Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Top Drawer has revealed details of the speaker line-up for next month’s London trade show
The Autumn/Winter edition of the exhibition, which will be held from Sunday September 10 to Tuesday September 12 at Olympia, will feature 1,500 brands across four sectors: home, gift, craft and fashion.
Organizer Clarion Events has arranged a programme of talks, panels and masterclasses across the three days.
On Monday (September 11), keynote speaker Holly Tucker will take to the stage for one hour from 11am. She is the co-founder of online marketplace Notonthehighstreet.com.
Holly’s contribution to business has been recognised through a number of awards over the years, most notably by her MBE for services to small businesses and enterprise and her appointment as the UK Ambassador for Creative Small Businesses in 2015.
On Tuesday (September 12) keynote speaker Rina Bhansali, head of merchandising of London department store Harrods will speak from 11am to 11:45am about ‘the art of the customer experience’. She will discuss home and stationery buying decisions, explore trends and influences, and share tips on maintaining success in the luxury sector.
There will be a masterclass on Monday (September 11) from 1pm to 2pm on the theme of ‘exploring colour’ hosted by Farrow & Ball colour consultant Joa Studholme.
She will share ideas on combining colours and making the most of light. Joa will also cover design decisions and how colour and texture can create a product range that your customers will react to.
Joa has worked with Farrow & Ball for more than 20 years. From developing and naming new Farrow & Ball colours, to consulting on design schemes and experimenting with paint and paper every day, Joa has a wealth of experience on both residential and commercial projects.
On Tuesday (September 12) from 2.30pm to 3pm there will be an ‘in conversation’ session on ‘the rise of the designer maker within retail’ with Jess Sims, marketing manager of retailer West Elm.
Clarion Events said: ‘Taking on a traditional industry, West Elm has incredibly successfully brought innovation to retail, challenging the way in which retailers work with designers… and Jess is firmly establishing the retailer as a key player on the UK’s homes and interiors scene by driving community building both online and off.’
The talk promises to cover ‘entrepreneurial tips and practical advice for your design led businesses’.
Notonthehighstreet.com co-founder Holly Tucker
