Author: Ally Simpson

Over the next 5 years, the world of retail is going to radically change. Currently there is the Wholesale model. And there is a Direct model. But it will soon be joined by another model. A new ‘Retail Force’ created by the individuals who have huge influence on social media. They will create another distribution model. We shall call this ‘ Smart model’. Named after their audience is built on smart phones. Where there’s audience, there is power. The people we follow on Instagram vary from 4K to 1.1M followers. Each day their followers go and find what they are doing, where they are, and yes, what they are wearing. This in shop terms is footfall. No bricks and mortar shop has 400K of football each day. But some of the Instagrammers do. One day, one morning, they will wake up and figure out they can use this influence to make money, to sell things. That day is coming. And that day for some has already arrived. They have influence. And they will master how to use it. Instagram, and other social media platforms that come after will create the next brands, companies, and it will create its own Insta-millionaires. David Hieatt – Hiut Denim Each year Hiut Denim host an Open Day and as part of that, David Hieatt tells the audience about their progress and their plans...