For many of us, Christmas marks the season of giving, reflection, and forward-looking planning for the new business and marketing plans for the year to come. Part of such planning includes filling our calendars with marketing and eCommerce events to attend in 2023. While we may not be able to help with gifting, we can certainly help with the events. Here are the 10 most anticipated eCommerce events in London for 2020 to guide your calendar planning.
The UK eCommerce ecosystem in numbers
Below are some useful insights about the eCommerce in the UK, to help you understand why London is the best place to be for eCommerce in 2020. So, let’s let the numbers speak:
- According to Statista, the United Kingdom is the 3rd third-largest e-commerce market in the world with 586 billion British pounds turnover in 2017.
- In 2019, there were more than 10 eCommerce events in London alone, 29 in the UK and over 65+ in the EU in general. That’s almost 44% concentration!
- The number of attendees reached more than 50,000 people.
- Over 2000 total exhibitors.
- More than 1000 speakers.
- The content hour from those eCommerce events in London reached impressive numbers – more than 2500 hours!
Tip: If you need to see more stunning eCommerce statistics just check out this article
The 10 Top eCommerce events to attend in London in 2020
Here is the list with the best events to attend, sorted by date:
Event #1: Retail Without Borders
- Focus: Retail | eCommerce
- When: 27-28 February 2020
- Where: QEII Centre | London | UK
- Tagline: Europe’s largest online marketplace conference.
- Ticket: From £149.00
Why you should attend?
According to the conference’s site, you will find 1,500+ high caliber, engaged delegates focused on international expansion. That’s not far from the truth.
Numerous opportunities to discuss with global marketplace experts, exchange opinions, learn and get inspired by a large range of topics related to eCommerce await you at this exceptional event. Furthermore, you will encounter bleeding-edge topics like cryptocurrency or circular economy. A must-visit experience undoubtfully!
Keynote Speakers:
- Talia Lederman (Partnerships & Category Manager, Catch.com.au): “Catch.com.au – Australia’s most exciting marketplace story”
Ryo Saito (Merchant Development Manager, Rakuten Ichiba): “Sell to Japanese consumers the simple way” - Tony Preedy (Chief Commercial Officer, Fruugo): “Serving consumers in Europe”
- Laura Rimmer (International Compliance Manager, Valpak Limited): “From buying more, to consuming less – how can retail address the paradox?”
Event #2: UK eCommerce Conference & Awards
- Focus: eCommerce
- When: 25 March 2020
- Where: Montcalm Marble Arch | London | UK
- Ticket: From £125
Why you should attend?
For this year, the awards will include a full-day conference showcasing a host of speakers and stalls on all things eCommerce. The awards alone are a great way to learn from the best, to find out which techniques worked and the results accomplished. Imagine a conference with the brands and executives that drove those results. What a treat.
Some of the 2020 Judges:
- Olga Andrienko (Head of Global Marketing, SEMrush)
- Michael Ashworth (Co-founder & Managing Director, Nublue)
- Russ Carol (Senior Commercial Director, Klarna)
- Dave Chaffey (Co-founder & Content Director, Smart Insights)
- Emma Forward (Independent eCommerce Consultant)
Event #3: Retail Week Live
- Focus: Retail | eCommerce | AI
- When: 25-26 March 2020
- Where: The Intercontinental O2 | London | UK
- Ticket: From £550
Why you should attend?
Are you ready to shift your business to the digital landscape? Do you have what it takes to follow the digital transformation of the retail sector? You can find answers, inspiration and even partners by attending Retail Week Live. With more than 200 speakers, industry leaders and innovators representing companies ranging from established retailers to the newest disruptive start-ups. Sharing ideas and practices to take your business to the next level. One of the highlights of this event, by far, is its amazing location (Intercontinental O2). That’s a tip to remember!
Keynote Speakers this year:
- Clare Jones (CCO, what3words)
- Miranda Creswell (Chief Marketing Officer, tails.com)
- Martin Brok (EMEA President, Starbucks)
- Peter Jelkeby (Country Retail Manager – UK and Ireland, Ikea)
Event #4: RetailEXPO
- Focus: Retail | Hospitality
- When: 29 – 30 April
- Where: Olympia | London | UK
- Ticket: TBA
Why you should attend?
