News

« Headlines

BA looks at shopping science

27.04.07

The Booksellers Association Conference will scrutinise the habits of the "Great British Shopper", as retail science takes centre stage in Harrogate from Sunday.

BA president and Borders UK c.e.o. David Roche said the conference's wide-ranging programme reflected the many changes that have hit the market over the past year. "The Great British Shopper is a confusing animal; apparently time-poor and cash-rich, but evidently bargain-obsessed," he said. "Expert speakers will look at consumer psychology and the retail science that can be applied to what is, for all of us, that most valuable commodity; retail space dedicated to books."

Retail psychology dominates Monday's line-up, with experts looking at consumers' shopping behaviour and journalist Tim Phillips examining the success of the Tesco Clubcard programme. Martin Lee, co-founder of market research company Acacia Avenue, will show how research carried out for the PA into gift-buying for children can be used to understand consumers' mindsets.

Marketing specialists, including Random House Group digital director Fionnuala Duggan, will take a close look at how conventional demographic segmentation of the market has become irrelevant in a rapidly changing digital world.

Digital issues for booksellers will be at the fore of the conference, with a session devoted to how retailers can continue to be the primary channel for consumers.

Corporate social responsibility will also be addressed—Penguin m.d. Helen Fraser, HarperCollins c.e.o. Victoria Barnsley and Lonely Planet travel editor Tom Hall will look at what it means to be a socially and environmentally responsible business in 2007.

Retail Booksellers Association BA Conference

See Also