Claire’s initial foray into the retail market came as Argos was embroiled in a hostile takeover. With the challenge of reinventing a struggling brand, she faced a very steep learning curve in understanding the customer, the change in innovating multi-channel technology, and people management. It was this experience that saw her become an expert in innovation and cultural change, and triggered her passion for taking retail brands to the highest level.
Claire Harper | Marketing & Brand Career
When she was 26, Claire joined online supermarket Ocado as its first Head of Customer Acquisition and PR. She was soon promoted to Head of Marketing, and she led the visionary revolution in grocery shopping, changing the experience into a new customer-centric space in the market.
She was headhunted age 30 by Sainsbury’s as the Head of Online Marketing. She was part of the new CEO Justin King’s senior leadership team entrusted with the brief: Make Sainsburys Great Again. She drew on her experience and proficiency at adapting business plans (to reflect the ever-changing retail market), understanding the customer, and the appreciation of going back to basics, Claire launched their multi-channel experience and consolidated the brand with improved customer communications.
Once she had helped improve Sainsbury’s standings in the retail world, she moved to Yorkshire and became the first female Board Director at Yorkshire-based company, Mamas and Papas. She was tasked with developing and growing the brand’s presence in the UK and retail market, having originally been a small family business. Throughout her time there, she helped build and strengthen a positive work culture, and ensured that the company prioritised customer understanding at the deepest level.
In 2011, Claire took the plunge and decided to mix her vast retail and commercial experience with her entrepreneurial spirit. She took the name of her newborn baby – India – and her sister – Coco – and successfully set up IndiaCoco, a retailer of British clothing brands for children.
Claire has recently worked for Frosts Garden Centres as their Marketing Director, and Blue Diamond Garden Centres as their Non-Executive Director, working on a customer centric business model to ensure the business performs well in a challenging and changing retail environment.
She is now working for London Pulse Netball Club, leading all of their commercial and marketing activity. The club are approaching their fifth season and are the rising stars of the super league championship. Claire works alongside the CEO using her retail skills to help grow the club in terms of acquiring new partners and sponsors, accelerate professionalisation, and increase commercial revenue.
Claire Harper | Public Keynote Speaking
Claire’s passion and energy is a feature of her keynote speeches. Added to her vast knowledge of the retail market and understanding of business growth and change, she is well placed to convey her wisdom, know-how and strategies.
Claire Harper | Keynote Topics
Marketing and Branding: An insight into the tools essential for capturing the hearts and minds of loyal and new customers.
The Ideal Customer: Talking about how to make sure your brand continues to adapt and develop its customer strategy in a changing retail market.
Women In Business: How to challenge the status quo and prove that the male-dominated world in business and retail is no longer a reality.
Change Management and Leadership: Why leading from the front, embracing change, developing talent and empowering colleagues is a good recipe for achieving success with a highly motivated, positive and energetic team.
Successful Start-Ups: How to deal with the rollercoaster ride of creating and establishing your own business and draw on the challenges that inspire and help you to push the boundaries
Women in Sport: How to raise the profile of female sports and athletes, and why gender equality, diversity, and inclusion is so important.
Clients: Sainsbury’s, Burberry, National Entrepreneurs Week, Mamas & Papas, The Blackstone Group, City Sprint, BIRA – British Independent Retailers Association, Fujitsu, Horticultural Trade Association, SPLAT Global International Marketing Conference Moscow and MarketThink Financial Services.
