Luxury fashion brand Coach focuses on circular economy as it launches its first Coachtopia store in China

Coach has opened its first Coachtopia store in China, located at Haitang Bay Sanya (Hainan).

Coachtopia is a sub-brand launched in 2023 and focused on circular craft and collaborative creativity.

In a LinkedIn post, Giovanni Zaccariello, SVP Global Visual Experience at Coach, said: “The installation is fully circular from all the materials used to make the structure, to the neons, to the artist furniture, to the hangers and the Bustforms. Congrats team Coach!”

2024 RTIH Innovation Awards

The sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries.

The event celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and include a bricks and mortar category.

This award will go to a retailer enabling physical spaces to thrive via innovative technology, even as online shopping continues to grow. 

We’re looking for examples of reducing friction in the customer journey, offering improved experiences, and blurring the lines between channels.

Download an entry form here.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ.

FAQs

Is there a fee to enter the awards?: No, it is free of charge.

Can I enter across multiple categories: Yes.

Do I need to complete all the sections in the entry form? No, but the more information you provide, the better chance you have of producing a successful submission.

Is there a certain timeframe for nominated projects, initiatives etc? Yes, submissions should include projects, initiatives etc that were undertaken in the past 12 months.

Who has visibility of our completed entry form and what information will be public should we win or be shortlisted? Only our Editor, Scott Thompson, and judging panel will view submissions. The information provided in the summary section of the entry form will be made public.

Do you only accept entries from UK-based companies? No, we accept entries from all parts of the world.

What is the shortlists process? Shortlists will be announced in late October, then shortlisted entries will be sent to our independent judging panel who will decide upon the winners and highly commended submissions.

Shortlisted companies will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ on Thursday, 21st November.

Do winners and highly commended companies receive post-event coverage? Yes, post-event coverage includes articles on our website and also an in-depth awards review in our printed magazine. There is also the opportunity for a company profile type piece to be published on our site.

Who won what in 2023? Check out the 2023 winners here.

These were announced during a glittering ceremony at the Barbican Centre in Central London on Wednesday, 29th November.

Further information on all our 2023 entries can be found here.

When is the deadline for 2024 submissions? Friday, 25th October.

When will the 2024 winners be revealed? Wednesday, 21st November at an event at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ.

This will kick off with a drinks reception, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony.

Who will be judging the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards?

Mike Cadden, Interim Chief Technology Officer, Marie Curie

Peter Waugh, Director, International Digital (EMEA, LAC & AP), Starbucks

Carole Kingsbury, Former Director of IT, Ted Baker

Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer

Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer, Boots

Matt Bradley, Director and Founder, Retail Technology Show

Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder, Retail Technology Innovation Hub

Karanveer Anand, Technical Programme Management, Google

Toby Pickard, Global Insight Leader, IGD

Matt Taylor, Technology Transformation Leader at EY, Retail and Consumer Products

Gary Newbury, Supply Chain Advisor and Delivery Executive

Nadine Neatrour, Marketing Director, Selfridges 

For any other entry related queries, email: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com