Content & Commerce

08:15 - 12:30
UK
15.10.2019
Conference

Malmaison Hotel , 1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester, England, M1 3BN, United Kingdom

Manchester

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Content & Commerce

Manchester

Conference

October 15, 2019

Summary

Our annual Content & Commerce conference returns to Manchester

Our annual Content & Commerce conference returned to Manchester for it’s second year after last years great success.

The challenge redefined itself, but in essence it remains understanding what quality of content – at which cadence – in which channel – will deliver the outcomes you are aiming for.

Personalisation has brought a new sensitivity to consumers, ensuring their needs – but most importantly their feelings – are met when creating your marketing plan to create a strong bond of loyalty.

Social is the current shop window: consumers obsess about these channels to find ideas and inspiration, they not only expect product imagery but engaging opinion to react against - encouraging the ‘instagrammable’ world we live in.

Every company generating content is now more focused on the customer that they increasingly understand – rather than just filling a “gap” in their library, which shows great progress, there’s still a long way to go!

The drive continues to be creating “content ROI”, to utilise all channels and increase brand loyalty whilst sustaining profitable demand.

This year our speakers included a diverse mix of media players and FMCG/ fashion brands and retailers, who shared their content journeys, the trends they have witnessed and their opinions on the industry.

This years line up included:
Fran Pearce, Head of Marketing - Smith & Sinclair
Grace Bryan, Head of Events & Brand Partnerships - Smith & Sinclair
Jay O’Neill, Senior UX Manager - Holland & Barrett
Zoë Rose Smith, Content and Social Media Manager - MORI
Samanah Duran, Founder & CEO - Critics Clothing
Jenna Meek, Founder and Creative Director - SHRINE
Sinéad Flood, Founder - July Child Jewellery

PastriesDelegates networkingDelegates networkingAudience at a Commerce Futures conference.
  • Journey of User-generated content (UGC) – the ‘Instagrammable approach’
  • Personalisation at the heart of brand loyalty
  • Memorable content vs traditional content
  • Bridging the gaps within content – no competition
  • Delivering an ROI within content
  • The Content vs Commerce debate
  • Personalising each channel and its role within the buying cycle
  • Taking a traditional brand on the digital journey
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Fran Pearce

Fran Pearce

Head of Marketing

Smith & Sinclair

Fran Pearce is Head of Marketing at Smith & Sinclair and has been with the brand for just over a year, joining just before their re brand and re-launch, looking after all of their marketing strategy in the brands quest to make adult more fun. Fran loves nothing more than the challenge of building a brand in the UK, by thinking creatively about how to disrupt and keep S&S front of mind.

Previous to this she was Global Brand Manager at Superdry which is a world away from confectionery and alcohol innovation but still required a customer centric approach to everything she did.

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Grace Bryan

Grace Bryan

Head of Events & Brand Partnerships

Smith & Sinclair

Grace Bryan has been working within the events world for 10 years, currently Grace heads up the Events & Brand Partnerships at one of the most innovative & upcoming confectionary & Experiance companies, Smith & Sinclair. Over the years she has worked within venue finding, hospitality consultancy, venue management, new product development & creative production working with clients ranging from Bombay Sapphire, Topshop & Live Nation.

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Samanah Duran

Samanah Duran

Founder & CEO

Critics Clothing

Samanah Duran is a British fashion designer and entrepreneur most recently named Forbes 30 under 30 most influential in retail and eCommerce. Her fierce emphasis on inspiring each individual to embrace their identity and to take pride in their individuality is perfectly presented in her vision for an innovative clothing line with Critics Clothing, which was revolutionised through the crafting of indulgent streetwear with the power to evoke self-expression.

Building on that inspiration as an extension of Critics Clothing, Samanah has now successfully launched BEYOUROWN and BEYOUROWN MAN a digital media & news company dedicated to inspire and champion entrepreneurs on a mission to lead.

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 Jay O'Neill

Jay O'Neill

Senior UX Manager

Holland & Barrett

Jay is a commercial and creative customer and UX professional, with a proven track record of leading dynamic teams to deliver: compelling user experiences, exceptional customer experiences and innovative strategies. Along with his varied expertise in both design and data he also has a passion for delivering fantastic and engaging online experiences to drive real business growth.

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Zoë Rose Smith

Zoë Rose Smith

Content & Social Media Manager

MORI

Zoë Smith is the Content and Social Media Manager at MORI, and has been working with the premium childrenswear brand for just over 3 years. Leading the strategy, creation and implementation for content, social media and copy, whilst ensuring the brand values are always at the heart of content creation. With a background in journalism, she is dedicated to producing engaging, scroll-stopping & community-centric content across the business marketing channels. Outside of working for MORI, she works as a freelance film journalist for various print and online magazines, focusing on a niche genre of films. With a passion for content creation, she founded her own podcast and website, and utilises social media for personal brand awareness.

