Portas speaks at Spring Fair

Retail marketing expert Mary Portas is to be a keynote speaker on the new Future Trends Stage at accessories show Spring Fair in Birmingham.

The former creative director of Harvey Nichols will be one of the retail experts appearing  on the stage, in association with WGSN.com, offering seminars on the directions that retail will take in 2008 and 2009.

The seminars aim to provide information for buyers and merchandisers from both multiples and independents. The stage will be located in the Spring Fair's Home Gifts and Interiors section in halls 9 to 11 at the NEC in Birmingham.

There will also be insights from retailers on customer service, multi-channel retailing, developing online offers and eco-sustainability.
Colour and interiors trend directions will be available from a WGSN trends theatre, as well as consumer demographic trends from Research International, store developments from retail design group Fitch, and design influences from design consultant Sebastian Conran.

Spring Fair is at the NEC on February 3-7. For details, visit www.springfair.com.