Come and join us online

AGENDA

3.00pm: How to create an award-winning brand your customers will come back to: Rebecca and Clare Hopkins, founders, Balance Me
Eighteen years ago, sisters Rebecca and Clare, were both in high-pressure corporate careers. They knew that the intensive workload had started to take its toll on their health, and that they had to step back, reassess, and begin to restore balance to their lives. Both sisters had developed skin reactions throughout their lives, so after retraining in yoga, aromatherapy and reflexology between them, they poured their new knowledge into addressing wellbeing in the workplace and creating a natural beauty brand with a difference. Since then, the science-led, natural skincare brand has gone on to win over 60 industry media and consumer awards, has over 75,000 5* product reviews, and a global community of 110,000 men and women. Rebecca and Clare will share their story and offer tips for success when it comes to creating a brand your customers will love.

3.35pm: How to use Instagram to grow your brand: Helen Morris, founder, Samsara Communications
Helen Morris spent over a decade working as a marketing specialist for some of the world’s biggest and best marketing agencies. She has driven first-class communication campaigns and produced content for global brands across multiple markets, including, MTV, Goldman Sachs, Cadbury, and more. In 2017, Helen combined her finely-honed corporate skills with her passion for the wellbeing industry, and launched Samsara Communications. Working in collaboration with a highly skilled network of consultants, Samsara Communications is committed to empowering businesses to grow with authentic and strategic marketing, that delivers genuine business results. Helen will offer her top tips on how you can grow your brand and find more customers through Instagram.

4.10pm: Meet the buyer: Lily Child, wellness innovation, Boots
Do you want your products on the shelves of Boots? Lily will share Boots’ strategy when it comes to growing their wellness offering and will explain what sort of brands they’re looking for, as well as how you can get in touch with the buyers, and the best way to pitch your products to them. Lily has worked at Boots for over eight years, predominantly in beauty innovation. She has now moved into wellness to develop the category as Boots have ambitions to double the size of their wellness business in the next five years, which will include developing their in-store proposition, introducing new categories, and launching new brands and services.

4.45pm: Meet the buyer: Beauty buyers, Next

· Fran Morris: Skincare, haircare, wellness, and mother & baby
· Holly Clark: Fragrance, bath & body, home fragrance, and men’s grooming
· Jane Connolly: Colour, electrical, sun & tan, and tools

The buyers will share what they look for in a brand, how you can get in touch with them, and what impresses them in a pitch. Five attendees will have the opportunity to pitch to the Next buyers live ‘on stage’. You can apply to pitch your products to the buyers here. The brands chosen to pitch will be informed and announced on Wednesday 20 May.

5.05pm: Live pitching to Next buyers
Head off the main stage and into the live pitching session to watch five chosen beauty and wellness brands take part in a quick-fire, 2-minute pitch to have their products sold on Next.

5.35pm: From concept to shelf: Janet Milner-Walker, founder, Bespoke Advantage
Brand expert, Janet Milner-Walker, has worked with brands including Harvey Nichols, Body Shop, Boots and Marks & Spencer, developing and launching brands from ‘concept to shelf’. Janet will talk you through her six step-process to take your idea to the shelves of big retailers, covering strategy, marketing, NPD and sales, whether you are a start-up or an existing business.

Please note, we have allowed room for 5-minute comfort breaks between each talk, so you can top up your cup of tea without missing a moment!