European platform for direct sales between brands and independent retailers, Ankorstore has linked up with Comexposium and WSN, two large event organisers, to offer retailers a new omnichannel solution.
The partnership between two leaders in physical trade events and the Ankorstore marketplace is intended to create a hybrid model that addresses the day-to-day issues faced by retailers, particularly fashion, lifestyle, and food retailers.
Frédéric Maus, managing director of WSN, the fashion and lifestyle trade fair subsidiary, Renaud Hamaide (pictured), chairman and CEO of Comexposium, and Nicolas d’Audiffret, CEO and co-founder of Ankorstore, say they share the same vision: to reinvent the independent retail sector in France and Europe by offering its players a comprehensive omnichannel solution to support them at every stage of the purchasing process.
The targeted digital communication rolled out by Comexposium and WSN to their brand communities will be accentuated by the physical presence of Ankorstore at the group’s forthcoming events.
For its part, Ankorstore will be adding its expertise in online sales between professionals to the existing services offered by partner trade shows.
With over 300,000 retailers in Europe and a range of practical solutions including logistics and management of its network of retailers, Ankorstore believes it represents a new growth driver for the community of exhibiting brands.
Initially, the partnership will focus on certain flagship events such as Who’s Next, Bijhorca, Gourmet Sélection and SIAL. It will provide brands with a range of tools, cross-marketing initiatives, and access to additional services for exhibiting at selected partner trade fairs in France and abroad.
Finally, as part of the partnership, Comexposium will become a minority shareholder in Ankorstore.
Hamaide described the agreement with Ankorstore and WSN as “an extraordinary signal for our communities! More than ever, it demonstrates the complementary nature of physical and online commerce and the business benefits of professional events. It also underlines the relevance of Comexposium’s multi-channel strategy, which has for several years been successfully developing digital visibility and networking solutions for its customers.”
