Sports & Outdoor
Hotel Café Royal, 10 Air St, Soho, London W1B 4DY
London
Summary
A sector leading the transformation in sustainable consumerism?
Sports & Outdoor 2020 returned for its third year, and this time took on the biggest of big questions: Can sustainable consumption deliver consumer engagement and profit whilst executing on its worthy intentions?
We spoke to brand owners and retailers in this sector, and it felt as if the entire sector had some kind of sustainable message. We explored motivations, marketing messaging, ROI and - frankly - whether consumers can be persuaded to buy less, of higher quality, and to prioritise the ethics of production over their short-term needs.
We were joined by businesses who had been founded on sustainable principles, those who had made a shift in recent years, and those for whom it’s an option that can’t be ignored.
Is there profit in sustainability?
How are you planning to use this new messaging commercially?
How do you present the story?
Can you be sustainable AND exciting?
Or are you at risk of "Worthybragging"?
What do you do when everyone is sustainable?
Is there a long-term plan?
Adam Hall
Head of Sustainability
Internet Fusion GroupRead Full Bio →
Adam is the Head of Sustainability at Internet Fusion and Surfdome, Europe's largest action sport retailer. He has spent almost his entire working life weaving his way through the surfing industry from the humble beginnings of the local surfboard factory. This journey provided opportunities to travel the world and years living in Australia and New Zealand. Eventually taking a break from the surf industry and founding an environmental company aiding business to become more sustainable.The group which Surfdome is now in has 12 other businesses which collectively boast 99.81% plastic free outbound packaging, made up from 94.44% recycled content. Internet Fusion is now working closely with the 800 brands and suppliers to assist them to reduce their plastic and Carbon Emissions.
Oliver Pepper
Co-Founder
Morvélo & The OverlandRead Full Bio →
With a professional background in creative design, I co-founded cycle apparel brand Morvélo in 2008, adventure sport brand The Overland in 2017 and sustainable product design and sourcing company Circular Associates in 2019. I've always had a passion for the outdoors and action sports, stemming from my love of cycling (racing everything from BMX and MTB to Track, Cyclocross to Road) and this naturally expanded into snowboarding, hiking, surfing, running, skateboarding as well as good old fashioned camping. Designing and creating distinctive and forward thinking clothing where I most belong.
John Atcheson
Founder
StuffstrRead Full Bio →
John Atcheson is Founder of Stuffstr, a mission-driven startup dedicated to reducing waste by maximising the lifetime value of goods. Prior to Stuffstr, John helped to launch Getaround, a pioneering leader in peer-to-peer car sharing, and served as Founder/CEO of several media-related startups, including MusicNet, the first interactive music service. Additionally, John has served as board chair of Sightline Institute, a leading sustainability think-tank. John holds a BA in Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Calvin Cox
Head of Marketing
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
Calvin is Head of Marketing at independent cycle retailer Sigma Sports. Calvin has been involved in the development of Sigma Sports marketing strategy over the past 6 years, supporting the business as it has grown from a single store retailer to a multi-channel, multisite operation, reaching customers around the world.
Calvin has over 15 years marketing experience, having previously lead UK marketing programs for Kelly Services, the multi-national recruitment services organisation and also working in the tech industry at the world's largest job search engine, Indeed.com.
Peter Lillie
Co Founder
Presca TeamwearRead Full Bio →
GRN sportswear was set up in 2014 this was followed by the launch of our performance based sister brand Presca Teamwear. Our goal was to show the there was an alternative to the heavy use of virgin materials that was so prevalent in the sports clothing market place. This was driven both by a passion for sport and a real concern about the effect the industry was having on our environment.
Tori Fahey
Director
Apidura Ltd.Read Full Bio →
Following more than a decade in finance, Tori found herself wanting to experience a new challenge. A desire to connect with real life led her to cycle across Africa.
After pushing her limits on a bike, touring from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific, Tori wanted to share the ethos of bike packing and what it allows you to do and experience with a wider audience. From her kitchen table, she launched a brand focused on exploring how the packs she was using could be improved through modern ideas, technical materials and precision production.
Those early experiments proved successful and Apidura now has loyal customers around the world and creates lightweight, technical bike packing equipment.
Jeff Mainwood
Head of Marketing
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
Jeff leads the Marketing Department at the UK's number one premium cycling and multisport retailer Sigma Sports. He is responsible for delivering successful integrated marketing campaigns across the Sigma Sports, Universal Colours and Vel brands.
William Hurd
Lead Apparel Designer
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
William has helped Sigma Sports to establish the creative on a new premium cycling clothing brand and the design of the collection back in 2019. Over the course of a year, they’ve established branding, sourcing, design, development and brand strategy which launched in the summer of 2020. In the short period in which Universal Colours had been live, it quickly became the best selling new brand for Sigma.
Paula Macaggi
Founder
OFFBoundsRead Full Bio →
Paula is the Founder of OFFBounds, a soon-to-be launched podcast that delves deep into case studies in retail and conducts insightful interviews with prominent industry leaders. Possessing an unwavering passion for the world of commerce, Paula has dedicated the past years of her career exclusively to this field, honing her expertise and garnering an understanding of its nuances. Her global outlook and keen awareness of emerging trends enable her to deliver a unique narrative, unveiling the unfolding stories and capturing the essence of the ever-evolving retail industry.
