Retail REIMAGINED
29.09.25
About the conference
DiSH MCR
9am Registration, 9:40am Conference Opens, 4:30pm Closing Remarks & Evening Social
The retail sector is navigating an era of unprecedented change as the central focus on customer experience intensifies. Today’s consumers expect a seamless, personalised shopping journey that blurs the lines between online, mobile, and in-store environments. They are no longer loyal to a single channel; instead, they expect effortless transitions and consistency across every touchpoint. Retailers are challenged to unify these experiences—integrating web, mobile, and physical stores—to deliver the convenience, flexibility, and personalisation that drive satisfaction and loyalty.
Retail Reimagined will give attendees practical knowledge of the latest retail and technology trends, with insights from leading retailers on how they are overcoming key challenges. You’ll explore proven strategies for integrating channels, enhancing customer experiences, and building the transparency and trust that drive loyalty. By the end of the event, you’ll be equipped with actionable ideas and tools to strengthen your own omnichannel capabilities and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
SPONSORED BY
What to expect
The conference is aimed at retail professionals from larger enterprises looking to strengthen their omnichannel strategies — from technical leaders such as CTOs, CIOs, and Chief Data Officers to business decision-makers including CMOs, COOs, retail executives, merchandisers, and supply chain managers.
Hear from six keynote speakers from some of the most well known retailers in the UK discussing key topics including enhancing retail operations through AI technology integration, embracing innovation with a future-focussed strategy and Commercetools and Agentic AI.
Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to forge connections with the Manchester Tech Community, from networking over lunch to our evening social.
New for 2025! The MTF event app is a virtual environment which puts you in the centre of the festival! Log on, explore sessions and choose your own agenda. Plus! Interact with other guests, access pre-conference content, pose questions to our speakers and more! The best part? You get access to the app for upto 6 months after the festival where all of our talks will be posted so you don’t need to worry about missing a thing!
SPEAKERS
Woah there! We are still finalising our speakers for this event and will be announcing the full lineup in the next week! To stay ahead of the game, make sure you sign up to our newsletter using the form below!
Matt Ballantine
Engagement Manager
Equal Experts
Gem Hill
Founder
Selfcare Backpack
Kanika Selvan
Change Consultant & Managing Director
Beetroot Consulting
AGENDA
Woah! We’re still busy pulling together this year’s agenda, so check out the talks below and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when new talks go live!
Matt Ballantine
Engagement Manager
Equal Experts
SESSION OVERVIEW: The human brain has an amazing ability to spot patterns in random data. It’s an evolutionary legacy that enabled us to survive. and a power that can help teams look at problems through new lenses and find ways to solve problems that would otherwise remain undiscovered.
In this workshop, participants will be led through some of the theories behind apophenia and then get to try out a few techniques that can help unblock creative thinking in teams at any stage of developing software products.
The first part of this workshop will provide participants with a crash course in the theory behind apophenia.
From there, participants will get to try out three distinct techniques:
– visual metaphor – to help explore new perspectives
– “The Creativator” – for idea generation
– tarot for business – how the mechanics of tarot card reading can be brought into an organisational context to help tell stories and solve problems from new perspectives.
Gem Hill
Founder
Selfcare Backpack
SESSION OVERVIEW: In a world of more AI and automation, human connection and empathy is more important than ever. Learn how to tap into and grow your empathy in this talk.
We think of empathy as an innate human trait, and humans are (generally) wired for it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t develop and practice this skill. I’d argue this is something we should be doing.
This talk will cover what empathy is, how we display and use it, and why it helps use have deeper, more productive conversations. It will also include some concrete tips on how to practice your empathy in every day life, as well as some tips on how empathy can help you increase your self awareness and kindness towards yourself.
I’ll be bringing research and tips I’ve learned on my journey to be a therapist, bringing examples in a safe and engaging way.
Purchase your Tickets
Tickets for the Retail Reimagined are £26 per person and include entry to the conference, early access to the event app to build your own agenda, entry to the evening social and access to conference recordings and content for upto 6months following the festival! Plus refreshments and lunch are provided.
Don’t forget, MTF is a two week festival so check out our other events and once you’re ready to book your tickets, follow the links below!
Tickets
TEAM TICKETS
FUNDING
AFTER PARTY
DiSH MCR
Our evening social offers the perfect setting to forge new connections, exchange insights, and build valuable relationships within the tech community.
With a vibrant atmosphere, delicious refreshments, and opportunities to engage with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and like-minded enthusiasts, this evening social is the ideal platform to relax, unwind, and expand your professional network.
Thank you to all the organisers, I can’t wait for next year!
You understood that representation would matter, and rose to the challenge!