Our annual Love *shopt event brought together brands and retailers for a day of genuine connection at the fabulous Secret Garden in Birmingham’s Resorts World.
The event was designed with one clear aim: to create a unique, intimate setting where real conversations can happen- the kind of conversations that uncover both shared challenges and unique perspectives. With both brands and retailers at the heart of *shopt’s success, this was the perfect opportunity to bridge insight and action.
As the *shopt team put it:
“Hosting days like Love *shopt gives brands a unique insight into retailers’ views – both the common threads that are felt by most, but also the nuances of each and every retailer – giving the brands clear feedback to create plans that have broad appeal, but give a nod to the personalisation retailers need. The pods provided the chance to ask questions and probe into the answers to uncover what good really looks like, in an intimate one-on-one conversation that isn’t readily available in other settings.”
A chance for brands to connect with retailers
Brands valued the depth of feedback they received, with many commenting that the pod-style conversations offered a rare chance to ask direct questions and get honest, in-the-moment answers.
Tropicana
Mars Wrigley
"It Gives us an opportunity to gain some really useful insights from retailers in different groups with different types of stores. We've been privileged to partner with *shopt over a number of years. It enables retailers to access different offers and it's really key for us to be able to give retailers value and to be able to reward retailers." -
Liz McAuley, Traditional Trade Field Sales Leader & Generations Resource Lead
Budweiser Brewing Group
"There's nothing better than listening to a retailer and finding out what it is that they exactly want from you, your brand. We can take some of that insight and develop a plan that's meaningful for retailers. We can't have a field team go to every single convenience store, so it's really important.
Sumit Day, Head of Field Sales, Grocery and Convenience UK & Ireland
The Magnum Ice Cream Company
Retailers’ Perspective
Retailers appreciated the opportunity to speak openly and be heard by the very people shaping the products, promotions, and support they rely on.
Natalie Lightfoot commented:
"I really love the Love *shopt summer event because you get a one-on-one time with the supplier. It's more of an intimate environment, so you get to be a bit honest, give feedback, and you certainly get your questions answered by the brand and the *shopt team."
Key Topics and Takeaways
Across the pods, discussions covered:
- Point of Sale (POS) - how to make materials more impactful and easier to implement in-store.
- Loyalty - what drives repeat purchase and how to strengthen retailer engagement.
- In-store Activations - ideas for promotions and events that work in real-life retail settings.
All conversations were captured, and the recommendations are already feeding into brands’ 2026 planning. Early signs point to some exciting innovations ahead.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of July’s event, *shopt is already planning the next Love *shopt in November. With even more opportunities for brands and retailers to connect, it promises to build on the momentum and continue driving meaningful change in the convenience channel.
Stay Connected and Join the Conversation
Talking *shopt is just one piece of our digital community. Follow us on Instagram , TikTok and LinkedIn to stay connected, get updates in real-time, and join the conversation with other forward-thinking retailers.
Your feedback and experiences shape the content we create, so don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or topics you’d like to see covered! hello@shopt.co.uk
Download *shopt today
If you want to hear from big brands more often, then download *shopt now. You can watch videos, hear the latest news and access cash rewards and new product information from major brands across all categories – all in one place, whenever it suits you.
The number 1 app for convenience retailers, with over 18,000 of them using it to connect with big brands!