Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Baroness Karren Brady CBE is the latest high profile businesswoman to be announced as a keynote speaker at the Spring Fair.
Karren’s session will run in the Fashion and Accessories Catwalk from 1.55-2.25pm on Tuesday (February 7).
She will deliver a speech offering independent retailers, gift and home buyers advice on how to be successful, highlighting the challenges ahead and identifying opportunities for growth.
Karren is vice-chairman of West Ham United FC, and a senior non-executive director on the boards of Syco Entertainment and Taveta Investments (the owner of retail multinational Arcadia Group). She is also the government’s Small Business Ambassador.
She has served on the boards of Channel 4 Television and retailer Mothercare and is also an ambassador for Range Rover and Pantene.
In 2013 she was awarded a CBE for services to women in business and entrepreneurship. The following August, she was elevated to the House of Lords by the prime minister, taking the title Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge.
Karren is a regular columnist for ‘The Sun’ newspaper and for ‘Woman & Home’ and ‘Cosmopolitan’ magazines. She is also a judge, alongside Lord Alan Sugar, on BBC1’s reality game show ‘The Apprentice’.
Spring Fair said: ‘Having received a CBE and excelled in her role as Sir Alan Sugar’s right hand-woman in ‘The Apprentice’, Lady Brady is well placed to offer the UK’s independent retailers guidance on building their businesses.”
Nick Davison, portfolio director of Spring Fair, added: “The line-up of speakers at Spring Fair is exceptional. Each year we deliver a programme that enables retailers to develop their businesses, through exclusive insights and trends.
“Being able to learn from the experiences of both Lady Brady and Mary Portas [see story below] means this year’s edition simply can’t be missed.”
Karren and Mary join Mulberry founder Roger Saul and many other leading speakers at the event.
Spring Fair will take place at the NEC in Birmingham from Sunday (February 5) to Thursday (February 9). Launched in 1950, the trade show attracts 60,000 visitors looking to source the latest gifting and homeware products for their stores.
