In a first of its kind in the sector Bestway has announced the launch of its inspirational new event – The Bestway Retail Showcase 2023 – which will take place at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre on the 25 May 2023.
The Bestway Retail Showcase 2023 will stage the biggest gathering of its retail customers and supply partners alongside its specialist retail team to collectively support and help drive further growth and margin for its retailers. Over 1,000 retailers will attend the Showcase alongside 140 suppliers who will be exhibiting and participating across the categories.
As the only symbol retailer in the industry with a store format for all retailer types, and a forward-thinking approach to convenience retail, Bestway has promised that The Bestway Retail Showcase 2023 will be a huge event and arguably the largest of its kind, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
The new larger, more spectacular event will incorporate elements of the renowned regional Retail Development Shows and the Drinks at Home events (hosted by Bargain Booze) which have proven to be market-leading over many years.
Retailers will be able to enjoy interactive events, experiential zones and food tastings which will incorporate ‘perfect serve’ masterclasses, cocktail making and pairing sessions to help them drive customer engagement.
For example, the Marketing Zone will have a drop-in session for advice and a host of industry insights from marketing leader insight company, Lumina.
There will be live demos, presentations on best practice and opportunity for retailers to participate in workshops, as well as engaging in networking events with other independent retailers (helping them connect learn and grow), as well as suppliers and Bestway colleagues.
And this is in addition to a host of impactful branded stands, and exclusive Show deals to help drive more profit, as well as live ‘mock stores’ for convenience and licensed exemplars which will showcase the very latest from Bestway’s store development team alongside product giveaways, competitions, and prize draws.
The Bestway Retail Showcase 2023 will provide an exclusive opportunity for retailers to enter the Bestway Retail Development Awards 2023.
In a further exciting move, Bestway’s market-leading Retail Development Awards (RDA’s) will be relaunching in May as Bestway Performance Awards being hosted at the end of the year. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements and businesses successes as part of Bestway’s ethos of continuous development and helping retailers drive growth.
Speaking of the new initiative, Bestway Wholesale’s managing director, Dawood Pervez says: “We are delighted and proud to be launching The Bestway Retail Showcase, which is a major investment into our retailers, and takes our Retail Development Programme to a whole new level, launching as unique new trade show hand-in-hand with a new media partner.
“We’re there together to share ideas, learn from each other and build new relationships in a friendly, community and convivial atmosphere. This is just one example of the value add that Bestway Retail offers retailers as being the true champion of the independent retailer.
“We see this event as a journey of discovery for our retailers. It’s often hard for independent retailers to find time to discover the latest trends and insights to support their business but here is the opportunity for them to discover the latest and great new products and services from suppliers, as well as share ideas from meeting like-minded independent business owners, often with the same challenges.
“All this is geared towards supporting their business to be more successful – driving sales, margin, and profit!
“Undoubtedly, this will be one of the most exciting events in the industry calendar. We are always humbled by the sheer talent, commitment and determination of our retailers and nowhere will this be evidenced more strongly than at the new Bestway Retail Showcase 2023 and the subsequent Retail Development Awards which will take place at the end of 2023.”
Bestway’s new media partner will be following the journey of the retailers in their stores as they apply their learnings to help grow category sales and grow their business who enter the awards. The stores will be filmed and form part of the award entry and played out at the awards.
Since Bestway established its unique Retail Development Programme showcasing regional trade shows some 22 years ago, the programme is now seen as the ‘exemplar of best practice’ across the industry. The business has grown its portfolio of leading convenience brands to its current position where it leads the symbol sector.