Nick Widdowson
Nick graduated from the University of Brighton, gaining a degree in business studies and marketing.
He started his career in store management at the Co-op in 1986 where he gained first-hand experience of the instore environment, including managing store refurbishments, auditing and stocktaking, before moving to head office where he was responsible for leading macro and micro space planning.
Nick continued his career in retail, joining Superdrug in 1995, where he built on his retail experiences, including conducting micro space analysis, range assortment and space planning best practice and the implementation of category management.
Nick’s move to Unilever in 2000 allowed him to use his retail experience in developing the merchandising function to deliver increased visibility at the point of purchase. Nick’s role encompassed all aspects of in-store visibility, including range assortment and space planning, channel category management, shopper marketing strategy, planning and best practice. Nick led the UK Customer Insight And Innovation Centre, facilitating shopper research and insights, and developing enabling tools and technology such as virtual reality, augmented reality, audience measurement, eye tracking and biometric research tools.
He has led both thinking and teams in these specialisms, constantly influencing and improving pack design, shelf positioning and POS advertising through insights, research and technology ensuring all decisions are grounded in sound shopper insight.
As founder of shopperFIRST, Nick consults with companies to help establish range assortment and space planning capability, training in shopper and spatial psychology and shopper marketing strategy, planning and best practice to create real expertise and make shopper-led decisions.
DATE & TIME TBA
