Newtrade Media’s third Women in Convenience (WiC) event saw an array of speakers sharing advice for female retailers in the industry, as well as words of support for growing their businesses and retaining a work-life balance.

Newtrade’s editor-in-chief Louise Banham welcomed attendees, and reflected on the progress that has been made on behalf of women in convenience since the scheme’s initiation in 2022, with a mission to give female retailers a platform to be heard and recognised in the industry, providing them with opportunities to attend events where they feel comfortable and confident and helping them access and build networks within the channel.

This was followed by Newtrade’s head of retail engagement Stefan Appleby sharing research based on women in the convenience sector, including whether they feel equally treated in various parts of the channel.  

WiC’s newly appointed retailer ambassadors were then introduced, followed by a panel on empowering and leading your team. The panel was hosted by Newtrade Media’s head of marketing, Kate Daw, and featured retailers Sue Nithyanandan, of Costcutter Epsom in Surrey, and Bobby Singh, of BB Superstores & Post Office in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, as well as Julia Glanville, area sales manager at JTI, Nicky Foster, founder of Nicky Foster Coaching, and Louise Marcon, in charge of trade marketing at British American Tobacco.

While retailers Nithyanandan and Singh laid focus on retaining a good standing in a community and going the extra mile to attract staff, Marcon advised retailers to work with colleges and universities to attract skilled recruits. Meanwhile, Foster noted that she is “increasingly seeing a shift for individuals to think about what’s in it for them”, advising that retailers highlight what is in it for an employee, and what they will gain, when advertising for a new role.

The afternoon included three workshops on ‘Unveiling the path to successful leadership’, ‘Managing team performance and development’ and ‘Leadership inspirations’.

The event was supported by headline partner BAT; supporting partners JTI and Nicky Foster Coaching; and collaborating partners Mondelez International, Booker Retail Partners, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, Spar, Coca Cola Europacific Partners and One Stop.

A full report will be published in RN magazine’s 12 July issue.

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