Retail is shifting from product-centric to customer-centric, from efficiency to flexibility, from optimization to inspiration. RetailEXPO helps you bring those challenges and opportunities into focus. If you want to discover new tech solutions to enhance customer experience, increase operational effectiveness and drive sales then this event is for you. Top brands from Retail and Hospitality will demonstrate case studies that will give you valuable insights and ideas.
Meet hundreds of providers of innovative tech and digital solutions, products and services to support your in-store, online and omnichannel retail strategy.
RetailEXPO is, by far, one of the top eCommerce events in London for retail technology and digital innovation, providing a holistic approach for the eCommerce industry.
Keynote Speakers of 2019 were:
- Justin King (Former CEO, Sainsbury’s)
- Andy Murray (CCO, Asda)
- Giorgina Waltier (Sustainability Manager – UK/IE)
- Simone Sweeney (Vice President, Global Retail Development)
*2020 speakers are not yet announced.
Event #5: Future Stores Europe
- Focus: Retail | In-store Experience
- When: May 2020
- Where: The Tower Hotel | London | UK
- Tagline: Retail. Reimagined.
- Ticket: From £799 (Early Bird)
Why you should attend?
Are you looking for an event that brings together In-Store experience leaders from Europe’s most progressive retailers? Then look no further. Future Stores Europe helps you learn how to deliver a greater ROI on your store transformation projects to enhance customer experience and drive sales and conversions.
Additionally get your hands-on practical insights on how to implement experiential formats, customer-centric services, and digital innovations to elevate your business above the fold.
Keynote Speakers this year:
- Pavan Pidugu (Head of Global Store Technology Transformation, Walmart)
- Sarah Palisca (Head of Global Retail Operations, Diesel)
- Oliver Fehl (Senior Director of Retail Concepts, Adidas)
- Shannon Pope-Ellis (Director of Store Planning and Design, Estee-Lauder)
- Matthew Lindsey (Vice President of Digital Product Burberry)
Event #6: CONNECT 2020
- Focus: eCommerce | Marketing
- When: 16 June 2020
- Where: The Brewery | London | UK |
- Ticket: From £99.00 (Early Bird)
Why you should attend?
Connect is an annual conference that brings together forward-thinking e-commerce and marketing professionals from Europe’s top brands and retailers. Connect through networking, get up close and personal with industry’s top executives, and discover solutions to take your business to the next level. With insightful sessions and numerous proven best practices, you’re bound to be inspired.
*The speakers are not announced yet.
Event #7: eTail Europe
- Focus: Retail | eCommerce
- When: 23-24 June 2020
- Where: QEII Centre | London | UK
- Tagline: The Omnichannel & eCommerce Conference for European Retail Innovators 2020
- Ticket: From £199 (Early Bird)
Why you should attend?
As far as top eCommerce events in London go, this one is one of the most important ones.
You do want to increase traffic, customers, conversion and profit, correct? eTail will help you achieve all the goals of your online business.
Interactive action-packed strategies? Check. Disruptive strategies? Check. Informative conversations and connections with top minds at Europe’s most successful and innovative retailers? Double-check. eTail Europe will give you valuable insights, useful strategies, and even great contacts. What stands out the most is that eTail is one of the most interactive and engaging events:
- Take part in informative speaker Q&A sessions
- Learn by participating in small group roundtables
- Take part in creative think tanks
- Workshops
Build great relationships by participating in discussion groups, structured networking activities, and even private tastings and cocktails. Make new acquaintances, build new partnerships and speak off-the-record with the top EU online business professionals.
Tip: This event has over 60% retail attendance meaning that the density of retail professionals is extremely high. Take advantage of it.
*2020 speakers not announced yet.
Event #8: Savant eCommerce London
- Focus: Retail | eCommerce
- When: 16-17 September 2020
- Where: TBA | London | UK
- Ticket: TBA
Why you should attend?
Savant eCommerce London is an event where top-level speakers and industry-leading executives discuss the latest trends, network and build meaningful relationships. The UK market is currently associated with dynamics such as volatility, disruption, and declining spending. These conditions present an opportunity for brands and retailers to reassess their end-to-end eCommerce proposition. Although you will not see case studies presented, you will get massive inspiration though, from the trends and the predictions that the attending thought leaders will share.
