RetailDetail Night reveals the first names

On 24 November the RetailDetail Night will take place again, this time in an extra festive setting. A jubilee edition obviously requires a top lineup: the first (big) names have been announced!

Book your table

This year’s RetailDetail Night, the end-of-year event for the Benelux retail industry, will take place on 24 November in the Antwerp Handelsbeurs, a special location that exudes grandeur. There is a good reason for this: the event is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and we are making this festive anniversary edition into something special. The formula with in-depth break-out sessions in the afternoon and a plenary evening programme remains, but for the first time, participants will be seated at round tables.

Anyone wishing to book such a table for ten to invite colleagues and clients or prospects, contact kjell.bries@retaildetail.be. Don’t wait too long: three quarters of the available places are already booked! Participants will not only be served a delicious meal, but also the necessary food for thought from inspiring, international speakers.

International and national eye-catchers

To start with that evening programme: the traditional, well-seasoned annual review by retail professor Gino Van Ossel remains a fixture. We will also once again present the Best Folder of the Year Award (an initiative of BD Media) and the RetailDetail Awards in cooperation with WPP Belgium – more on that later.

An international eye-catcher on the main stage is Ignacio Sierra Amas, top executive of Tendam Group, fashion retailer present in 80 countries with 1836 physical outlets and 51 online markets with well-known brands such as Women’secret, Springfield, Pedro del Hierro and Cortefiel. He will bring a story of standing up after the corona pandemic. Also present: Ibrahim Ibrahim, managing director of Portland Design, one of the world’s most reputable retail design agencies. He is a true thought leader with visionary ideas on the place of retail in society. Will be fascinating!

But national pride also belongs on the main stage. Five CEOs of leading Belgian retail chains will discuss the future of retail in challenging times with moderator Gino Van Ossel: Bart Claes of JBC, Bea De Beuckelaer of Retail Concepts, Erwin Van Osta of Hubo, Fay Van Weddingen of AVA and Wouter Torfs of shoe chain Torfs, who also brings along his successor Lise Conix.

Focus on e-commerce and sustainability

One of the supporting programmes explores trends in e-commerce, with some leading local online or omnichannel players. Muriel Bernard of online fresh food market eFarmz comes to explain her plans just after the Flemish launch of the webshop. Ambition is also the order of the day for Gilles Jourquin of Newpharma, part of Colruyt Group. Elly Zwinnen of INNO explains the launch of its international marketplace, Walter Goossens of Casa International highlights the logistics side of things.

Sustainability is another focus in the afternoon programme, with companies translating sustainability into a striking and authentic concept, averse to greenwashing. Not from the least of them, moreover: Caroline Baeten of clothing rental concept Dressr, Jasmien Wynants of internationally growing fashion label Xandres and Fleur Poets who is Global ESG Director at AB InBev. More names will follow. We will also explain the supporting programmes Frontrunners in Retail and BD Media’s Consumer Activation Forum in a subsequent update. Appointment on 24 November?