The Retra Conference returns for 2023, taking place at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Coventry on 17 October.
Entitled ‘A Sustainable Industry’, this year’s conference will see the industry coming together for an informative and thought-provoking day with an impressive line-up of guest speakers who will be covering topics including sustainability, electric vehicles, recycling and the future of the high street.
The event will once again be hosted by journalist and broadcaster Declan Curry, who has been reporting on business, the economy and politics for almost 30 years, and appears frequently as a business commentator on LBC News, and occasionally on Classic FM and Capital Radio.
As well as hosting the conference, he will also be providing his personal insight into the economic outlook for the UK.
The keynote speaker will be Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express magazine. He is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Radio Four’s You and Yours, and been a motoring pundit on BBC TV, ITV and Sky News, and on national and local radio.
He will look at the whole switch to electric vehicles and what this means for retailers’ delivery and installation teams.
Other confirmed guest speakers for the conference include: Paul Hide, CEO of AMDEA; Nick Simon, GfK’s Client Insight Director, Consumer Electronics; Andrew Goodacre, CEO of BIRA; and Paul Laville, Founder and Owner of T21, alongside retailers Matt Renaut, MD of Dacombes of Wimborne; Matthew Todd, Partner of Herbert Todd & Son; and Luke Gammons, Director of Wades, Ramsey.
There will also be speakers from both Repic and Material Focus, looking at the recycling challenge, as well as an opportunity to meet three new associate members: Creda, AP Taylor and Vispera.
Howard Saycell, Retra CEO, commented: “Many of you that attended last year’s event will recall that I was struck down by Covid and was unable to attend. So I’m very much looking forward to seeing you all in person this year at what I’ve always believed is the only time we all come together as an industry.
“A Sustainable Industry is something that we can all contribute to in its many different guises. So, please come along and add your voice to the Retra “Industry Conference”.”
