Spring Fair, taking place from 2nd-6th February at the Birmingham NEC, has announced its new theatre line-up for 2020.
Across five days and three stages, visitors will be treated to fresh retail sector insights from world-renowned industry innovators and disruptors. Recognising that consumers’ needs and wants are evolving, Spring Fair’s theatre programme has been curated to help visitors identify opportunities to invigorate their retail business and fuel greater sales and profits.
For the duration of the show, Spring Fair’s Inspiring Retail Stage, located in hall 6, promises to offer some of the best ideas in retail. The stage will host seminars, celebrity Q&As and panel discussions covering topics such as sustainability, customer experience, and the move towards hybrid retailing. This stage will also delve into consumer trends and equip retailers with additional tools to better engage with customers and the community.
Alongside major industry keynotes, John Lewis, Selfridges, Google, PwC and Mintel, as well as show trend partner Colour Hive, will join the stage alongside industry commentators and independent retailers, to share their successes with the audience.
The Design and Source Stage, meanwhile, will feature as part of the show’s new Sourcing area in hall 18. Speakers will provide talks on how to get one step ahead of market rivals in 2020 by looking beyond the UK’s borders, while addressing the latest design practices and inspiration sources, and helping educate visitors on more practical issues such as product lifecycle management and sourcing techniques.
Among the stage’s speakers will be designers and creatives from some of the UK’s most well-known retailers and brands including Oliver Bonas, Harrods, JML, West Elm and Penguin Random House, alongside interior designers and international sourcing experts. Colour Hive, Spring and Autumn Fairs' trend partner, will also be on hand to guide audiences through the colour, material and finish trends for 2021.
Covering the essential best practices for the retail industry in 2020 will be the speakers of the popular Retail Skills Theatre. Located in hall 2, this stage will host a number of educational speakers focused on delivering practical insights for everyone from fledgling start-up retailers to established online independents. Among the speakers will be management coaches, HR experts, digital consultants and PR strategists, with Google Digital Garage running a series of workshops within the theatre.
Charlie Cracknell, Spring Fair portfolio director, says: “The climate that retailers operate in 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.
“Our 2020 line-up is highly relevant for today’s challenges. It will help shape thinking and we anticipate it to be our most exciting yet. We’re taking steps to embrace and indulge inspiring ideas from the industry’s most exciting innovators and disruptors. We want attendees to leave feeling invigorated, inspired, and with a new mindset for the year ahead and beyond.”
Register to attend for free here.
