Major high street brand experts give Leeds Beckett students insight into the future of retail

The keynote speaker was International Retail and Consumer Brands Specialist and ‘Shop of the Future’ expert, Tim Radley. He was followed by Brand and Digital Marketing consultant and Leeds Beckett University lecturer, Larisa Barker, who explored patterns in the Gen Z path to purchase behaviours online.

After the speakers, a retail panel of brands including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Glory Days, and Chirpy explored how the future of retail is shaping up, discussing the social-economic challenges and opportunities for transforming retail into a sensory and stimulating consumer experience.

The students then shared the experience ideas they had been developing for a collaboration between John Lewis and the Corn Exchange, an iconic landmark in Leeds and host to many of the city’s independent retailers.

Student Rene Tran said: “The event was highly insightful in hearing different perspectives and research of marketing experts, both through their presentations and face-to-face. After studying our chosen store and considering the various changes we could implement, it was encouraging to hear feedback from professionals, as it gave us a greater understanding of the industry.”

Student Oliver Rodwell said: “It was an extremely positive and beneficial experience. I felt very grateful to receive feedback, as well as Tim’s own personal knowledge, which I believe will help me further when looking into my career.”

Keynote speaker Tim Radley said, “It was an absolute pleasure to meet all of the students and see their work. Their projects were very impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to exchange ideas and inspiration across both sides of the table.”

“[The students] are so in-line with the refreshing sentiment of the new age, fully engaged in sustainable and ethical practices, and passionate about their own ideas, start-ups, and fledgling businesses. They are digital natives, but equally advocates of the importance of the human touch in retail, and the new approaches to governance, inclusion and diversity.”

“[Leeds is] a vibrant exciting city, and clearly an exceptional university for Fashion Marketing & Management.”

The Retail Institute at Leeds Beckett University is one of the UK’s leading academic research centres for providing applied knowledge on the future of consumer experiences in retail, food and packaging. To find out more about its impact, please visit our website.