As a preview to the upcoming IBC Global Forum, to follow is additional information on the Key UK Retailer session presented by Samm Swain, Buying & Merchandising Director for Lakeland:

With more than 50 years of operating a successful business, Lakeland is a renowned home and housewares retailer in the UK. In addition to their online business, Lakeland runs 68 stores located in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and throughout England. As a long-time supporter of the International Home + Housewares Show, Lakeland has always been hungry to bring new and innovative products to its customers in the UK and has spent years cultivating relationships with IHA’s suppliers through their quest to find products during their visits to Chicago for the Show.

This multi-channel kitchenware retailer focuses on customer experience in its stores and online and is continuously recognized as offering a top shopping environment. Two years new to her role as Buying & Merchandising Director for Lakeland, Samm Swain will discuss her perspectives on how her home and housewares buying team will preserve the fundamentals of this family-owned retailer while thriving in the competitive retail environment in the UK. She will also describe how her buying team looks for products, what makes for an ideal supplier to Lakeland and their future strategy regarding product and supplier relationships.

The IBC Global Forum takes place in Toronto September 23-25, 2018, bringing together strategic planning and pragmatic international information to facilitate sales and business development in key export markets. To learn more and register, click here.