Bestway has revealed that over 800 retailers and all its key suppliers attended its trade show held at Coventry Building Society Arena last month.
The ‘Bestway Retail Showcase’ saw the gathering of the group’s retail customers from Costcutter, best-one, Bargain Booze and Extra Local symbols and fascias, alongside the Bestway Retail specialist retail team and supply partners, as well as interested parties and prospective retailers who are considering joining Bestway.
The Showcase, which is in its second year, featured new store formats and the launch of the group’s new own label range ‘Best-in’.
2024 also welcomed a new Innovation Zone, introduced to help retailers improve sales and margin, increase profit and reduce costs, plus see the latest innovations. Retailers were able to experience a virtual reality ‘best-in-class’ walk-round, including its new Costcutter and Wine Rack store, its latest Best One and Bargain Booze stores as well as blueprints for the next generation of Best One and Bargain Booze stores.
A Pop-Up Shop designed to minimise closure periods during refits (which is available for hire for public/corporate events) was also on display for retailers to view.
Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, Dawood Pervez, said: “This year’s Showcase has exceeded our expectations. To have our retailers engaged alongside our supplier partners and industry colleagues, was hugely extremely valuable for all parties.
“It’s often hard for independent retailers to find time to discover the latest trends and insights to support their business, but the Showcase enables them to do this and make the time really count.
“The vision behind this year’s Showcase was all about innovation and progression. We wanted to help our retailers look ahead and identify great new products and services from suppliers, whilst sharing ideas with like-minded independent business owners, who inevitably face the same challenges.
“It’s not just about new products, it also about creating leading edge for our retailers. As digital platforms grow in importance, we were keen to highlight and showcase the latest equipment and technology to help them reduce costs (e.g. labour, energy and environmental), as well as the latest security technology”.
Retailers enjoyed interactive events, live demos, experiential zones and food tastings, incorporating ‘perfect serve’ masterclasses, cocktail-making and pairing sessions as well as engaging in networking events.
The Showcase saw Bestway give retailers the chance to win £1,000 credit with two runner- up prizes of £500, whilst offering exclusive show deals to be taken advantage of on the day, leading to record numbers of orders taken.
Pervez concluded: “It was an immensely exciting and stimulating day, and I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our retailers and supply partners who helped make the day such a huge success.”
NAM Implications:
- We all appreciate the importance of independent retail…
- …even more since Lockdown.
- And good wholesale partnerships make it possible to extend supplier reach, cost effectively.
- Events like Bestway’s Retail Showcase have to help…