In Savant eCommerce London you will find out what can be optimized across the customer journey to enhance the customer experience as well as profitability under these changing market dynamics. There will be presented real-life optimization scenarios and how they impacted the customer journey to drive more sales and profit. Savant eCommerce is a cross-industry event for all sectors, including fashion, consumer electronics, luxury goods, homeware, beauty, food, travel, and entertainment. Savant eCommerce is the event for eCommerce experts and thought leaders who want to stay ahead of the latest trends and developments in eCommerce. Both pure-player and omnichannel retailers will be present, as well as B2B and B2C retailers.
Keynote Speakers this year:
- Katja Felke (Head of eCommerce, Butlers)
- Jonas Hessler (Strategic Advisor, former Global eCommerce manager at IKEA)
- LE Quan Truong (Director of Customer Experience, Staples)
Event #9: eCommerce EXPO London
- Focus: eCommerce (B2B | B2C)
- When: 30 September – 1 October 2020
- Where: Excel | London | UK
- Ticket: TBA
Why you should attend?
The numbers are impressive: 15,000+ delegates, 250+ exhibitors, 350+ speakers & hundreds of hours of content.
In over two days you can meet thousands of eCommerce professionals. Interact with leading suppliers, and learn everything from eCommerce to MarTech. Whether you are in B2B or B2C online business this event is for you. With plenty of networking opportunities and of course, great speakers, workshops and content.
E-Commerce Expo in London is the largest gathering of e-commerce professionals in Europe. This exhibition is a communication and information platform in the industry and offers exhibitors the opportunity to present to an audience of experts here. Visitors have the opportunity to learn more about the latest technologies, services, and products from many different areas. The exhibition is divided into four core areas of eCommerce and mCommerce, digital and mobile marketing, payment and security, fulfillment and delivery. E-Commerce Expo also offers an extensive conference program and good opportunities for new business contacts from the IT, marketing, retail, and design.
So in simple words: eCommerce EXPO is one of the top eCommerce events in London.
Keynote Speakers this year:
- Bhav Suchak (Head of Customer Services & Logistics – Europe (TIGI), Unilever)
- René Bostic (Global Technical VP of Innovation and New Technologies, IBM)
- Stephan Croix (Chief Sales and Brand Officer, Pizza Hut Europe)
- Sally Scott (UK Managing Director, Birchbox)
Event #10: Lifecycle20
- Focus: Retail | Marketing
- When: 14-15 Oct 2020
- Where: TBA | London | UK
- Tagline: The home of smart retail marketing
- Ticket: From £300
Why you should attend?
This event is tailor-made for retail marketers. With 30 industry-renowned speakers, more than 300 retail marketers from fashion to beauty, homeware to food and drink and new session formats, you find out this is an essential event for your personal and business growth. Earn actionable content that you can apply to your marketing mix right away. And of course, you can’t miss the deep-dive workshops and an epic networking party.
Keynote Speakers this year:
- Taylor Coil (Marketing Director, Tortuga)
- Ivan Mazour (CEO & Founder, Ometria)
- Fiona Stevens (Head of Marketing, LoyaltyLion)
Top European eCommerce Events you shouldn’t miss in 2020
In case your budget allows it, there are numerous remarkable eCommerce events held throughout Europe. Here are the best of them by country:
Top eCommerce Events in Germany
Top eCommerce Events in France
Top eCommerce Events in Spain
Top eCommerce Events in Dublin
Tip: check out Europe’s top 17 retail events you shouldn’t miss in 2022
Top Global eCommerce Events with a great reputation
Some of the best global events you will find all around the world.
Top eCommerce Events in US
Top eCommerce Events in Asia
Top eCommerce Events in Latin America
Top eCommerce Events in Africa
Top eCommerce Events in Australia
Do your homework prior to attending
Everything is about ROI. Choosing which eCommerce event to attend should be done with returns in mind. Study the event plan thoroughly and mark the part you want to attend. In most events, parallel sessions take place simultaneously, so you need to prioritize the topics most important to your agenda.
It’s also a good practice to write down the key people you would like to meet and try to pre-arrange the meetings. Remember, if you feel like you have free time while being at this business event, you probably haven’t done the homework prep going into the conferences.
Time is money, so choose wisely
Attending eCommerce events in London may sound exciting and will certainly give your business an extra push. However, it is extremely easy to go off the limits and waste both time and money by “over-attending” events. Do your research, write down your business goals and budget the ones you really need.
Once you decide which events you are attending this here feel free to share your thoughts with us. We will attend most of the above-mentioned eCommerce events in London so we may meet in person. Just search for the best omnichannel marketing automation booth, it will be us!
