BCSC 2015 PODCAST: The BCSC, now undergoing a strategic review, will unwrap its new name and brand at Christmas.
Chief executive John Coyne, who joined in June, said that the results of the review would be presented to the BCSC board on 12 October.
He said: “Around Christmas, if not early 2016, we will be keen to unveil our strategy plan for the next five years.”
Both Coyne and BCSC’s president, Hammerson chief executive David Atkins, acknowledged in their opening keynote speeches that the organisation needed to change to be more relevant in today’s retail landscape, particularly with the growing influence of leisure.
“The board of directors started this strategic review, back in late 2014. Part of the journey was my appointment.”
The change, said Coyne, has been brought about not because of competition from the likes of Completely Retail, but because “the world we live in has evolved. The market is a very different place now and our industry body has to reflect that.”
Coyne said the BCSC was also keen to shake off its image as “an old boys’ club”. He added: “This is a very vibrant industry and we must reflect that.
“It will be big change as we need to make sure we are at the forefront of the industry and that he members feel we are representing them.”
