Desert Island Stores: Matt Bradley, Retail Technology Show
Here we chat to Matt Bradley, founder & director of Retail Technology Show.
The store you remember from childhood?
Our Price record store in Bromley. I spent so much money in there and I really miss it. Spotify is great but I loved getting the latest albums and seeing their new covers. It was in the 1990s and I remember my first CD player, which was a massive moment. I went on to buy every one of the Oasis singles released even though all the songs were on the album. I’d listen to the top 10 and really feel that I’d influenced the chart. I’ve occasionally popped into the HMV [on Oxford Street] recently and thought it looked great again.
Subscribe to TRBMost inspirational store to your career?
Debenhams because I worked in the women’s coat department in the Croydon store that was opposite the Allders outlet. They got the Jasper Conran concession in while I was there, which was pretty high-end and I was desperate to work on it but my boss wouldn’t let me because he didn’t like me. I was very quick on the tills so at Christmas they put me in the toys department because I could take the payment and get the toys into the bag before little Jonny could see them.
I’d done a three-year drama degree and when Santa did not show up one day I had to step in. It was my first big break but the beard gave me a rash on my face. It was also a very seasonal job!
Most frequently used store?
The reality is that we are useless in our house when we do the big shop at Tesco so I find I’m very frequently popping into the local Co-op for top-up shopping. I’ve four children and so often some food they like on Monday, they despise by Thursday, so that’s another visit to the Co-op. Aside from food I like my clothes and I’m probably in Reiss too much. As a brand I really like it. At the moment I also love Marks & Spencer for the food and clothing. I’m not a golfer but I recently met the CEO of American Golf and I wish I was a golfer because talk about an in-store experience. I’d be in there all the time – for the coffee shop, course simulator and putting. But then he told me the cost of all the equipment!
The store you wished you’d created?
Trotters on London’s King’s Road where the clothing is fantastic and the store layout is beautiful – with iPads and a hairdressers that can distract the kids while their parents buy things. They really know their audience. As a child I always loved Hamley’s although today it’s a bit tired. But you can still see the bubbles floating out the doors and the random flying planes in the entrance to the store. There’s a phenomenal feeling when you see children’s eyes light up in there. Hamley’s got into the in-store experience early on.
They have been helped by employing actors in the store. When we do our re-book of exhibitors for Retail Technology Show – to get them to roll-on their booths to the following year’s show – we bring in a company where all of the people are actors. They help us cover all the exhibitors because we don’t have enough people to do it. They are great at talking to people and closing a deal. They are very talented and help us get a 90% level of re-booking. They do shows all around the world.
Your overall favourite store?
For look and feel I’ll go for Whole Foods. They always have all the products available and the food on the shelves is always symmetrical, which helps my OCD. Also I must mention Sean Ghouse [director of Retail UK] and Fortnum & Mason, it’s an institution. Its’ such a beautiful store with its architecture and great products. I don’t buy a huge amount from there and the last thing was a Christmas decoration that my wife wanted. It was F&M hamper to hang on the tree.
The store you’d like to take to the desert island?
Outdoor clothing and equipment store Millets. I can recall a sale they had on one year and the signage read: ‘Now is the year of our discount tents’. I liked that. It’s a practical choice for the island because it will provide me with shelter and camping gear to do the cooking. All I’ll then need to do is catch the food.
