Agenda 2026

The interviewer will ask the interviewee some of the following questions as well as asking the audience to ask some questions of their own

• You’ve been in the retail and manufacturing sector for 50 years now.  What are the key lessons you’ve learnt over the years about what it takes to achieve longevity in the retail business?  
• Many people know you from being a Dragon’s Den investor since 2015.  What advice would you give to retailers who are looking for investment and why? 
• You famously bought Hawes & Curtis for £1 when it was £500k in debt and about to collapse and turned it into a £30+m turnover retailer.  What were the key factors that enabled you to turn the business around?  
• What do you think separates successful retail entrepreneurs from unsuccessful ones? 
• You’ve recently invested in a circular fashion business Loop Generation.  What tips would you offer to retailers in the area of sustainability? 
• What are the biggest challenges you’ve had to face in your retail career and what strategies have you used to overcome them effectively and build resilience? 
• You’re well known for being a serial entrepreneur and have recently launched Tashola – a jewellery retail brand. What it is about retail that is so attractive to you? 
• Which retailers or retail leaders do you admire most and why? 
• What do you think are the biggest opportunities and threats facing the retail sector in 2026 and how do you think the sector should respond to them?
• What next for Touker Suleyman and what are you looking forward to the most?