Mark Dickens

Keynote speaker is Mark Dickens, the retail strategy director of Wanda Communications, who will be addressing the subject of 'Cashing in on customers'.

During the hour long session on both days Mark plans to discuss understanding what makes customer 'tick', how they behave and what they really believe in is the key to driving retail sales. By anticipating customer's most likely thoughts, actions and emotions  just a few simple techniques, brands and retailers can remove the barriers to purchase, convert browsers to shoppers and encourage higher and more frequent spend.

Mark is an experienced communicator in the media and he is perhaps best known for his work for Tesco, including each of the store formats and the ‘Every little helps’ and the ‘cut-pound’ initiatives. He is currently helping clients to develop their customer relationships through retail branding, store formats, loyalty programmes, marketing initiatives and product ranges in Europe, Middle East, India and China. Most recently he has helped Indian industrial giant, Reliance, develop and launch a multi-format retail chain on the subcontinent including stores, own brand products, brand architecture, insight and infrastructure.

Other speakers will be discussing merchandising from two different aspects – how it can increase sales and how it can be used to maximise retail selling space. Also on the agenda are simple ways to promote and market a business and the thorny problem of helping customers guard against the dangers of invasive species.

Participation in the seminars is free and they take place within the exhibition hall and are staged on a first-come, first- served basis.

On-line registration is now open via the show’s website www.aquatelford.co.uk. Show admission is free and visiting buyers are being offered free refreshments and lunch.