Mary Portas – Guest Speaker
From the Portas Review to Mary Queen of Shops, Mary Portas’ wealth of experience and belief in our high streets will be enlightening for retailers and suppliers alike at the British Independent Retailers Association’s (bira) 2015 High Street Conference. The event will be held at Chesford Grange in Warwickshire on 13th May 2015.
Portas will look at the challenges independent retailers face as well as the opportunities they can embrace as the bira High Street Conference looks at the future of retailing. She will talk delegates through her vision and the steps she has taken with the Government to secure our high streets for the future.
Mary Portas said: “We’ll never have back the high streets of old, nor should we, but with creative reimagination, policy change from Government and a society who knows the value of their high street, I am hopeful for the high street of our future.”
Mary Portas will join Andrew McMillan, recognised as an expert in customer service (from his 20 year career with the John Lewis Partnership). He will focus on the customer experience and how this will contribute to the survival of independents on our high streets. Delegates will also be able to hear from retailers and suppliers on their strategies for the future.
Incoming bira President and independent retailer Cliff Elliott said: “Independent retailers have a crucial part to play in the survival of our high streets, we can no longer sit back and wait for something to happen. Embracing and implementing change and continuing to offer a service like no other will all help to future-proof our businesses and our high streets.”
Event host, Alexis Conran of BBC’s ‘The Real Hustle’ will be on hand to entertain with close up insight into the world of tricks and scams.
The event will culminate with a Gala Awards Dinner, where independent retailers and suppliers, who have done excellent work in the last year will be recognised and honoured.
