Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Jim Whyte from leading retail and brand consultancy Fitch is the latest big name to take to the stage at London trade show Pulse.
The senior insights analyst’s presentation, entitled ‘Designing the future’, will explore the latest retail trends and opportunities across three areas: personalisation, experience and convenience In Jim’s words: “Retail will change more in the next five years than it has in the last 50 years. Staying ahead in this rapidly changing landscape has never been more important.”
Pulse promises a packed seminar programme for visitors, featuring speakers who will offer insight and inspirational stories. The line-up includes representatives from Notonthehighstreet.com, Liberty and Heal’s.
Sally Bendelow, who is creative product director of ecommerce business Notonthehighstreet.com, will give a presentation on the theme of ‘the world of extremes’. In her talk, Sally will discuss ‘the future of retail, where the hi-tech world has to blend with the very human needs of customers’. She will examine ‘how we all seek antidotes to the speed of a global digital world, and how our concept of home, family and identity now directly impacts on lifestyle trends and product’.
London department store Liberty’s head of visual identity Liz Sylvester will reveal ‘the secrets of behind the Liberty pop cupboard: how to pick up on visual trends and work them into your own environment’.
In a presentation entitled ‘Good Design Well Made’, Heal’s head of collections Pia Benham will chat about ‘Heal’s today: what the customer wants and how trends, seasonality and store experience sit within this’. She will also talk about the young designers and the established ones that partner with the homeware chain, ‘and help it retain its status as a destination store’. Pia manages the buying teams for modern and contemporary design furniture, homeware and textiles, focusing on exclusive design development, seasonal direction and trends.
Other speakers include Farrow & Ball international colour consultant Joa Studholme, who will advise on how to transform your shop through colour, and Cathy Olmedillas, founder of independent kids publishing house The Anorak Press, which produces children’s title ‘Anorak Magazine’. Her talk is entitled ‘I did it my way’ and is designed to appeal to ‘everyone who has ever aspired to own their own business or is already running one’.
There will also be a panel discussion chaired by ‘London Evening Standard’ journalist Katie Law on ‘reinventing retail’ at national museum organisation Imperial War Museum. It will explore how the Imperial War Museum team is ‘a model of how to make museum retail cutting edge and produce a destination shopping experience’.
Pulse will take place from May 15-17 at Olympia in London. It is organised by Clarion Events.
Jim Whyte is senior insights analyst at Fitch
