The 2026 programme

09:15–09:20 Loading profile...	Chair’s Welcome Address Darren Sanderson-Williams, Specsavers Loading profile...
08:45–09:15	Registration
09:20–09:50	Retail Opening Address: Strategy with purpose – adapting to a volatile and unpredictable world Macro pressures, cost management, and resilience From survival to growth: leadership priorities Hybrid models and smarter digital investment
09:50–10:30	Retail Insights Panel: Relevance, loyalty, and the new commercial logic for growth Loyalty isn’t dead – kill or cure? AI in digital marketing: acquisition, personalisation, retention Why brand loyalty can no longer be assumed
10:30–11:00	Morning Coffee & Networking
11:00–11:45	Retail Experts Panel: International expansion strategy – growth, grit, and global vision Scaling internationally with local nuance Marketplace strategies for global growth Tech and AI to drive marketplace scale
11:45–12:30	Retail Mega Panel: Partnerships & new revenue models under margin pressure Retail media evolution and “non-traditional” formats Data collaboration and commerce media opportunity Partner ecosystems: brands, retailers, agencies
12:30–13:00	Retail Fireside Chat: The CFO perspective – building the business case Communicating value to finance Inventory pressures and operational realities Navigating peak season challenges
13:00–13:45	Lunch & Networking
13:45–14:15	Retail Spotlight: Bridging stores and systems – unified commerce in action Transitioning to unified commerce Connecting digital and physical retail strategies
14:15–15:00	Retail Showcase Panel: Retail tech meets human reality Embedding AI into organisations and culture Empowering store teams with technology Balancing automation with human connection
15:00–15:15	Afternoon Coffee & Networking
15:15–15:45	Retail Fireside Chat: AI, people, and the future operating model Agentic AI and workforce transformation AI-enabled teams and organisational design Investing in people to accelerate adoption
15:45–16:30	Retail Insights Panel: Execution - turning strategy into measurable ROI Smart digital investments that deliver results Employee engagement and frontline feedback loops Customer experience: why basics still win
16:30	Chair’s Closing Summary