A statement issued by the organiser, Retail Events, says: “With the current economic slump and more specifically the carnage within the retail arena forcing our normal clients to cull or cancel their normal spend at an alarming rate and in some cases even going under themselves, Retail Events has seen sales plummet over the last few months to the point where the business cannot continue.”
“This is not a decision taken lightly and despite many frantic negotiations with key creditors to try and renegotiate long standing contracts in the light of the current economic situation agreement could not be reached and Retail Events has been left with no option but this very unpalatable one,” it adds.
The move also spells the end for such shows as Retail Fraud and Mobile Retailing.
UPDATE: K3, lead sponsor of the 2009 Retail Business Show, has announced that it is hosting a mini expo at the Holiday Inn, Kensington (97 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4DN) on Wednesday, 28th January. It has already signed up Handpoint and Protouch and is keen to get other suppliers involved. Retail Systems will endeavour to keep you updated on the mini expo. For further information, contact the Editor at: scott.thompson@retail-systems.com
Meanwhile, the Vendorcom Cards & Payments Expo 09, which had been due to run alongside Retail Business Show, will also take place. A statement on the association's website says: "Vendorcom has put every effort behind ensuring that the demise of the Retail Business Show will have minimal impact on the good name of all cards and payments industry exhibitors as well as that of Vendorcom. With the support and goodwill of both our member organisations and our speakers, The Vendorcom Cards & Payments Conference, incorporating the Vendorcom Retail Fraud Conference in association with The 3rd Man, will therefore continue, as planned at Olympia on 28th and 29th January.
The Cards & Payments Conference, covering contactless, NFC and mobile payments; PCI: up close and technical, PCI: the big issues; and prepaid and stored aalue, will be held in the Apex Room, (accessed via the Olympia Pizza Express entrance) Olympia and will incorporate a small exhibition area showcasing some of the key players in the cards and payments industry. The Retail Fraud Conference, in association with The 3rd Man, will be held in the Club Room (accessed via the Olympia Pizza Express entrance)."
For further information, visit: www.vendorcom.com
IMRG and VeriSign have gathered several of the speakers from the show, including Paul Frantz, retail industry head at Google and Bob Ashley, partnership director at Royal Mail. They will be commenting on the current online boom. The event will be held at Hilton Olympia from 9:00am - 12:30pm (28th Jan).
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