Keynote SpeakersClaire Harper is an expert in retail, digital, marketing, change management, branding and enterprise.
Having worked for prominent UK brands including Argos, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Mamas and Papas, and run her own award-winning best of British kids’ clothing brand IndiaCoco, Claire Harper is one of the UK’s most formidable business leaders.
Her journey from senior leader to business entrepreneur is inspirational and full of messages gleaned from working at the heart of business.
An expert in implementing innovation and cultural change in influential and progressive brands, Claire’s initial foray into the retail market came as Argos was embroiled in a hostile takeover.
Claire was challenged to reinvent the struggling Argos brand. She faced a steep learning curve in people management, understanding the customer, and innovative multi-channel technological change, which triggered her passion for taking retail brands to the next level.
At 26, Claire joined Ocado as its first Head of Customer Acquisition and PR and was soon promoted to Head of Marketing. She led the visionary revolution in grocery shopping, turning the experience on its head to create a new customer-centric space in the market.
By 30, Claire Harper was headhunted to join Sainsbury’s as new CEO Justin King’s Head of Online Marketing.
Claire was part of the new senior leadership team entrusted with the brief to ‘Make Sainsbury’s Great Again’. Based on her proficiency in adapting business plans (to reflect the ever-changing retail market) and appreciation of the need to get back to basics and understanding the customer, Claire launched Sainsbury’s multi-channel experience and consolidated the brand with its customer communications.
Having helped place Sainsbury’s back on the map, Claire became the first female board director at Yorkshire-based Mamas and Papas, a family business that had moved from the wholesale to retail market.
Tasked with developing and growing the brand’s presence in the UK and abroad, Claire helped build and strengthen a positive culture and ensured the business prioritised understanding the customer at the deepest level.
In 2011, following the birth of her second child India, who along with her sister Coco provided the name and inspiration for the business, Claire took the plunge and decided to mix her vast retail and commercial experience with her entrepreneurial spirit, determination and resilience to set up and successfully run for a number of years, IndiaCoco.
Claire has recently completed a three-year high-profile Non-Executive Director role working for Blue Diamond Garden Centres. This robust’ customer-centric’ business model continues to perform very well in a challenging retail environment.
Claire also leads all commercial and marketing activity for the London Pulse Netball Club, the rising stars of the Netball Super League Championship. Working for the CEO and England Netball, Claire is using her retail and commercial skills to help grow the club by acquiring new sponsors and partners and increasing commercial revenue to support the sport’s growth and accelerate professionalisation. London Pulse is now firmly established as a flagship franchise within the Netball Super League.
Claire Harper – Keynote Speaker
Claire’s passion and energy are evident in her keynote speeches. Combined with her vast retail market knowledge and understanding of business growth and change, she is well placed to convey her wisdom, know-how, and strategies.
Claire’s compelling keynote speech topics include, but are not limited to:
- Marketing and Branding – An insight into the essential tools to succeed in capturing the hearts and minds of new and loyal customers.
- The Ideal Customer – How to ensure your brand continues to adapt and develop its customer strategy in a constantly changing retail and digital market.
- Women in Business – How to challenge the status quo and prove that the male-dominated world in business and retail is no longer a reality.
- Change Management and Leadership – Why leading from the front, embracing change, developing talent and empowering colleagues is a good recipe for achieving success with a highly motivated, positive and energetic team.
- Successful Start-Ups – How to deal with the rollercoaster of creating and establishing your own business and draw on the challenges that inspire and help you push the boundaries.
- Women in Sport – How to raise the profile of female sports and why gender equality, diversity and inclusion are so important.
