Next generation e-commerce: The right platform can drive your entire business forward

Next generation e-commerce: the right platform can drive your entire business forward

BT Tower, 45 Maple Street, London W1T 4JZ

Take a look at pictures and highlights from the event

We discovered how the right e-commerce platform at the heart of your business will help take you to the next level.

As well as our own e-commerce and multichannel experts, we heard from leading retailers about their experiences as they described their e-commerce journeys.

Get a future-proof system that makes multichannel retailing easy

IT investment is at an all-time low. But the demands have never been greater: multichannel retail, international trading, mobile and social commerce, click and collect...

Many e-commerce platforms were never designed to cope with all of this. Keep bolting new modules on and one day, soon, the whole thing will fall over.

So if you don’t change, you’re going to get left behind. Problem is, you need a new system that’s not going to fall into the same trap. So what’s the answer? 

Other topics on the day included:

• multichannel retailing
• international expansion
• integration with face-to-face retail operations
• bringing the best of online into store
• ratings, reviews and recommendations
• mobile and social commerce
• clienteling

Some of the opportunities you can kiss goodbye to, if you don’t have the right e-commerce platform

AGENDA FOR THE DAY

9:30–10:00               Registration
10:00–10:15             Welcome - Geoff Barraclough, Director Strategy, Marketing & Propositions, BT Expedite 
10:15-12:10              Hear from Phillip Heaton, Finance Director at Getthelabel.com and Nadine Sharara, Head of  
                                 eCommerce, Thomas Pink who will give you their experiences and describe the
                                 e-commerce journeys they’re on.  As well as our own e-commerce and multichannel        
                                 experts;                                
                                 E-Commerce - Sarah Hughes, Joint Managing Director at BT Fresca
                                 Integrated Store – Jason Shorrock, Multichannel Specialist, BT Expedite
12:10-12:30              Q&A 
12:30                        Lunch on the 34th floor
12:30-15:00              Demonstration area:  
                                 Click and Collect. Why should web and store be different for customers? 
                                 Social commerce. Go beyond talking – and, like Lyle & Scott, start selling on Facebook 
                                 Clienteling. How iPads and wifi can help give every single customer the VIP treatment 
                                 International expansion. Bring supply chain, merchandising and stock management together
15:00                        Event close

SPEAKER PROFILES:

Phillip Heaton, Finance Director, Topgrade Sportswear

Phil has worked in the retail sector for over 13 years with various roles at Matalan and Marks & Spencer and is currently Finance Director at Topgrade Sportswear which is a subsidiary of JD Sports Fashion plc.  Phil joined Topgrade three years ago and as part of the senior management team has taken Getthelabel.com from inception to a successfully trading e-commerce business.

Phil has a held a number of finance roles working directly with buying and merchandising teams and logistics teams, has been involved in a number of major systems projects and has headed up business planning functions. Phil’s current role has involved launching an e-commerce site from the original concept - including developing the business plan, systems infrastructure, physical infrastructure and teams to deliver this project. With a finger in all aspects of the business the last three years has been a rollercoaster of development!

Nadine Sharara, Head of eCommerce, Thomas Pink
 
With over 6 years ecommerce experience across a number of blue chip retailers working both client side and supplier side. Nadine now specialises in helping retailers maximise online trading opportunities through cross-channel integration. Specialties include Internationalisation, Technology, Merchandising, CRM, Email, Mobile, Social, Search, Affiliate and Digital Advertising.
 
Nadine has held numerous positions essentially responsible for the optimization of existing business as well as future proofing and achieving significant LFL growth. She is passionate about cross-channel commerce and the financial gains it brings to businesses today and enjoys being involved with leading industry networks and staying abreast of best practice and benchmarking.

Jason Shorrock, Multichannel Specialist at BT Expedite

Jason Shorrock has been with BT Expedite since April 2005. Prior to this he worked as the EMEA Retail Solutions Specialist for i2 Technologies and spent 13 years working for Marks & Spencer across both the Food and General Merchandise Divisions. Jason has over 18 years' experience implementing solutions and best practices to help retailers thrive in a changing world. He was also ranked at number 58 in a recent multichannel/e-commerce Movers & Shakers poll by retailinsider.com.

Sarah Hughes, Joint Managing Director at BT Fresca

Sarah founded Fresca in October 2000, having spent the first ten years of her career with ICI and AstraZeneca. Initially an Engineering Manager, Sarah was the youngest person, and the first woman, to be appointed Asset Manager, responsible for the management of a fine chemical production plant.

Sarah was then appointed Business Manager of Avecia (a spin-off of ICI/AstraZeneca), an "intrepreneurial" role with the objective of commercialising the intellectual property developed in the arena of light emitting polymers.
Sarah believed that the disciplines of quality management and process control that underpin Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) were lacking in, and could be usefully transferred to, management of websites and e-services. With two major client wins (The Conservative Party and P&O Princess Cruises) within the first month of starting the company, and a significant number since, the marketplace has responded incredibly positively to the concept.
Sarah's achievements to date were recognised when she became a finalist in the 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, operated by Ernst & Young.

Geoffrey Barraclough, Director Strategy, Marketing & Propositions, BT Expedite

Geoff joined BT Expedite in 2009 and, since then, he's devised a programme of customer research and thought leadership activities. These provide an insight for retailers on what shoppers are looking for in a true multichannel world and the issues and challenges retailers face as the store and web channels become blurred. Prior to this Geoff held numerous strategic and customer-centric marketing roles, including launching a corporate venture targeted at the supply chain IT market which won significant contracts, with customers including Marks & Spencer and Royal Mail.

NOTE: This event is designed for medium to large fashion, apparel and general merchandise retailers with an aspiration to turnover more than £2million online. Places are limited and awarded on a first come first served basis.

VENUE:

BT Tower, 45 Maple Street, London W1T 4JZ

IMPORTANT:  BT Tower is not open to the public. It’s a high security building and to get in you need to be registered in advance and able to show suitable photo ID (such as a passport or driving licence) on arrival. Don’t forget to bring your ID to the event or you won’t be able to attend.