Visitors to Autumn Fair could have one to one mentoring sessions amid an expanded series of presentations and workshops.
Running throughout the 7-10 September show, the 20-minute Retail Makeover sessions are designed to provide practical, tailored advice that addresses each retailer’s unique challenges. ‘Whether it’s boosting sales through visual merchandising, strengthening your PR strategy, or building a sustainable growth plan, the mentors will deliver actionable insights to help businesses thrive,’ says Soraya Gadelrab, Autumn Fair event director.
‘Confirmed experts include: John Abbate – Retail Design & VM Expert: shopfront design, window displays, interior VM, and store layouts that sell; Deryane Tadd – Founder & Director, The Dressing Room: independent retail strategy, buying, brand-building, and customer experience; Alex Schlagman – Founder, SaveTheHighStreet.org: high street transformation, online-offline retail integration, and community-driven growth; David Whiteley – COO, HelloThriver.com: business strategy, venture development, and leveraging tech for stronger operations; Sharon Good – PR Specialist & Owner, Good Results PR: media strategy, storytelling, and creative campaign development.
‘Sessions are free, but places are limited to one per person and must be booked in advance by registered buyers.’
Autumn Fair’s learning content has been reimagined to offer maximum value and engagement. The new Retailer Social Workshops, held in the Buyers Retreat (pictured), blend creative formats such as Post-it note brainstorming, quizzes, confessionals, and mood board planning in sessions that function as creative sandboxes and collaborative retailer therapy.
‘Hosted by industry experts, these sessions facilitate authentic connections and peer learning. Workshop highlights include: Retail Confessionals: The Pricing Mistakes That Kept Us Up at Night (7 Sept, 11:00 – 11:30): This candid workshop invites indie retailers to anonymously share their biggest pricing blunders, surprise wins and “what was I thinking?” moments. Through anonymous confessions and supportive group discussion, learn from others’ costly mistakes without making them yourself, discover unconventional pricing strategies that actually worked and connect with fellow retailers over the universal struggles of getting the numbers right,’ says Gadelrab.
‘Small Business Growth Hacks for eBay and online success (8 Sept, 11:00 – 12:00): Discover the insider tips that helped thousands of small businesses boost their sales on eBay with Andrew Rowson, ceo of EMOTIV. Brand Storytelling – Building Your Visual Identity (8 Sept, 14:00–14:45): A hands-on design-thinking workshop led by John Abbate from the British Display Society, focusing on building a cohesive visual brand narrative that converts browsers into loyal customers.
‘Cracking the Code on Next-Gen Shoppers (9 Sept, 11:00–12:00): Role-play and strategy mapping to unlock the buying motivations and behaviours of younger consumers, moderated by retail strategist Ami Rabheru from Retail Huddle. Your Space, New Possibilities (9 Sept, 14:00–15:00): Peer-learning for physical retailers, sharing layout innovations and partnership ideas, led by Koral Ibrahim of The Ready House.
A Retail Time Machine – Future-Proof Your Business (10 Sept, 13:00–14:00): A deep dive into trends from AI to workforce engagement, with actionable strategies for building resilience, moderated by Ami Rabheru.’
Workshops run twice daily, providing multiple opportunities for retailers to connect and upskill.
