2025 GCA Conference to include London Retail safari

The Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in January will start with a Retail Safari in London led by a Retail Futurist whose clients have included Marks & Spencer (November 2024).The Safari represents the launch event for the 2025 Conference, which takes place at De Vere Wokefield Estate, Reading, from January 26 until 29.

GCA Chairman-Elect, Ben Harrison, from Haskins Garden Centres, who helped organize the day, says: "We're kicking off our 2025 event on Sunday, January 26, with a Retail Safari in the capital led by retail expert, Matthew Brown. Matthew is the founder and director of a retail trend agency called Echochamber and has spent the past 25 years travelling the world seeking out examples of great retail, emerging trends and innovative ideas. He runs retail safaris in the world's best shopping cities to inform and inspire and is a regular keynote speaker at retail conferences worldwide. Matthew will help our members who attend, navigate the buzzing districts of London to give them a clear picture of what the best retail looks like."

GCA Chairman-elect Ben Harrison

Ben continued: "He has run Retail Safaris around the world for more than 20 years and they're a great way to get your team together for a physical trip to see and be inspired by all the innovation that's happening on the ground. After a trends presentation in central London, he will take us on a fascinating tour of various retail venues. We will then meet back at Battersea Power Station for drinks and nibbles."

Matthew Brown from Echochamber who is running the London Retail Safari launch event for the 2025 Conference

"We will have a coach taking delegates from the hotel in the morning, leaving the hotel at 8.45 am, who will be available for those meeting in London to deposit their luggage at the start of the day. At approximately 7.30 pm guests will be taken back to the De Vere Wokefield Estate via a 50-seater luxury coach," he concluded.