Pro-retail 2012 will showcase new technologies, the latest trends in retail and what the future holds for the industry, when it opens next Tuesday and Wednesday at the International Centre, Telford in Shropshire. Evening entertainment will feature Tony Hadley, Go West, ABC and comedian Ed Byrne.

As they make their way around the show, visitors will be able to experience reality app ‘Blippar’, which offers an enhanced shopping experience through mobile technology. They can also find out about facial recognition technology that targets ads to the viewer’s gender, age and other metrics. 

Forecourt retailers will be able to see how they could be selling fuel in the future - an electric car charging station complete with electric powered supercar will be featured.

The show will also highlight the latest revolutions in merchandising, with units that change according to the time of the day, plus unique ways to promote product ranges. QR codes will be featured throughout the show with a dedicated area explaining how they work.

Retailers will also be able to see how they could visit trade shows in the future, with a ‘virtual trade show’ set-up. Pro-retail will also analyse how trade conditions will affect retailers over the next five years.

The technologies throughout the show aim to drive visitors to a café-style destination where expert advisors will help retailers future-proof their stores. These insights into the future of retailing will run alongside a large local supplier village, alcohol zone and chilled and fresh foods zone.