Spring Fair announces Dan Finley as speaker
Spring Fair 2027 has announced its initial lineup for the ‘Heart of Retail Stage’, confirming Dan Finley as a speaker. The event, scheduled for 7-10 February at the NEC in Birmingham, will feature Finley on Monday 8 February in Hall 5. He will discuss the retailer’s transformation into a digital marketplace and the role of AI in shaping its future.
Leadership and Independent Retail
Alan Roper, CEO of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, will follow Finley. Roper plans to share the story behind his group’s growth and his perspective on leadership. He will explore what it takes to grow a major retail business while maintaining a strong customer proposition. Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, will close the day with a session titled ‘Retail is the Heartbeat of the Economy’. Dickinson will examine how the sector is changing and the opportunities it creates for the UK economy.
The agenda for the following day shifts focus to the high street’s smaller players. Emma Jones, the Small Business Commissioner, will deliver a talk titled ‘Independent at Heart’. She will draw on her experience building and championing small businesses. The session will cover fair payment, cash flow, and confidence for SMEs. Jones will turn the spotlight firmly onto the UK’s independent businesses on Tuesday 9 February. She will explore what small retailers and brands need to thrive today, looking at how they can build resilience against shifting consumer habits.
On the final day, retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis will give a closing conversation titled ‘Love Letter to Retail’. Paphitis, who owns Boux Avenue, Ryman, and Robert Dyas, will reflect on his career and the challenges facing the industry. Paphitis will deliver a personal ‘Love Letter to Retail’ as the closing conversation on Wednesday 10 February. After decades spent championing the high street and building some of Britain’s best-known retail businesses, he will offer an honest perspective on the challenges facing the industry and why he remains such a passionate believer in its future.
Themes and Content Framework
Fay Tranter, Event Director at Spring Fair, described the upcoming talks as reflecting conversations that go beyond products and trends. She noted the stage creates space for honest discussions with people who have lived through change. Spring Fair has also revealed 10 topics that will run across its wider content programme. These themes include ‘Leading With Heart’, ‘What’s Next’, and ‘Better Together’.
