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2025 Agenda

DTC Brands Summit
October 8th 2025
CONVENE – 133 HOUNDSDITCH | LONDON
In partnership with

Internet Retailing 250x88RetailX Intelligence

Direct-To-Consumer Strategies to Empower Retailers and Elevate Brands

Register

Panel Sponsors

Report Sponsor

5 Retail Events in 1 day under 1 roof
ChannelX World DTC Brands Summit TikTok Sellers Summit Data Analytics & AI Summit Retail MediaX Executive Brief

Agenda

8:30 – 9:25

Morning Registration

9:25 – 9:30

Conference Chair Opening

Speaker

Lisa Bennett
Lisa Bennett
Lisa Bennett
Senior Producer
INTERNETRETAILING

Lisa Bennett

Senior Producer, INTERNETRETAILING

9:30 – 10:00

Tales from a Trailblazer: The Path to Unicorn Status

PRESENTATION

10:00 – 10:20

Maximising the Full Potential of First-Party Data in D2C

PRESENTATION

10:20 – 11:00

Ditch the Generic, Connect with the Person Behind the Purchase

To move beyond generic personalisation, D2C brands need to find new ways to leverage customer data and insights to craft highly individualised experiences that resonate on a personal level. By integrating AI, predictive analytics, and dynamic content, brands can create authentic, real-time connections that foster deeper loyalty and engagement

PANEL

Speakers

Lauren Duncan
Lauren Duncan
Lauren Duncan
Head of Ecommerce
Philip Kingsley

Lauren Duncan

Head of Ecommerce, Philip Kingsley

Lauren Duncan leads the Ecommerce strategy at Philip Kingsley, the renowned trichology-led haircare brand. With a passion for data-driven growth and customer experience, Lauren combines commercial acumen with a deep understanding of the premium beauty market. She has played a key role in accelerating Philip Kingsley’s digital presence, driving customer acquisition, and expanding its DTC offering across the UK and US. More recently, Lauren is working on digitally transforming their Clinical offering.

Nima Salehi
Nima Salehi
Nima Salehi
Global Head of Digital Technology
BE FOR BEAUTY

Nima Salehi

Global Head of Digital Technology, BE FOR BEAUTY

Rob Manning
Rob Manning
Rob Manning
Head of Direct to Consumer & eCommerce
BIOTIFUL GUT HEALTH

Rob Manning

Head of Direct to Consumer & eCommerce, BIOTIFUL GUT HEALTH

Rob Manning is an accomplished eCommerce and digital marketing leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth for leading global brands across retail, FMCG, and D2C industries. With a proven track record in customer acquisition, retention, and brand building, Rob excels at leveraging data and insights to create innovative strategies that deliver high growth and measurable results.

Rob has a deep understanding of customer behaviours and is passionate about using creativity and technology to transform digital experiences. He has also shared his expertise as a speaker on topics like conversational commerce, retail media innovation, and loyalty strategies, inspiring industry professionals at prominent events, and through digital marketing training with the DMA.

Rob’s extensive experience, coupled with his strategic vision and ability to lead high-performing teams, makes him a sought-after advisor and thought leader in the digital commerce space. He is also a dedicated trustee for a charity, reflecting his commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace.

Moderator

Chris Dawson
Chris Dawson
Chris Dawson
Editor-In-Chief
CHANNELX

Chris Dawson

Editor-In-Chief, CHANNELX

Editor of ChannelX (formerly Tamebay). Looking to connect with Brands, Retailers, and Independent business owners selling on marketplace and social channels to share expertise, strategies and learnings.

11:00 – 12:00

NETWORKING 121 MEETINGS & REFRESHMENTS

12:00 – 12:20

Mastering Delivery and Returns for DTC Success

PRESENTATION

12:20 – 12:40

How Challenger Brands are Beating the Giants to Secure Retail Space and Drive Growth

In a rapidly evolving retail market, challenger brands are making waves with innovative products, bold strategies, and fresh perspectives. Delve into how agile and disruptive brands are leveraging data and innovative marketing solutions to carve out a niche in crowded industries

FIRESIDE CHAT

Speakers

Rodrigo Almeida
Rodrigo Almeida
Rodrigo Almeida
Head of UK E-Commerce
EMMA – THE SLEEP COMPANY

Rodrigo Almeida

Head of UK E-Commerce, EMMA – THE SLEEP COMPANY

Chris Forbes
Chris Forbes
Chris Forbes
Co-Founder
The Cheeky Panda

Chris Forbes

Co-Founder, The Cheeky Panda

Chris Forbes is Co-founder of The Cheeky Panda along with his partner Julie Chen. Cheeky Panda is a Fast Track 100 company, Ranked 13th in the UKs top 100 start-ups the 8th most recognisable sustainable brand in the UK. Chris is passionate about delivering change for good and has been a public speaker with regular features in press and radio helping share the journey and inspire others to become environmental entrepreneurs.  Passionate about building sustainable 21st century companies that have purpose over profit but are still commercially viable entities.   He has been a mentor to several high growth businesses over the past 5 years.

