiths, Danny Alexander and Jehan Ratnatunga learnt that billions of people do not have access to a toilet. From the beginning, the company has donated 50% of its profits to clean water and sanitation non-profits worldwide. To date, Who Gives A Crap has donated over £6m to partners around the world that work with local communities to improve access to water, toilets and hygiene solutions. The company strives to continually reduce its environmental footprint whilst helping billions of people in need.
Milliways
Milliways is an award-winning plant-based, plastic-free and planet-friendly chewing gum. In three short years, the brand has established itself as the UK’s best-selling plastic-free gum, and the fastest-growing gum brand in the country.
Conventional gum contains up to a straw’s worth of single-use plastic in each piece and is the second most-littered item on the planet – Milliways is on a mission to tackle this and make sustainable choices the norm for everyone, every day.
The breath-freshening, flavour-bursting range is made up of Peppermint, Mighty Mint, Watermelon and Bubble Mint and is fully biodegradable, aspartame-free, sugar-free and vegan. You can pick up a pack at over 6,500 stores including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Whole Foods, Ocado, Pret A Manger, Costa and WH Smith nationwide.
Also: Fanfare Label • Drip
Get involved
Can you help retailers and brands maximise their stores’ potential and help solve their toughest challenges?
Sponsorship of the Stores Summit provides exclusive speaking opportunities, targeted lead generation and brand awareness among a captive and engaged audience. Share your insights with retailers and position yourself as a thought leader in the bricks-and-mortar retail space.
Contact Retail Week’s Commercial Content Director Nicola Harrison to find out more: nicola.harrison@retail-week.com
Alternatively, if you are a retailer with a great story to tell and would like to speak at the Stores Summit, please contact Commercial Content Manager Rebecca Taylor to discuss: rebecca.taylor@retail-week.com
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