Palmer & Harvey bags Mary Portas for return to Pro-Retail show

Mary Portas will return to Palmer & Harvey’s annual trade show this year to dish out advice to independent retailers.

Downing Street’s retail advisor will give a series of presentations about small business success over the two-day Pro-Retail exhibition in Telford, Shropshire, on 24 and 25 April.

P&H said Pro-Retail would be 25% bigger than last year, with 220 exhibitions from manufacturers and suppliers.

A ‘Futurezone’ will showcase new technologies in convenience retail, such as digital voucher systems and a facial recognition unit that targets ads to viewers’ age and gender.

The show will also feature local suppliers and a debate on the future of tobacco and forecourts.

“Pro-Retail brings together the entire independent retail convenience industry under one roof,” said  sales and commercial director Martyn Ward.

“As the biggest event for independent and multiple convenience retailers, it is important we make sure retailers leave the show armed with everything they need to future proof their business.”