“Eye opening” Retail Technology Show 2024 pulls in over 12,500 visitors to two day event at London Olympia
Retail Technology Show 2024, which took place at London Olympia last week, welcomed over 12,500 retail professionals to its two-day event, an increase of attendee numbers by +28% year-on-year.
Described by Charles Tyrwhitt’s Nick Wheeler as “eye opening”, the event delivered its biggest innovation showcase to date, with 400+ technology providers and innovators exhibiting across two exhibition halls.
Nourished’s CEO, Melissa Snover, pointed to the sheer breadth and depth of the technologies being showcased this year, commenting: “there’s a huge amount of different people from all elements of retail, and some incredible technologies coming out.”
The RTS 2024 Innovation Awards saw AI powered workforce solution, Orquest, crowned as the winner at the BIG Retail Party on day one.
With a record numbers of award entries, Orquest beat off stiff competition from a shortlist of ten other standout tech solutions, including Pricer, ProGlove and Shopopop.
“Retail Technology Show is essential - it’s invaluable when we’re all sitting at home using social media, using tech and all of these things, but actually getting together to talk about tech – well, I can only imagine what’s coming out of this show,” says Holly Tucker, Founder, NOTHS
The conference programme included Charles Tyrwhitt’s Wheeler, Not On The High Street’s Tucker, and former chairman of Asos and CEO of MATCHESFASHION, Nick Beighton.
They joined 120+ other retail leaders and luminaries, including speakers from Primark, Boots, Morrisons, Harrods, adidas and Nobody’s Child, who discussed retail’s hottest topics – from supply chain to sustainability, to leadership and loyalty and from AI to digital marketing and data.
“There are so many great speakers, it’s great to get an insight into what other brands and what other retailers are doing,” says Craig Ash, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Swarovski.
As well as featuring retail influencers, including Natalie Berg, Miya Knights and Oliver Banks, on the stage as chairs or moderators, a focus on innovation and progressive retailing drew over 30 of the industry’s leading press and analysts, including Retail Technology Innovation Hub, Retail Gazette, Retail Week, and IGD to the event.
New for 2024, RTS kicked off with a series of special events, which took place the day before the event opening, including a day long, immersive Retail Media Networks conference from Scala, and London Store tours from Newstore, hosted by retail influencer Ian Scott, which explored the best examples of store innovation across the London retail scene.
RTS once again delivered excellent networking opportunities, from the BIG Retail Party day one, to meeting peers and prospects on the booths in the exhibition hall.
As exhibitor Herbert Retail’s CEO, Claire Herbert, comments: “Everything is about connections, and you don’t get the opportunities to make those same connections anywhere else”.
While exhibitor Sensormatic’s UK&I Country Leader, Wayne Corbitt, points to the ability of the show to bring the industry together: “it’s an event that, unlike any other, brings all the right people - those decision-makers who want to drive their businesses and the industry forwards through the innovations that matter - together.”
RTS Event Director, Matt Bradley, comments: “Every year, RTS gets bigger and better - with more innovation, more insight and more buzz about the event that is the foremost place to make the connections that matter.”
“2024 was another example of the high octane drive and ambition, delivered not just by our event team but also by our community of supporters – from retailers and technology providers to industry influencers – that get behind the show and make it the must-attend, standout event in the retail calendar.”
“With some exciting plans already in the works for 2025, we can’t wait to build on that momentum and start planning even bigger and better things for next year – watch this space!”
By the close of the show on day two, RTS had almost secured a 100% rebooking rate amongst its exhibitors for next year’s event, which will take place on 2nd and 3rd April 2025.
To register your interest and hear more about RTS 2025, sign up here.
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