Stay at the forefront of your field with our exceptional business seminars led by prominent industry experts. These seminars offer invaluable insights into the latest trends and strategies, ensuring you remain competitive and informed. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your career and stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape.

 

No pre-booking required to take advantage of this FREE expert advice!

 

All seminars will take place in the Presentation Theatre. No booking is required but it is advisable to arrive early to get a seat. Programme is subject to change.

Sunday 23rd FEBRUARY 2025

 

10.30am THE RETAIL Conversation

With Paul Currie and Sarah Hurley

The Retail Conversation with Paul Currie (ex C-Suite Foyles, Molten Brown, M&S, River Island, Easy Group & Hamleys) and Sarah Hurley (Entrepreneur, Author, The Hurley Report) will discuss retail cycles, trend cycles and how to optimise them in your business. They will discuss their personal experiences, predictions for the future, including AI and sustainability and the importance of understanding customer preferences and adapting quickly to change and demand across traditional and e-commerce retail. 

 

11.30am PANEL DEBATE: LICENSING MADE EASY

With Sarah Hurley, Susan Balfour, Susan Bolsolver and Ian Downes 

This panel debate will be an opportunity for craft business owners to learn more about the benefits of licensing.

The panellists will discuss topics including

  • A quick overview of the basics of brand licensing.
  • How to get started in your brand licensing journey.
  • Ways to simplify and streamline the licensing process.
  • The future of licensing in an ever evolving digital landscape.

 

12.30pm BUt HOW do i know it’s good? a practical social video checklist that can turn you from enthusiastic client to watchful creative director

With Pete Durant

With social media content being vital to businesses success, the need to create brilliant, impactful on-going video, either through a third-party, influencers or yourself, is a big pressure. Working with creators of all sorts is a massive worry, even for the most creative of non-digital people. Get practical tips to help you judge quality and potential emotional impact that you can action today, so you don’t just approve content, you drive it forward. 

Ex Marketing Director, Head of Social Media and Creative Director across multiple fashion retail, travel, charity and entertainment brands and one of the original social media professionals in the UK shares decades of learning and latest platform requirements to help your business.  

 

1.30pm GENERATIVE AI: CREATIVE EXTINCTION OR CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION?

With Elliot Leavy 

In this thought-provoking talk, Elliot Leavy explores the transformative impact of Generative AI on creativity, examining whether we are entering a golden age of creative democratisation or an era of diminishing authenticity.

This session offers an unfiltered perspective on AI’s role in shaping the future of creativity and business, asking whether it will lead to a flourishing of innovation or an extinction event for originality and efficiency.

Key takeaways:

  • Explosion in personalised content creation – from images and video to music and gaming.
    How advancements enable individuals to customise and consume content at unprecedented levels.
  • Addresses the intersection of AI-generated content with education and immersive technologies.
  • Explores the tension between intuitive, accessible AI tools and concerns about authenticity, trust, and an online world dominated by AI.
  • Highlights the many operational benefits this technology brings to business.

 

2.30Pm 3 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR BIZ ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

With Estelle Keeber

Estelle will share with you her most impactful and easy to implement tips to help you boost your creative business.

  • Learn the top 3 ways to boost your biz on Instagram in 2025
  • Learn how to connect and collaborate with your dream influencers
  • Learn how to create engaging content in less than 10 minutes
  • Understand how to make more impact in less time
  • Learn how to make your biz stand out on socials

MONday 24th FEBRUARY 2025

 

10.30am The Hurley Report 2025

With Sarah Hurley

Presented exclusively at the show – the preview of the new 2025 Hurley report, featuring trends, data and analysis for the creative industries as a whole. 

 

11.30am FROm art to cart: converting  creativity into sales through digital marketing

With Daniel Johnson

  • Map out the customer journey to turn creativity into consistent sales.
  • Discover low-cost digital marketing strategies to attract and retain customers.
  • Understand how storytelling and trust-building drive conversions and loyalty.
  • Learn practical tips for optimising email campaigns, social media presence, and website performance.
  • Walk away with actionable steps to grow your craft business sustainably.

 

12.30pm PANEL DEBATE: why social media is a necessity in todays retail landscape

With Ore Ade and Helena Ermolina (TikTok) and Holly Dennett

Our panellists will discuss topics including:

  • How retailers can use platforms to engage directly with consumers and create personalised shopping experiences that resonate with their target audience.
  • The scope for reaching a global audience instantly, breaking geographical barriers and expanding your market reach.
  • Live streaming opportunities on Tik Tok to enhance brand visibility, and create engaged and vibrant communities among followers.
  • Why Tik Tok shop should be considered as a new sales channel for commerce sellers.
  • How real-time feedback can enable retailers to adapt to consumer needs and preferences.

 

1.30Pm 3 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR BIZ ON INSTAGRAM IN 2025

With Estelle Keeber 

Estelle will share with you her most impactful and easy to implement tips to help you boost your creative business.

  • Learn the top 3 ways to boost your biz on Instagram in 2025
  • Learn how to connect and collaborate with your dream influencers
  • Learn how to create engaging content in less than 10 minutes
  • Understand how to make more impact in less time
  • Learn how to make your biz stand out on socials

 

2.30Pm The Perfect pitch

With Angeline Murphy, Sarah Hurley, Lisa Miles and Steve Mitchell

Pitching your business is not just for investors or bank managers – every chance to talk about your business, is a pitch! The Creative Pitch has been one of our most successful ventures with participants going on to launch products, write books, secure TV airtime, secure suppliers and sign licensing deals among other things.

Last year, creative Entrepreneur Angeline Murphy presented one of the best pitches we’d ever seen. This year, we will be creating that pitch LIVE for the first time ever for you to get insight on the best ways to pitch your business, answer questions and follow up in any situation.