AGENDA
08:30 - 09:00
Registration & Networking Breakfast
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome from Commerce Futures
09:10 - 09:40
Keynote One - Adam Hall, Internet Fusion Group
09:40 - 10:10
Keynote Two - Oliver Pepper, Morvelo
10:10 - 10:35
Keynote Three - Jeff Mainwood & William Hurd, Sigma Sports
10:35 - 10:45
Refreshments & Networking Break
10:45 - 11:05
Keynote Four - John Atcheson, Stuffstr
11:05 - 11:50
Panel Q&A Session
Calvin Cox - Threshold Sports
Peter Lillie - Presca Teamwear
Tori Fahey - Apidura
11:50 - 12:00
Final Comments before Networking
12:30
Event Closes
Adam Hall
Head of Sustainability
Internet Fusion GroupRead Full Bio →
Adam is the Head of Sustainability at Internet Fusion and Surfdome, Europe's largest action sport retailer. He has spent almost his entire working life weaving his way through the surfing industry from the humble beginnings of the local surfboard factory. This journey provided opportunities to travel the world and years living in Australia and New Zealand. Eventually taking a break from the surf industry and founding an environmental company aiding business to become more sustainable.The group which Surfdome is now in has 12 other businesses which collectively boast 99.81% plastic free outbound packaging, made up from 94.44% recycled content. Internet Fusion is now working closely with the 800 brands and suppliers to assist them to reduce their plastic and Carbon Emissions.
Oliver Pepper
Co-Founder
Morvélo & The OverlandRead Full Bio →
With a professional background in creative design, I co-founded cycle apparel brand Morvélo in 2008, adventure sport brand The Overland in 2017 and sustainable product design and sourcing company Circular Associates in 2019. I've always had a passion for the outdoors and action sports, stemming from my love of cycling (racing everything from BMX and MTB to Track, Cyclocross to Road) and this naturally expanded into snowboarding, hiking, surfing, running, skateboarding as well as good old fashioned camping. Designing and creating distinctive and forward thinking clothing where I most belong.
John Atcheson
Founder
StuffstrRead Full Bio →
John Atcheson is Founder of Stuffstr, a mission-driven startup dedicated to reducing waste by maximising the lifetime value of goods. Prior to Stuffstr, John helped to launch Getaround, a pioneering leader in peer-to-peer car sharing, and served as Founder/CEO of several media-related startups, including MusicNet, the first interactive music service. Additionally, John has served as board chair of Sightline Institute, a leading sustainability think-tank. John holds a BA in Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Calvin Cox
Head of Marketing
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
Calvin is Head of Marketing at independent cycle retailer Sigma Sports. Calvin has been involved in the development of Sigma Sports marketing strategy over the past 6 years, supporting the business as it has grown from a single store retailer to a multi-channel, multisite operation, reaching customers around the world.
Calvin has over 15 years marketing experience, having previously lead UK marketing programs for Kelly Services, the multi-national recruitment services organisation and also working in the tech industry at the world's largest job search engine, Indeed.com.
Peter Lillie
Co Founder
Presca TeamwearRead Full Bio →
GRN sportswear was set up in 2014 this was followed by the launch of our performance based sister brand Presca Teamwear. Our goal was to show the there was an alternative to the heavy use of virgin materials that was so prevalent in the sports clothing market place. This was driven both by a passion for sport and a real concern about the effect the industry was having on our environment.
Tori Fahey
Director
Apidura Ltd.Read Full Bio →
Following more than a decade in finance, Tori found herself wanting to experience a new challenge. A desire to connect with real life led her to cycle across Africa.
After pushing her limits on a bike, touring from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific, Tori wanted to share the ethos of bike packing and what it allows you to do and experience with a wider audience. From her kitchen table, she launched a brand focused on exploring how the packs she was using could be improved through modern ideas, technical materials and precision production.
Those early experiments proved successful and Apidura now has loyal customers around the world and creates lightweight, technical bike packing equipment.
Jeff Mainwood
Head of Marketing
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
Jeff leads the Marketing Department at the UK's number one premium cycling and multisport retailer Sigma Sports. He is responsible for delivering successful integrated marketing campaigns across the Sigma Sports, Universal Colours and Vel brands.
William Hurd
Lead Apparel Designer
Sigma SportsRead Full Bio →
William has helped Sigma Sports to establish the creative on a new premium cycling clothing brand and the design of the collection back in 2019. Over the course of a year, they’ve established branding, sourcing, design, development and brand strategy which launched in the summer of 2020. In the short period in which Universal Colours had been live, it quickly became the best selling new brand for Sigma.
Paula Macaggi
Founder
OFFBoundsRead Full Bio →
Paula is the Founder of OFFBounds, a soon-to-be launched podcast that delves deep into case studies in retail and conducts insightful interviews with prominent industry leaders. Possessing an unwavering passion for the world of commerce, Paula has dedicated the past years of her career exclusively to this field, honing her expertise and garnering an understanding of its nuances. Her global outlook and keen awareness of emerging trends enable her to deliver a unique narrative, unveiling the unfolding stories and capturing the essence of the ever-evolving retail industry.
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