Speaking topics 2022
 

• Meet the Consumer of the Future - Whilst much has changed irreversibly and there are things none of us saw coming, there are aspects of the modern consumer that remain timeless and universal. Without the babble so often associated with consumer forecasting or contemporary customer experience, Peter shares his view of the core trends that have changed how we shop, live and behave and how all this influences the needs, values and aspirations of the modern shopper. 

 

• The future of retail - Peter takes us on a whistle-stop tour of everything that will change in the future of retail based on his deep knowledge of the consumer and the sector peppering it all with tangible examples and personal anecdotes. 

 

• The future is local  - a new mindset for the future of our high streets - Peter has always been a passionate advocate of the critical role our high streets play in building thriving communities. From his early days working on a break through report for the UK Goverment with Mary Portas through to his optimism for post pandemic renaissance , Peter shares his five critical drivers of success which redefine what local might mean for the future of business and the communities they serve. 

​

• My Golden rules ( and cardinal sins) for outstanding customer service/customer experience - Peter believes that customer service could be one of the unspoken casualties of our age. Sidelined by the pandemic, reduced to CX touchpoints or lost in the opportunities and complexities of digital disruption, Peter reveals the timeless cardinal sins and eternal truths of outstanding customer service across all channels based on first-hand experience and a lifetime serving customers. 

​

• Magpies, Merchants and Astronauts: Eternal Truths from a Life in Retail Leadership - Peppered with stories from a life in retail, Peter reveals the most ambitious projects, the craziest ideas and all the highs and lows that have made him the retail leader he is. Whilst insightful and often amusing, these stories reveal the core character traits Peter believes it takes to succeed and win in business. 

​

• The Human Side of Business - Drawing on eight years in charge of culture and internal communications at the UK’s largest employee-owned business and a deep-seated passion for the power of communities to drive human connections and happiness, Peter shares his views on why understanding people remains a core driver of business success.  ( work in progress)

​

• The Power of Purpose - Life as a quest is not a new idea. Humans have sought meaning in life since the very beginning of life but not all have grasped and harnessed the power of purpose. Similarly, companies have been emboldened by values, visions and missions for several decades but few have truly pivoted their entire business model into a single defining purpose. This chapter explores how the most powerful driver of them all, the will to live, can be as effective in powering and propelling organisations. And how individuals can propel themselves into a new more dynamic opportunistic future by applying the core principles of purpose throughout their lives.  As we enter a new age of “purpose-led” organisations and against a backdrop of woke, increasing consumer expectations and the urgency of building a more sustainable future, Peter clarifies the difference between having a mission and being guided by a mission with meaning and suggests that connecting with a fellow human's authentic life values and principles can ultimately be far more powerful than the most extravagant marketing campaign.  ( work in progress)

​

• Building a Culture of Innovation/ The Power of a Curious and Inquiring Mind - Most of the invention and progress throughout history, from flints to self-driving cars, has been fuelled by curiosity. The impulse to find the new and explore and experience novel possibilities is a basic human attribute and yet whilst most leaders in business say they treasure inquisitive minds, most stifle curiosity and ultimately innovation. The audience will be taken on a journey of understanding why curiosity is mission-critical to a business's performance. Curiosity makes us think more deeply and rationally, it can lead to more creative solutions and enables more trusting and inspirational relationships.  Audiences will be encouraged to embrace complexity rather than fear it and will build a new deeper understanding of the power of curiosity to reveal new opportunities.