12:40 – 13:20

Omnichannel that Connects, Converts and Sticks

How do you manage to be distinctive in so many channels? While accessibility increases sales opportunities, how can you retain your own voice” in crowded markets? How can online, offline, social and marketplace work together to create a unified and seamless customer journey?

PANEL

Sponsored by

Speaker

Galahad Clark
Galahad Clark
Galahad Clark
CEO
VIVOBAREFOOT

Galahad Clark

CEO, VIVOBAREFOOT

13.20 – 14:20

NETWORKING 121 MEETINGS & LUNCH

14:20 – 14:40

Remaining Distinct Through Growth

How can D2C brands grow without losing control of their brand and customer relationships? Hear how brands built with a strong sense of purpose and passion are remaining ‘hands on’ to prevent their brands from getting lost in a sea of similar products while remaining true to the loyal followers and the core values that inspired their entrepenurial journey


FEMALE FOUNDERS FIRESIDE CHAT

Speakers

Anne-Clare Ribbons
Anne-Clare Ribbons
Anne-Clare Ribbons
Founder
COTTON TWIST

Anne-Clare Ribbons

Founder, COTTON TWIST

Anne-Clare Ribbons is the founder of Cotton Twist, an award-winning children’s craft brand born from a simple idea at her kitchen table. After leaving a fast-paced corporate career and becoming a mother, Anne-Clare recognised a gap in the market for stylish, sustainable party bag fillers and craft kits that spark creativity without costing the earth. With just £400 and a vision to reduce plastic waste, she launched Cotton Twist in 2015.

Now celebrating its tenth year, the business has grown organically, reaching thousands of families and retailers worldwide. Anne-Clare leads the brand with a focus on eco-conscious design, playful nostalgia, and the joy of hands-on creativity. From party bags to seasonal gifts, her products are lovingly assembled in the UK and inspire imaginative play for children aged 3 and up.

Flo Broughton
Flo Broughton
Flo Broughton
Co-Founder
CHOC ON CHOC

Flo Broughton

Co-Founder, CHOC ON CHOC

Moderator

Georgie Janion-Shaw
Georgie Janion-Shaw
Georgie Janion-Shaw
Founder
SISTIR & NOVELLO PRODUCTS

Georgie Janion-Shaw

Founder, SISTIR & NOVELLO PRODUCTS

Georgie is the Founder Novello Products and SISTIR.Novello is a company formed of two parts; ‘brands’ and ‘tech’.

The ‘brands’ side is home to consumer facing brands (including SISTIR) through which unique, personalised products are
offered DTC and via 3rd party platforms such as Amazon, Notonthehighstreet, Etsy and
Yumbles. The tech side is home to Novello’s systems which are at the core of their own
operations and power the brands across sales platforms.

Prior to Novello, Georgie held senior marketing and consulting roles within global media giants,
Disney and Hasbro. She had the privilege of growing and nurturing some of the world’s most
beloved brands including Disney Princess, Mickey Mouse, Toy Story and Monopoly.

The development of a brand and bringing it to life via creative marketing strategies and
compelling products, whilst ensuring the consumer remains at the heart of it, has always been a
passion of Georgie’s. She is now relishing the opportunity to draw upon her wealth of experience
and bring it to her own start up.

14:40 – 15:10

Influncer Collaborations to Supercharge D2C

Hear how DTC can leverage social media and influencer marketing for impactful storytelling, and customer engagement while reaping the benefits of increased shopper analytics to drive retention and growth.  

PANEL

Speaker

Lucie MacLeod
Lucie MacLeod
Lucie MacLeod
Founder & CEO
Hair Syrup

Lucie MacLeod

Founder & CEO, Hair Syrup

Lucie Macleod is the founder and CEO of Hair Syrup, a successful hair care brand known for its all-natural, cruelty-free pre-wash hair oils.

Based in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Lucie began her entrepreneurial journey in 2019 when she was a university student at the University of Warwick. After struggling with her own damaged air from bleaching and styling, she started researching and developing DIY hair treatments to improve her hair’s health. The oils she created worked so well that she shared her hair care routine on TikTok, where her content went viral, and she kept it that way. This sudden popularity prompted Lucie to start selling her products, and in just a few months, Hair Syrup became a thriving online business.

Today, her brand is stocked in major retailers like Boots, Superdrug, Urban Outfitters & Beauty Bay; Hair Syrup is a top 3 SMB merchant on TikTok and is on track to make £6.5 million in annual revenue by 2026 with the help of her growing team of 15+ people behind her.

15:10 – 15:50

From Wholesale to D2C: Own Your Customers , Maximise Profits

Delve into how adopting and honing your direct-to-consumer can unlock deeper customer engagement and drive profitability. What challenges and opportunities come with this shift; such as, leveraging data insights, enhancing brand storytelling, and creating seamless omni-channel strategies?

PANEL

15:50 – 16:10

Expanding DTC Globally While Delivering Localised, Authentic Brand Experiences

How can D2C brands scale across diverse markets without compromising the authenticity that connects them to to local audiences? Hear first-hand, how global brands in a ‘house of icons’ are navigating localized DTC experiences across regions by tailoring product offerings, customer engagement and regional preferences

PRESENTATION

16:10 – 16:15

Conference Chair Closing

16:15 – 17:00

COFFEE, DRINKS & CANAPES