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~ We Are Pentagon ~

n a world where the retail landscape is constant- up and started again – speaking candidly and humorously to
ly evolving, innovating and transforming every a packed Retail Without Borders conference room of more
Iday, the role of online marketplaces has become than 700 enthralled e-commerce professionals. Gerald’s fall
vital to retail. But how can brands and retailers start from grace is a poignant reminder of the fragility of even the
expanding into new territories and what market- strongest of retail establishments and has a fitting place in
places are best placed to support and help accelerate 2020 as we enter a new decade of unique uncertainty, strug-
global online sales? gles and mistakes which go hand-in-hand with the success,
innovation and accelerated profit of the brands and retail-
To answer these questions and to sim- ers that get it right. His fascinating
to establish their online trading across “THE OPPORTUNITY anecdotes and self-deprecating style
plify the process for brands and retailers
were a brilliant way to open the
FOR GROWTH
borders, the We Are Pentagon Group event and resonated with rapturous
established Retail Without Borders applause from the audience.
(RWB) - an independent conference
and thought-leadership hub within the THIS DECADE While uncertainty creates the
e-commerce sector. While Pentagon is opportunity for a business to
IS ARGUABLY
a specialist online marketplace provider, thrive, diversify and monopolise on
Retail Without Borders has become a risk, what remains certain is that
GREATER THAN
key resource to connect leading market- consumer demand is central for any
places across the world with worlds top brand or retailer – regardless of the
brands and retailers. channels through which it is trading
First established in 2015, Retail Without EVER BEFORE.” and operating. Yet while consumers
become increasingly conscious about
Borders has already garnered consider- the issues that matter the most to
able traction around the globe with six them personally, locally and globally
previous events hosted in Europe and Asia. As a thought- there is a strong paradox emerging for how a retailer can
leader always looking to develop its contribution to the world encourage the consumer to buy more, while consuming less.
of e-commerce, the conference has grown to meet increasing To help disentangle this dilemma, which has sustainability
demand year-on-year, with 2020 marking its biggest confer- at its core, we heard from six senior leaders who are actively
ence to date on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February. seeking to balance people and planet – Barjis Chohan (CEO
and Founder, BARJIS), Patrick Eve (Managing Director,
Held across two days for the first time, Retail Without ZigZag Global), Marina Wegorek (Founder, ProYOUth
Borders took over an entire floor of London’s QEII Centre in Nutrition), Jahan Haroon (Product Lead – Head of
the heart of Westminster to open its doors to up to 2,000 del- CodeWorks, Gemserv), Joe Metcalfe (Founder, Thrift+) and
egates and deliver a packed agenda full of keynote speeches, Wendy Snowdon (Founder, TheFoodMarket.com). While
firesides, workshops, panels and marketplace speed-dating. each business leader is responsible for different products and
Alongside two main conference rooms, Retail Without Bor- services, they are united by the same challenge to balance
ders transformed a unique exhibition space overlooking the planet with profit – something which will require innovative
Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey with stands solutions from within all parts of the supply chain.
for over 20 exhibitors from all around the world including:
Shieldpay, Department for International Trade, eBay, SEKO The opportunity for growth this decade is arguably greater
Logistics, Payoneer, ShipStation, GS1 UK, Catch, Cdiscount, than ever before, with the disruptive emergence of cutting-
La Redoute, TheMarket, Fnac and more. edge technology from artificial reality to augmented reality
and automation. New technology is going to transform the
As the doors opened for registration, there was a palpable customer experience and heighten the pace of e-commerce
feeling of excitement and anticipation amongst delegates as through machine learning and advancements that will
they eagerly awaited former chairman and CEO of Ratners, ultimately streamline supply chain logistics. To showcase
Gerald Ratner to take to the stage to deliver his opening emerging technology that will maximise the consumer shop-
keynote. Synonymous with perhaps one of the biggest PR ping experience, we were delighted to welcome both Michael
mistakes in the business world of all time, Gerald Ratner is a Valdsgaard (CEO and President, London Dynamics) and Dr
name many remember for his speech which included a gaffe John Taylor (CEO, action.ai) to the RWB stage who lead or-
in which he described one of the products as ‘total crap’ and ganisations which are taking e-commerce to new dimensions,
triggered his spectacular fall from grace. whether it be through augmented reality, artificial intelligence
or automation via tools that transform the consumer experi-
However, despite having to depart the £1.2bn jewellery ence into 3D or enhance the service they receive, including
business which he had helped build, Gerald picked himself via chatbots. ••

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