In keeping with its 2019 show theme ‘The Face of Innovation’, Sign and Digital UK has secured entrepreneur and Coffee Republic founder Sahar Hashemi OBE to deliver the keynote address in the Main Stage Theatre at 11am on 2 April.
Hashemi - who with her brother grew Coffee Republic to 110 stores and a £30m turnover before exiting in 2001, and guilt-free confectionery brand Skinny Candy that she sold in 2007 - will use her session at SDUK to share her business building stories before a Q+A session and tour of the show floor.
“I am looking forward to talking at the Sign and Digital UK show and catching up on all the latest developments in this vibrant design sector. I will be sharing my thoughts on innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset and telling my own story of how I built two household named brands from my kitchen table and hoping to inspire the audience. My message is really that ‘anyone can do it’ but also I show people working in large corporations how to develop that same entrepreneurial mindset to the benefit of their business goals.”
Rudi Blackett, portfolio director at SDUK, added: “Sahar’s entrepreneurial experience combined with her ‘can-do’ spirit is truly inspiring, and will make for an insightful keynote. We hope visitors and exhibitors will bring their questions to benefit from Sahar’s expert retail and entrepreneurial knowledge.”
