Moda Launches Big Live Debates

With less than a week until the latest edition of Moda returns

to NEC Birmingham between 11-13 August, a host of industry experts are lined-up ready for the launch of Moda’s inaugural series of Big Live Debates.

Brand new to the show this season, live debates will take place across three stages on Monday 12 August. Set to further enrich the Moda business seminar programme, the debates will explore current and key topics from the menswear, womenswear and lingerie sectors. Spectators are invited to listen in and contribute as panels of industry leaders discuss relevant and pressing topics, offer invaluable insights from their careers and forecast the future of the retail landscape.

Sitting on the panel for the Big Live Lingerie Debate are Figleaves’ brand and product director Sue Herrick, Verdict Retail’s senior retail analyst Honor Westnedge, editor of Underlines magazine Pamela Scott and Esther Fieldgrass of independent lingerie boutique Petits Bisous. The debate will commence at 12.30pm at Moda’s dedicated Lingerie & Swimwear Retail Theatre in Hall 17 with topics up for discussion including; growth markets in the sector, how to overcome consumer concerns about fit with online retail and how to reintroduce expert human advice to the shop floor by empowering and training staff to deliver more than transactions.

Meanwhile, the Big Live Womenswear debate will take place at 10.45am on the Hall 17 Catwalk. Led by Isabella Griffiths, editor of WWB magazine the debate will focus specifically on new independent retail and brand partnerships. Both retailers and suppliers will give their views on how their relationships have changed, the effects of the economic climate and what more can be done to further support one another with mutual benefit.

Across the halls, the Big Live Menswear Debate will pick up on a similar theme, with independent retailers, Steve Cochrane from Psyche and Paul Monks from Purple Menswear among the panellists set to unravel the place of the menswear independent in the new retail landscape. The Big Live Menswear debate will take place in the Hall 20 Catwalk Theatre from 12.00pm and will look in-depth at methods for driving footfall and maintaining loyalty, including the place of social media, in store and online services as well as processes for sourcing the products that make stores stand out.

Also featuring in the Hall 17 Lingerie & Swimwear Retail Theatre and new for this season’s show, visitors can seek in-depth expert advice with a series of retail surgeries led by director of Global Fashion Management, Thierry Bayle. Open to all visitors, the surgeries will focus on two main themes; managing stock and cash flow and how to convert footfall into sales. These sessions offer an opportunity for individuals to ask the questions and receive answers specific to their business needs, with anyone interested also being encouraged to bring facts and figures to help personalise discussions.

As well as these new additions to the schedule, more than 20 speakers will provide added value this season, offering practical advice and knowledge free of charge to all visitors. Business leaders and industry experts will deliver talks across a wide range of subjects including, marketing, e-commerce and trend forecasting. Visual merchandising is also a hot topic this season, with Eve Reid of Metamorphosis preparing to reveal her 10 steps to visual retail success. Other speakers include former MD of Hoopers and director of Tonik Retail Anne Horton, Stylesight’s womenswear trend specialist Sandrine Maggiani and Tony Scott, founder of Restore the High Street.

Also new this season Moda’s dedicated Lingerie & Swimwear Retail Theatre will also see a range of sector specific talks. Among the speakers, fit specialist Tracy Turner-Ward is set to deliver her insightful perfect fit seminar series, while chairman of Retail Performance Specialist, Dennis Reid reveals the best practice from across the lingerie and swimwear sector and how it can be applied to help businesses increase their sales. Seminars will also take place alongside a series of brand presentations from industry heavyweights including Wacoal, Elomi, Passionata and Chantelle.

A series of daily catwalks will showcase the best of the new season’s trends from across the show, further enriching Moda’s August offer. With six inspirational catwalks in total, lingerie & swimwear, fashion and evening & occasionwear shows will take place in Hall 17, while urban & contemporary, footwear & accessories and men’s tailoring & lifestyle brands will take to the catwalk in Hall 20.

This season’s brand line-up sees more than 1,450 brands set to exhibit at the show including a host of new launches, exclusive collections and celebrity endorsed brands. Among the celebrity offering, TV presenter Carol Smilie and tennis star Annabel Croft will be on hand throughout the three day event to promote their new range of Diary Doll period pants. The pair will be available for interview at the Headen and Quarmby stand in Moda Lingerie & Swimwear.

Nick Cook, commercial director for ITE Moda Ltd. said: “This season’s show is all about added value for both our visitors and our brands. We understand that people take time away from their stores and businesses to come to Moda and by introducing new debates and retail surgeries we are giving people the added benefit of obtaining key business advice alongside the brands and catwalk trends they want to see.”

Registration for the show will remain live on moda-uk.co.uk until the Tuesday 13 August and a full schedule of seminars and catwalks is available via the website or the free Moda App which is available to download from app stores by searching ‘Moda events’.