Keynote Fireside Chat: In Conversation With Archie Norman, Chairman, Marks and Spencer plc
The interviewer will ask some of the following questions as well as asking the audience to offer some questions of their own:
- You’ve been in the retail industry for over 40 years. What have been the most important lessons you’ve learnt about how to succeed in retail and the pitfalls to avoid?
- The logo for your retail group uses ‘passionate about retail’ as it’s strapline. How important do you feel passion is to retail success and why?
- You are well known as an investor on Dragon’s Den. What were highlights from your time on the show and how has the experience impacted how you operate as a retailer?
- Ryman and Robert Dyas were founded in the 1800s whereas you built Boux Avenue from scratch. How did you strategy differ when building and growing both old and new businesses?
- What key advice would you give to other retailers about leadership within omnichannel retail?
- You’re well known in retail for being a people champion. How do you approach human resources and keeping your workforce engaged?
- You often used your celebrity status to lobby the government as a voice for retail. What would you like to see the new Labour government do for retail in the short term?
- What do you see as the biggest opportunities and threats facing retail in the next three years?