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Business Hub

Looking to boost your business? Want business advice from the best?

Then the Top Drawer Business Hub is for you!

As a champion for small businesses, Top Drawer’s Business Hub offers visitors and exhibitors the chance to gain free personal business advice and actionable tips from industry experts. In private 1:1 appointments, visitors and exhibitors can discuss their current challenges and receive free tailored advice and strategies to boost your business this season and beyond. With our experts having a combined career history spanning multiple areas from branding, buying, visual merchandising, PR and more, visitors and exhibitors will be able to pick their brains about all things retail!

Book your FREE 20 minute private appointment now!

Please note some of our experts are fully booked so please contact Franky directly to book your appointment.

Sunday 8th September: Retail Huddle Takeover

Ami

Ami Rabheru

Founder, Retail Huddle

Retail Expert

Ami Rabheru is a highly experienced former Retail Buyer, turned Retail Business Consultant, passionate about products and obsessed with retail!

She is the founder of Retail Huddle, a consultancy where creativity meets retail strategy and success is a collaborative journey.  She helps both established and emerging retail product businesses with strategic, actionable insights and transformative solutions to grow their sales, stand out in a crowded marketplace, and build compelling retail brand and product growth strategies.  She prides herself in uniquely combining consultancy, mentoring and industry knowledge, to navigate the ever-evolving retail landscape by empowering businesses to think differently, enabling them to achieve sustainable growth, increase market share, and build long-lasting customer relationships in an omni-channel world!

Book Appointment

Explore the Retail Huddle here. 

laura

Laura Harrison

Founder, LH Retail Development Ltd Consultancy

Finance Expert

Laura is a retail specialist with 27 years of experience in UK high street and luxury names who works with independent retailers and brands to help bring calm to the chaos of growth. She does this through planning strategy and defining the individual foundations of their businesses focusing on the customer, their experience and data insight to refine buying and profit boosting processes. Helping owners adapt to everchanging customer behaviour and mindset so they can focus on the creative direction of their ranges is Laura’s mission.

Book Appointment

Visit Laura's website here.

Monday 9th September: Our Experts

nicole

Nicole Higgins

Founder, The Buyer and Retail Coach

Retail Expert

Nicole Higgins is a seasoned professional with over 18 years’ experience in the retail industry, having worked as a buyer with companies such as Primark and M&S across multi-product categories. Her journey in the corporate world has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge and insights that she now dedicates to empowering startups and small to medium-sized enterprises in their journey to growth, profit and scalability.

Nicole specializes in guiding businesses through the intricacies of startup, strategy, sourcing and product development. Her keen understanding of market dynamics allows her to provide tailored solutions that drive success in today's competitive landscape.

Book Appointment

Visit Nicole's website here.

theresa

Therese Oertenblad

Founder, Small Business Collaborative

Wholesale & Sales Expert

Therese Oertenblad, Small Business Collaborative, has been in the home and gift industry for 15 years. Since 2018, she’s been working with purpose-led, product-based business owners who want to grow their wholesale and create a powerful, consistent income stream for their businesses.

Her clients include Studio Wald, Claude & Co, Etta Loves, Hello Day Planner, and many others. Many are now stocked in Liberty, Selfridges, Oliver Bonas, Anthropologie, and independent stores in the UK and abroad.

Therese is on the National Committee for The Giftware Association, and she hosts Let’s Talk Shop, a seasonal business podcast sharing industry-specific business advice.

Book Appointment

Visit the website here.

Monday 9th September: Our Experts

Nicole Snell

Nicola Snell

Founder, Press Loft

Press Expert

Nikki Snell is the founder of Press Loft, a PR platform which automates PR for 1500 brands around the world in the Home, Design and Gift sectors. During her career, Nikki has helped over 25000 brands generate over 1 million pieces of coverage. She is passionate about tech and making PR Simple and accessible to all.

Geared at brand owners, Nikki is on hand to advise how to grow your online sales as customers continue to gravitate towards the ease of internet shopping. 

Book Appointment

Find out more about Press Loft here. 

Larisa

Larisa Barker

Founder, The Brand Map

Digital Marketing Expert

Larisa Barker is the founder of The Brand Map, a hands-on Strategic Brand and Digital Marketing Consultancy working with start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses, that want to make a mark with their brand and marketing efforts! 

Larisa’s 20 years of experience includes working with famous brands within Retail, FMCG & B2B sectors. Specialising in brand strategy and to go-to-market launch, marketing strategy & campaign planning, product development and e-commerce.

Larisa has experience working with the following businesses; Hallmark, Belly Button Designs, Morphy Richards, Pets at Home & Health Innovations....plus lots more!

Book Appointment

Visit Larisa's website 

Download her exclusive e-book here and receive a £5 discount with TOPDRAWER5

Tuesday 10th September September: Our Experts

Cara

Cara Bendon

Brand Consultant

Branding Expert

Cara is a seasoned branding expert with an impressive 15-year track record in elevating consumer brands. Armed with a profound understanding of consumer behaviour, she employs a welcoming and jargon-free approach to empower independent product businesses in achieving their objectives — whether it's attracting clients, earning accolades, or securing placement on retailers' shelves.

She has worked with a range of B2C brands, including renowned boutique hotels such as Malmaison & Hotel du Vin. Notably, Cara has cultivated a niche working with sustainable e-commerce brands, entrepreneurs and Dragon’s Den alumni.

Cara's expertise has earned her recognition and she has been featured as an expert on branding for The Guardian, BBC Radio, Google Campus, General Assembly and the British Library.

Book Appointment

Visit Cara's website here. 

Priscilla

Priscilla Pollara

Founder, Top Trick

PR Expert

Priscilla Pollara founded Top Trick because communication remains a stumbling block for so many businesses and individuals. As a former journalist, Priscilla uses her unique eye and experience to offer companies big and small a masterclass in comms: she gets people communicating better, she teaches them how to get noticed and how to outthink their competition. Most importantly, she demystifies PR and teaches all businesses why it is an absolutely essential part of commercial success.

Book Appointment

Find out more about Top Trick here. 

Isobel Perl

Isobel Perl

Founder, PERL Cosmetics

Social Media Selling Expert

Isobel Perl is the founder of PERL Cosmetics, a thriving online beauty brand she started as a "little lockdown project" during the pandemic. With a background in project management at KPMG, Isobel turned a difficult job loss during the pandemic into an opportunity to pursue her passion for skincare. Starting with just £1,000 and no prior business experience, she harnessed the power of social media to build a dedicated community. Her transparent and authentic approach, sharing the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, has resonated deeply with her audience. Today, PERL is known for its innovative products and strong customer connection, with Isobel continuing to guide the brand’s growth while staying true to her values of openness and community engagement.

Book Appointment

Visit Isobel's website here.

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