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Jenna Meek

Jenna Meek

Founder and Creative Director

SHRINE (The Gypsy Shrine)

SHRINE is a creative lifestyle brand, derived from the festival fashion scene since 2016, most famously know for creating some of festivals biggest fashion and beauty trends. In only three years they have grown a social platform from 0 to 400,000, stormed the viral world several times through their innovative content creations, reaching an audience of over ten million and creating festival trends like never before. They have had the honour to work with some of the worlds most renowned celebrities and brands, from Arianna Grande, Paris Hilton, Little Mix to Google, Bloomingdales, ASOS, Topshop, YSL and many more. Plus they are only just getting started.

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Sinéad Flood

Sinéad Flood

Founder

July Child Jewellery

Born and raised in her beloved Manchester, Sinead Flood founded July Child Jewellery in 2017. Inspired by her love of exploring new places, July Child is a celebration of female-owned original jewellery from across the globe.

Hosting enviable cult designers and their collections which are constantly evolving and growing, July Child has gained the attention of Who What Wear, Refinery 29 and British Vogue, to name a few.

Sinead's brand is an innovator in the jewellery industry and one to watch. What unites the brand is Sinead’s unique style and passion for jewels and her ambition to find everyone the perfect piece.

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Leaf wall textureSmiling woman networking at a Commerce Futures eventSmiling woman networking at a Commerce Futures eventPastries in front of delegates
18:30
Arrival & Welcome Drinks
19:15
Guests Sit
19:20
Welcome
Commerce Futures
19:30
Opening Speech
Fran Pearce
Grace Bryan
Samanah Duran
Jay O'Neill
Zoë Rose Smith
Jenna Meek
Sinéad Flood
20:00
Starters
Topic One - Discussion at individual tables
20:20
Topic One discussed as a collective
20:40
Mains
Topic Two - Discussion at individual tables
21:10
Topic Two discussed as a collective
21:30
Desserts & Networking
23:00
Event Closes
18:30
Arrival & Welcome Drinks
19:15
Guests Sit
19:20
Welcome
Commerce Futures
19:30
Opening Speech
Guest Speaker
20:00
Starters
Topic One - Discussion at individual tables
20:20
Topic One discussed as a collective
20:40
Mains
Topic Two - Discussion at individual tables
21:10
Topic Two discussed as a collective
21:30
Desserts & Networking
23:00
Event Closes
08:30
Registration & Networking Breakfast
09:15
Welcome from Commerce Futures
09:25
Ryan Clark, STATSports & Jim Hingston, The Gym Group
Keynote
10:10
Hollie Weatherstone, Muc-Off
Keynote
10:35
Break
10:55
Multi-brand panel – Decathlon, Ellis Brigham, Helen of Troy
Keynote (Main Stage)
Speed dating for delegates
(Breakout Room)
11:50
George Huxford, Apidura
Keynote
12:15
Break
13:15
Rich Philip, Contested
Keynote
13:40
Marc Guisti, Veloforte
Keynote (Main Stage)
David Hanney, Alpkit
(Breakout Room)
14:35
Networking
15:00
Closing Remarks from Commerce Futures
18:30
Arrival & Welcome Drinks
19:15
Guests Sit
19:20
Welcome
Commerce Futures
19:30
Opening Speech
Guest Speaker
20:00
Starters
Topic One - Discussion at individual tables
20:20
Topic One discussed as a collective
20:40
Mains
Topic Two - Discussion at individual tables
21:10
Topic Two discussed as a collective
21:30
Desserts & Networking
23:00
Event Closes
18:00
Arrival & Welcome Drinks
18:45
Guests Sit
18:50
Welcome
Commerce Futures
19:00
Opening Speech
Guest Speaker
19:30
Starters
Topic One - Discussion at individual tables
19:50
Topic One discussed as a collective
20:10
Mains
Topic Two - Discussion at individual tables
20:40
Topic Two discussed as a collective
21:00
Desserts & Networking
22:30
Event Closes

AGENDA

08:15 - 09:00

Registration & Networking Breakfast

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome from Commerce Futures

09:15 - 09:45

Keynote One -
Fran Pearce, Head of Marketing - Smith & Sinclair
Grace Bryan, Head of Events & Brand Partnerships - Smith & Sinclair

09:45 - 10:15

Keynote Two -
Jay O’Neill, Senior UX Manager - Holland & Barrett

10:15 - 10:35

Refreshments & Networking Break

10:35 - 11:20

Panel Q&A Session
Moderated by Jamie Hancox, MD of Commerce Futures, with appearances from;

  • Samanah Duran, Founder & CEO - Critics Clothing
  • Jenna Meek, Founder and Creative Director - SHRINE
  • Sinéad Flood, Founder - July Child Jewellery

