GIVING & LIVING 2026 Exhibitor List

Michael Weedon is an analyst and commentator on retail, in particular independent retail. With a background in featuring both in-depth journalism and trade association management at board level, he combines high-level analysis of the economics of retail in the UK, with practical experience at shop level, working with individual independent shops. He also chairs the Retail & High Streets policy unit for the Federation of Small Businesses, bringing together perfectly his interests in understanding what’s going on in the High Street, explaining it to others – and working to change it for the better.

Andrew Copp, from Business Mentors South West, will be showing you how to resource your business. “This isn’t just about finance. Fresh thinking to keep you competitive, in a challenging retail environment”. Business Mentors South West’s core ethos is to help people who are endeavouring to set up and develop smaller enterprises and in doing so help communities develop with thriving small businesses in their midst providing increased job opportunities and in turn assisting the wider economy.

The South West Police Regional Cyber Crime Unit (SWRCCU) offer free, impartial, nationally recognised guidance on how you can protect your organisation from cyber crime. Our talks will analyse case studies from investigations our unit have been involved in, and outline the steps which could have prevented those organisations from becoming victims. We will also discuss current and future threats, and explain how to defend against these. We will be on hand across the 4 days to offer one to one advice and free resources helping you to protect your organisation from cyber crime. Our advice is delivered in an easy to understand format with minimal ‘tech speak’ so it is suitable for all business owners.

Why are some retailers more successful than others? Like you, Ian Retallick wanted to know the answer to this question and dedicated two years of his life to discover the answers. After meeting with hundreds of independent retailers and studying numerous books on the topic Ian discovered that there were 7 key reasons why the best retailers achieve lasting success in their chosen industry. Whether you are a retail manager or an independent retailer you can apply these same principles to your career and achieve meaningful and lasting success.

Sarah Ward will be joined by Chris Workman.

The Retail Fixers are a retail consultancy agency covering E-commerce, bricks and mortar, retail focused social media training, business start up, business mentoring and more. The Retail Fixers, which aims to provide advice and support to SME retailers both online and on the high street, is the creation of Michèle Poynter and Sam Taylor of Mish and Digi-Quick.

Customer Experience 2020 -using Communication and Culture to easily maximise profits. How to empower your team to take responsibility, have an agile approach to seasonal sales and consistently deliver your Brand values. The simple steps to discover the true nature of your business and deliver a CustomerExperience ROI that motivates your team and creates customer loyalty. Your people are the link between your purpose and your profits and the lifestyle that motivated you to start your business.