Transform operating models.
Boost productivity.
Drive growth.
15th September, Birmingham UK
Transform operating models.
Boost productivity.
Drive growth.
15th September, Birmingham UK
15th September 2022
9am to 4pm
Insight & inspiration
A blend of keynotes, discussions and networking
Birmingham, UK
National Motorcycle Museum
For retailers only.
Free tickets, subject to application and review.
A brand new event brought to you through collaboration:
OB&Co x Rethink Productivity
This Productivity & Transformation conference is a place for those who are looking to discuss and learn to overcome today’s business challenges. This event, specifically designed to bring people together and act as a “safe space” for open discussion, is a great opportunity to share experiences with others who are tackling the same challenges as you.
We’ll focus on 4 core pillars
Customer
How are your customers reacting to the external environment? And how is this changing their behaviour?
Colleague
How can you support colleagues through the turbulence and hard times? And how do you balance the recruit vs retain challenge?
Cost
What do you need to do to weather the storm and invest for the future? And how can you plan when all areas are squeezed?
Change
Given the evolution of the market, how should you improve and transform your retail operating model?
Agenda for Productivity & Transformation
From 8:00am
Welcome Coffee & Making Connections
Connect with fellow attendees and get caffeinated for an action-packed day ahead.
9:00am
Welcome to Productivity & Transformation
Rethink Productivity’s Simon Hedaux and OB&Co’s Oliver Banks welcome you to the event and share expectations and objectives for the day.
Chatham House Rules apply throughout the day.
9:15am
Opening Keynote
Diane Wehrle
Diane will share insight showing how customers are shopping in the post-covid world and how the current challenges will continue to change this.
9:45am
Understanding the Context
Panel Discussion with Retailers, Moderated by Sue Hedaux
Taking lessons from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, you’ll hear from retailers about the challenges of the wider market and how to proceed when you’re not fully in control.
10:15am
Top Right Thinking
Dulcie Swanston
Dulcie will explore how you can boost your teams’ performance and challenge them to achieve greater things.
10:35am
Break & Networking
Grab a coffee and connect with fellow retailers.
11:00am
Productivity Lessons Learned
Fireside Chat with Jason Cotta
Jason will talk with Simon about how he has addressed the productivity challenges in hospitality – balancing product quality, investing in people and cost control.
11:20am
The Cost Challenge
Panel Discussion with Retailers, Moderated by Simon Hedaux
With P&Ls squeezed from multiple directions, hear from your peers about the strategies and approaches that you can take to ensure your organisation’s business case and operating model stacks up.
12:00noon
Lunch & Networking
We’re planning a slightly extended lunch to allow time to meet others and perhaps check in on the day job. Oh – and eat too, of course!
1:15pm
Collaboration on Colleague Challenges
Interactive Workshop
Get ready to collaborate, share insight and ideas about how you can recruit and retain your colleagues as well as how you can continue to inspire, motivate and support your perfect workforce.
2:00pm
The Chance To Change
Oliver Banks
Given the evolving market, you’ll need to reconsider and recalibrate your change efforts. Hear from the “King of Retail Transformation”, Oliver Banks, about what this means for your projects, your people and your profits.
2:15pm
The Journey To A New Proposition
Fireside Chat with Ben Armstrong
Ben will talk with Oliver about how he has created a new proposition and the experience of transformation from an idea through to implementation at pace.
2:35pm
Break & Networking
Another opportunity for you to connect with industry peers and make new friends.
2:50pm
The Change Challenge
Panel Discussion with Retailers, Moderated by Oliver Banks
Hear from different retailers about how they are getting prepared for boosting productivity and driving transformation. Learn from their lessons about what’s working and what’s not. Share your challenges to get tips and techniques from the expertise in the room.
3:20pm
Closing Keynote
Ian Shepherd
There are undoubtedly some challenging times ahead. In this session, Ian will share his perspective and experience, helping to connect the 4 pillars (Customer, Colleague, Cost, Change) so you can help your organisation overcome whatever challenge stands in your way.
3:55pm
Closing Remarks
Simon and Oliver share their closing thoughts and bring a close to the inaugural Productivity & Transformation conference.
4:00pm
Close & After Event Networking
You’re very last chance to connect with peers from across the retail industry and share thoughts with the teams at OB&Co and Rethink Productivity.
Meet The Speakers
Ian Shepherd
Chair, Bensons For Beds
An experienced retail leader with 25+ years of experience. Previously, Ian has held senior positions including COO at Odeon Cinemas and CEO at Game Group plc. In addition, he has been CMO, MD and also held other commercial and marketing roles Vodafone and Sky TV. Ian is author of “Reinventing Retail” and “The Average Is Always Wrong”.
Diane Wehrle
Marketing & Insights Director, Springboard
One of the leading experts on retail and retail destinations, with an unparalleled knowledge and expertise in understanding current and emerging retail issues and consumer trends. Diane specialises in delivering intelligence and insights on current performance and long term retail trends.
Dulcie Swanston
Coach & Learning Consultant
Dulcie blends commercial acumen with neuroscience and psychology. With 20+ years of large corporate experience in Operations, Commercial, Brand and HR, ultimately rising into HR leadership roles. Dulcie is author of “It’s Not Bloody Rocket Science” and regularly is featured in the media.
Jason Cotta
Global CEO, Ole & Steen
Jason has spent the majority of his career working in the hospitality industry having begun his career with Tesco and then holding senior roles at TGI Friday’s, Travelodge and UK Care before joining Costa Coffee as Operations Director, International MD and finally UK MD, overseeing the estate of 2,000+ sites.
Ben Armstrong
COO, Internet Fusion Group
Ben oversees commercial and operations for Internet Fusion Group, an ecommerce retailer focused on operating through niche sites around fashion and sports. Ben has also held senior roles at Luxxotica and Oakley, having started his career with Nike.
Simon Hedaux
Co-Founder, Rethink Productivity
After spending many years working in retail, productivity and workforce management, Simon blends Time and Motion studies, measures performance, and provides detailed insight into productivity and efficiency.
Simon hosts the weekly podcast, the Rethink Productivity podcast.
Sue Hedaux
Co-Founder, Rethink Productivity
Originally a Pharmacist, Sue developed to take on Store and Regional Management roles at Boots. She then became a Category Manager and Head of Productivity at Boots before joining InMoment to work on customer experience programmes. In 2011, she co-founded Rethink Productivity.
Oliver Banks
Retail Transformation Director
A transformation consultant and advisor. Oliver helps retailers to effectively manage their critical transformation programmes and build better operating models for the future. Previously at Tesco, he also has a problem solving engineering background.
He hosts a weekly podcast, the Retail Transformation Show.
Register for your free seat
Apply to join the event. All applications are reviewed and your invite will be confirmed. There is no guarantee that applying will give you a place. Retailers only please.
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