11:20 - 11:50

Keynote Three -
Alek Lewin, Content Creator - LUSH

11:50 - 12:00

Final Comments before Networking

12:00 - 12:30

Event Close

09:00
Registration & Networking Breakfast
09:30
Welcome & Partner Introductions
09:40
Panel Discussion with Q&A
Fran Pearce
Grace Bryan
Samanah Duran
Jay O'Neill
Zoë Rose Smith
Jenna Meek
Sinéad Flood
10:20
Networking Break
10:40
Workshop at tables
11:00
Group Discussion - Moderated
11:20
Final Comments & Networking
11:30
Event Closes
Fran Pearce

Fran Pearce

Head of Marketing

Smith & Sinclair

Fran Pearce is Head of Marketing at Smith & Sinclair and has been with the brand for just over a year, joining just before their re brand and re-launch, looking after all of their marketing strategy in the brands quest to make adult more fun. Fran loves nothing more than the challenge of building a brand in the UK, by thinking creatively about how to disrupt and keep S&S front of mind.

Previous to this she was Global Brand Manager at Superdry which is a world away from confectionery and alcohol innovation but still required a customer centric approach to everything she did.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
Grace Bryan

Grace Bryan

Head of Events & Brand Partnerships

Smith & Sinclair

Grace Bryan has been working within the events world for 10 years, currently Grace heads up the Events & Brand Partnerships at one of the most innovative & upcoming confectionary & Experiance companies, Smith & Sinclair. Over the years she has worked within venue finding, hospitality consultancy, venue management, new product development & creative production working with clients ranging from Bombay Sapphire, Topshop & Live Nation.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
Samanah Duran

Samanah Duran

Founder & CEO

Critics Clothing

Samanah Duran is a British fashion designer and entrepreneur most recently named Forbes 30 under 30 most influential in retail and eCommerce. Her fierce emphasis on inspiring each individual to embrace their identity and to take pride in their individuality is perfectly presented in her vision for an innovative clothing line with Critics Clothing, which was revolutionised through the crafting of indulgent streetwear with the power to evoke self-expression.

Building on that inspiration as an extension of Critics Clothing, Samanah has now successfully launched BEYOUROWN and BEYOUROWN MAN a digital media & news company dedicated to inspire and champion entrepreneurs on a mission to lead.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
 Jay O'Neill

Jay O'Neill

Senior UX Manager

Holland & Barrett

Jay is a commercial and creative customer and UX professional, with a proven track record of leading dynamic teams to deliver: compelling user experiences, exceptional customer experiences and innovative strategies. Along with his varied expertise in both design and data he also has a passion for delivering fantastic and engaging online experiences to drive real business growth.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
Zoë Rose Smith

Zoë Rose Smith

Content & Social Media Manager

MORI

Zoë Smith is the Content and Social Media Manager at MORI, and has been working with the premium childrenswear brand for just over 3 years. Leading the strategy, creation and implementation for content, social media and copy, whilst ensuring the brand values are always at the heart of content creation. With a background in journalism, she is dedicated to producing engaging, scroll-stopping & community-centric content across the business marketing channels. Outside of working for MORI, she works as a freelance film journalist for various print and online magazines, focusing on a niche genre of films. With a passion for content creation, she founded her own podcast and website, and utilises social media for personal brand awareness.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
Jenna Meek

Jenna Meek

Founder and Creative Director

SHRINE (The Gypsy Shrine)

SHRINE is a creative lifestyle brand, derived from the festival fashion scene since 2016, most famously know for creating some of festivals biggest fashion and beauty trends. In only three years they have grown a social platform from 0 to 400,000, stormed the viral world several times through their innovative content creations, reaching an audience of over ten million and creating festival trends like never before. They have had the honour to work with some of the worlds most renowned celebrities and brands, from Arianna Grande, Paris Hilton, Little Mix to Google, Bloomingdales, ASOS, Topshop, YSL and many more. Plus they are only just getting started.

LEARN MORE →Close icon
Sinéad Flood

Sinéad Flood

Founder

July Child Jewellery

Born and raised in her beloved Manchester, Sinead Flood founded July Child Jewellery in 2017. Inspired by her love of exploring new places, July Child is a celebration of female-owned original jewellery from across the globe.

Hosting enviable cult designers and their collections which are constantly evolving and growing, July Child has gained the attention of Who What Wear, Refinery 29 and British Vogue, to name a few.

Sinead's brand is an innovator in the jewellery industry and one to watch. What unites the brand is Sinead’s unique style and passion for jewels and her ambition to find everyone the perfect piece.

LEARN MORE →Close icon

Venue

Malmaison Hotel , 1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester, England, M1 3BN, United Kingdom

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