Spring Fair has announced the first speakers for its Heart of Retail Stage at the 2027 edition, which takes place at NEC Birmingham from 7 to 10 February 2027.
The opening line-up brings together retail leaders and entrepreneurs: Dan Finley, chief executive of Debenhams Group; Alan Roper, chief executive of Blue Diamond Garden Centres; Emma Jones CBE, the Small Business Commissioner; Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium; and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.
Topics on the stage
Sessions are set to address Debenhams' digital transformation, independent retail, leadership, customer experience and the future of the high street. Paphitis will deliver the closing conversation, titled A Love Letter to Retail, on 10 February.
The wider programme is organised around 10 themes, among them sustainability, emerging brands, customer loyalty, AI and technology, business growth and championing independent retailers.
Fay Tranter, event director at Spring Fair, said the programme was intended to bring together voices able to challenge thinking, share experience and offer retailers practical ideas to take away.
Further speakers and programme details are due to be announced in the coming months, so the balance of the stage — including how the technology and sustainability themes will be handled in sessions — is not yet public. Registration is free for retail buyers and industry professionals.