Farfetch to stage debut retail innovation event next year

London - Farfetch.com is keen to shake up the retail industry. Which is why the luxury multi-fashion retailer is set to host an invitation only event in London next spring to share its retail innovations and new technologies with other retailers, brands and industry players.

Taking place on April 12, 2017 at the new Design Museum, FarfetchOS will see 200 guests come together to attend the one day event organised by Farfetch. José Neves, CEO of Farfetch revealed to WWD the event will be a combination of a sales conference and seminar. "It’s a different type of hybrid. And hopefully it’s going to be exciting," he said. "We want to make it a decision-maker’s event." If everything goes according to Neves plan, he also hopes to host the event annually.

The event comes as Neves, who launched Farfetch in 2008 as an international e commerce website for physical retailers but has since expanded its business offering to include hosting independent ecommerce platforms for brands, sees himself and Farfetch as the Apple and Google for the fashion and luxury industries.

"We are a platform, for the whole industry, for brands, boutiques, retailers — and customers, obviously. If you look at what platforms do — companies like Apple or Google — they announce their new services to tech communities. Why shouldn’t we do the same," added Neves. "We’re launching novelty products, software, highly revolutionary initiatives, and we’re doing it with some of the world’s leading brands."

"We want the world to know about them and we also then want to put them into context. It’s really about raising awareness and launching new products and services, in partnership with major brands." One of Farfetch's newest projects, its Store of the Future initiative, which follows on from its acquisition of London retailer Browns last year will also be shown at the event.

The new initiative, which is dedicated to strengthening its brick-and-mortar store offering as well as its customers experience using the latest technologies sees Farfetch using Browns as a test area. Farfetch will create a Store of the Future installation at its event in April to let viewers interact with its new technologies. In addition, Farfetch also teamed up with consultants from Bain & Co. to work on a study on what the future of luxury fashion, and will be releasing its findings at the event.

"We will be talking about what services the luxury industry must be providing to this new consumer so that we all stay relevant. How can we, at Farfetch, be part of that, together with the brands?," he added. "This is really about how we see the world in the next three to five years. We want to get out of this three- to 12-month mind-set and think, ‘How will people shop for fashion in five years’ time?’ Hopefully, it’s going to be exciting. Whether people embrace it sooner, later or never, we’ll see."

Photo: Farfetch website