The SA Seminar Programme at this year’s Schoolwear Show will include six new topics as well as new panel discussions with Q&As.

Sessions will run throughout the three-day trade show from Sunday 13 October until Tuesday 15 October. Furthermore, all sessions are free to attend. Here is the latest rundown on the SA Seminar and Retail Panel Discussions as well as the programme’s timetable.

 

Win & Keep Winning Tenders – An Evolution in Tendering Solutions

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (30/40 mins – Including Q&A)
Host: Klick Business Solutions

Know More About Products You Buy. A Technical Workout – Design, Mechanical, Chemical, Ethical and Sustainable

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (30/40 mins – Including Q&A)
Host: Sue Bolton Consultancy

Social Media Know-How – Getting the Best Results

Sunday 3.30pm (30/40 mins – Panel discussion and Q&A)
Guests: Rachel Vose, Petites Modes and also Max Bevis, Tank PR
Host: Dan Turner

Keyboard warriors are a worry for all small business owners and as a result the fear can lead to inaction when it comes to online activity. A strong digital presence is now an imperative for all modern businesses, so understanding the different ways to plan a digital strategy, implement it and also respond effectively to those inevitable back to school complaints is important for everyone.

Attend this panel discussion to hear how other independent schoolwear retailers have been able to use social media positively within their business and learn some dos and don’ts of how best to handle customers online.

Sustainability – Long Live Uniforms!

Monday 11.30am (30/40 mins – Panel Discussion and Q&A)
Guests: Susan Jarah, The Green School Shop; Jan Richardson, Total Clothing; Mark Stevenson, The Stevenson Group; and also Kristina Murphy, Rubery Swop Shop
Host: Kathryn Shuttleworth

School uniforms represent the most sustainable clothing that children can wear when measured by number of wears per purchase. The statutory guidelines that have been introduced in Wales, which are likely to come into force in the rest of the UK at some time in the future, are placing affordability ahead of durability.

Within the school-specific sector, there is a strong argument to make about the life expectancy of school uniform as a sustainability point, and as the rejection of fast fashion grows, it is important we all take a stand within the market to support second-hand schemes that clearly demonstrate why better uniforms mean they have a longer life.

Meet retailers who have successfully introduced second-hand, re-use and recycle schemes into their businesses to provide both a positive message and positive action.

Every Child Is Worth It

Monday 3.30pm (30/40 mins – Panel Discussion and Q&A)
Guests: Siobhan Margetson, The Schoolwear Centre Margate; Luke Conod, The School Uniform Shop Hereford; and also Jan Richardson, Total Clothing
Host: David Burgess

The Schoolwear Association is proud to have been campaigning on this issue, demonstrating some of the excellent work that goes on in retail in order to support vulnerable families and work with schools to assist those that most need it in a variety of ways.

With the interest that has come from MPs and the media in recent months – claiming that school uniform is a problem for those in poverty and encouraging schools to dumb-down the uniform in order to deal with this – it is important to showcase how the market already responds to affordability issues and why it will not support those in poverty to simply reduce uniform standards in schools.

Join this panel discussion to hear more about how the retailers we talk to have introduced schemes into their business with positive results.

Clear & Present Danger

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (30/40 mins – Including Q&A)
Host: SA chair, David Burgess

The SA is holding a series of open meetings titled “Clear and Present Danger”. During the discussions SA executive members will talk about current challenges and what the SA is doing about them. Attendees will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions of the various SA executive members.

Timetable

Sunday

11.00 am Win & Keep Winning Tenders – Proven Ways
11.45 am Know More About Products You Buy – A Technical Workout
2.00 pm Win & Keep Winning Tenders – Proven Ways
2.45 pm Know More About Products You Buy – A Technical Workout
3.30 pm Social Media Know-How – Retailer Panel Discussion + Q&A
4.15 pm Clear & Present Danger – What the SA is doing to counter threats

Monday

10.00 am Know More About Products You Buy – A Technical Workout
10.45 am Win & Keep Winning Tenders – Proven Ways
11.30 pm Sustainability – Long Live Uniforms! – Panel Discussion + Q&A
2.00 pm Win & Keep Winning Tenders – Proven Ways
2.45 pm Know More About Products You Buy – A Technical Workout
3.30 pm Every Child Is Worth It – Panel Discussion + Q&A
4.15 pm Clear & Present Danger – What the SA is doing to counter threats

Tuesday

11.00 am Know More About Products You Buy – A Technical Workout
11.45 am Win & Keep Winning Tenders – Proven Ways
12.30 pm Clear & Present Danger – What the SA is doing to counter threats

 

Click here to register for the seminars of your choice. Please ensure you have registered to attend The Schoolwear Show before booking into a seminar. For further information on The Schoolwear Association please click here.