spring 2025 Talk Shop Seminars

Bringing together industry experts to share tools, insights and navigate changes influencing the retail landscape to help you and your business thrive.

Visual Vibes: Transform Your Storefront with Merchandising Magic

Ready to dazzle your customers and make your store the destination? This high-energy workshop is your backstage pass to the art of visual merchandising! We’ll unleash the secrets of stunning shop and window displays, dive into design fundamentals, zoning strategies, and the psychology behind what makes shoppers stop, stay, and spend. Whether you're targeting trendsetters or traditionalists, you'll leave with the tools to create a vibe that turns heads and opens wallets. It’s time to elevate your retail game and make your space unforgettable—because your store deserves to shine!

Genevieve Flynn, Design Consultant
Sunday, 24 August – 11.00 AM

Designing for Repeat Business: Practical Ways to Elevate the Customer Experience

In today’s competitive retail landscape, good isn’t enough; your space needs to work just as hard as your product collection. Join award-winning interior designer Laura Heynike of Pocketspace Interiors as she reveals how smart, small-space design can dramatically enhance customer experience and drive repeat business.

Laura Heynike, Pocketspace Interiors
Sunday, 24 August – 1.00 PM

How to Use Social Media + AI for Retail Marketing in 2025 

Social media isn’t dead, it’s just evolving. And in 2025, the smartest retailers aren’t spending more time online; they’re using smarter tools. 

You’ll walk away with a simple strategy to build trust and attention online, the best platforms to use (and what to post), real examples of small NZ stores using AI effectively, a step-by-step guides for using tools like Canva, CapCut, and ChatGPT, and a plug-and-play content plan you can start using tomorrow. Perfect for time-poor shop owners, this session is all about keeping it real, keeping it simple, and keeping it human — while letting the robots do the boring bits.

Clive Antony, Social Media Expert and Founder of Antony & Mates
Monday, 25 August – 11.00 AM

Elevate Your Business to the Next Level With a Business Mentor

Join Sarah as she shares why having a Business Mentor can be a game-changer for your business, and how BMNZ’s network of 1,500+ volunteer Business Mentors support SMEs across the country. Learn more about the value of mentoring, from tailored guidance, to helping you grow with more confidence and direction. Wherever you are in your business journey, this is a valuable opportunity to understand how business mentoring works and what’s in it for you. 

Sarah Trotman, Business Mentors NZ
Monday, 25 August – 1.00 PM

From Screen to Shelf: How to Align Your Online Brand & Retail Design for Maximum Customer Impact

Join industry experts Laura Heynike, Clive Antony, and Carolyn Young for a dynamic panel exploring how to turn your digital presence into a powerful driver of in-store success. In today’s competitive retail landscape, learn how to keep your brand front of mind through smart website design, AI and social media strategies, and engaging interior design. Discover how to create a seamless customer journey that attracts new shoppers, builds loyalty, and boosts repeat business. Backed by the latest retail statistics and actionable insights, this session is your guide to making every touchpoint—from screen to store—work for your brand.

Clive Antony, Social Media Expert and Founder of Antony & Mates
Carolyn Young, CEO, Retail NZ
Laura Heynike, Pocketspace Interiors

Tuesday, 26 August – 11.00 AM