Claire Harper is an expert in retail, digital, marketing, change management, branding and enterprise. Having worked for prominent UK brands including Argos, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Mamas and Papas, and run her own award-winning best of British kids’ clothing brand IndiaCoco, Claire is one of the UK’s most formidable business leaders.... Read more
An insight into the essential tools to succeed in capturing the hearts and minds of new and loyal customers.
How to challenge the status quo and prove that the male-dominated world in business and retail is no longer a reality.
Why leading from the front, embracing change, developing talent and empowering colleagues is a good recipe for achieving success with a highly motivated, positive and energetic team.
How to deal with the rollercoaster ride of creating and establishing your own business and draw on the challenges that inspire and help you to push the boundaries.
How to raise the profile of female sports and why gender equality, diversity and inclusion is so important.
How to ensure your brand continues to adapt and develop its customer strategy in a constantly changing retail and digital market.
Claire Harper is an expert in retail, digital, marketing, change management, branding and enterprise. Having worked for prominent UK brands including Argos, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Mamas and Papas, and run her own award-winning best of British kids’ clothing brand IndiaCoco, Claire is one of the UK’s most formidable business leaders. Her journey from senior corporate leader to business entrepreneur and sought-after consultant is inspirational and full of messages gleaned from working at the very heart of business.
An expert in implementing innovation and cultural change in influential and progressive brands, Claire’s initial foray into the retail market came as Argos was embroiled in a hostile takeover. With the challenge of reinventing a struggling brand she faced a steep learning curve in people management, understanding the customer and innovative multi-channel technological change. It was this experience that triggered her passion for taking retail brands to the next level.
At the age of 26, Claire joined Ocado as its first Head of Customer Acquisition and PR. However, she was soon promoted to Head of Marketing and led the visionary revolution in grocery shopping, turning the experience on its head to create a whole new customer-centric space in the market.
By 30, Claire Harper was headhunted to join Sainsbury’s. As new CEO Justin King’s Head of Online Marketing she was part of the new senior leadership team entrusted with the brief to ‘Make Sainsbury’s Great Again’. Drawing on her proficiency at adapting business plans (to reflect the ever-changing retail market), appreciation of the need to get back to basics and understanding of the customer, Claire launched Sainsbury’s multi-channel experience and consolidated the brand with its customer communications.
Having helped place Sainsbury’s back on the map, Claire became the first female board director at Yorkshire based Mamas and Papas, a family business that had moved from the wholesale to retail market. Tasked with developing and growing the brand’s presence in the UK and abroad, Claire helped build and strengthen a positive culture and ensured the business prioritised understanding the customer at the deepest level.
In 2011, following the birth of her second child India, who along with her sister Coco provided the name and inspiration for the business, Claire took the plunge and decided to mix her vast retail and commercial experience with her entrepreneurial spirit, determination and resilience to set up and successfully run for a number of years, IndiaCoco.
Most recently, Claire has taken on a high profile Non-Executive Director role working for Blue Diamond Garden Centres. A robust ‘customer centric’ business model continuing to perform very well in a challenging retail environment.
Claire Harper is also leading all commercial and marketing activity for London Pulse Netball Club. London Pulse are now in their third season and are the rising stars of the Vitality Netball Superleague Championship. Working for the CEO and England Netball, Claire is using her retail and commercial skills to really help grow the club in terms of acquiring new sponsors, partners, increasing commercial revenue, reach and fan engagement.
Claire’s passion and energy is a feature of her keynote speeches. Added to her vast knowledge of the retail market and understanding of business growth and change, she is well placed to convey her wisdom, know-how and strategies.
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You can book Claire Harper through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Claire's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Claire Harper's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Claire tailored to your event.
Claire Harper speaks on Business & Management, Customer Experience, Digital, Emerging Markets, Future. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Claire to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Claire Harper for events worldwide, subject to Claire's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Claire Harper is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Claire can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Claire Harper on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Claire can offer.
Claire Harper delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Claire Harper's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Customer Experience, Digital, Emerging Markets, Future. To get a clear sense of Claire's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Claire Harper can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Customer Experience, Digital, Emerging Markets, Future is relevant. Details of Claire's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Claire Harper is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Claire Harper, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Claire's current availability for your dates.