Beam Suntory Global Travel Retail Spirited Speaker Series: Mark Tanner, China Skinny

Following the success of earlier programmes, Beam Suntory has launched Series 2 of its Spirited Speaker Series. The online videos, introduced by Global Head of Marketing – Travel Retail Ed Stening, underline how the drinks company is adhering to its tradition of innovation, even during crisis.

This episode features Mark Tanner, Managing Director of Shanghai-based China Skinny, one of China’s best-known and fastest-growing marketing and research agencies. He brings perspective from marketing roles in China, North America, Europe, Australasia and Africa since the late 90s.

Under Tanner’s leadership, China Skinny has established itself as a leader in understanding the latest trends, insights and best practices for the ever-changing Chinese marketplace. China Skinny publishes a weekly newsletter about marketing to Chinese consumers.

Earlier on the Spirited Speaker Series

Sucharita Kodali, Vice President Retail Analyst at Forrester Research, focuses on the topic of omnichannel in the travel retail space. How can digital remove friction in the shopper’s journey and generate a win-win for both consumer and the retailer on the path to purchase?

Putri Realita, Global D&I Lead at Danone, explores the importance of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) in the workplace and how that can benefit businesses’ performance.

This episode features Tom Mouhsian, aviation expert and principal analyst at Forrester Research. Based in Singapore, Mouhsian specialises in customer experience (CX). He helps companies to prioritise their efforts and build a stronger business case for CX transformation. In these changing times. CX is more important than ever as we look to adapt to new consumer behaviours, he contends here.

In Episode 3, Richard Shotton, author of best-selling book ‘The Choice Factory’, talks about how a fast-changing retail environment will affect consumer purchasing habits and mindsets. He also reflects on how businesses can adapt to the new environment.

Episode 2 features The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie. He speaks about how the travel retail landscape is changing, with particular reference to how stores will manage the key senses of touch, taste and smell in promoting what they sell in the post-COVID-19 era.

Episode 1 features Ken Grier, Founder of De-Still Creative, a specialist drinks and luxury consultancy, industry veteran and former Chairman of The Macallan Distillers. Grier shares his thoughts on life after COVID-19 and the way retailers can prepare for the future.

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