Five new initiatives to be launched at the Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2015

Five new initiatives will be launched at the Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London 2015, taking place at Olympia London, for the first time, on 16 & 17 September 2015. The new features will run alongside established show favourites, surrounded by 170 exhibitors showcasing the latest branded and inspirational packaging in the UK and from around the globe.

This year's show will see the launch of The Brand Innovation Programme, where nine leading creative agencies across the two days, including Webb deVlam London and Icicle Group, will discuss how to develop brands with high quality packaging design. Kicking off day one will be Guy Douglass, Managing Director, at Brand On Shelf, talking about the role packaging design plays in maximising brand appeal, and how it drives sales in store and builds brand loyalty.

The Retail Institute will chair the brand new Great Innovation Debate, which will explore the term 'innovation' in relation to packaging. The interactive show feature will question what is innovation, how do we define innovation, what is seen as innovation and where does innovation come from. The debate will take place on the Keynote Theatre at 15:30, on day one of the show.

Launching on the second day of the show is The Live Design Challenge. The timed competition will see three design agencies go head to head, in a bid to design a rugby carton in homage to the Rugby World Cup. Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to shake things up when they are given the opportunity to change aspects of the design at the last minute, such as colour, size and text. The competition will demonstrate how quickly a concept can turn into a reality!

Another debut is The Innovation Showcase, highlighting the very latest innovations from the packaging industry. Exhibitors were asked to send in their entries and show organisers, Easyfairs, have whittled them down to an exclusive group of winners. Visitors will get a chance to see these thought-provoking and industry leading designs at The Brand Innovation Theatre, where the winners will present each idea and concept between 13:30 - 14:30 on day one of the show.

Also new for this year, is the Rising Star scheme, which has been designed with young brands in mind, providing them with the opportunity to achieve their packaging goals and to find the right solutions for their company. The scheme ensures that these start-ups or organisations in their infancy find the right suppliers and products, enhancing enhance the brand and taking the packaging to the next level, no matter the size of company.

Once again, the show will feature content-rich learnshops seminars, including major brands and leading speakers from Müller, Liberty, Marks & Spencer and Nabeel Perfumes just to name a few. While the Luxury Packaging Conference will play host to Bacardi, Diageo, Harrods, Crabtree & Evelyn and Hotel Chocolat, all sharing their secrets in a register only conference dedicated to the luxury and premium market.

The Drinks Symposium returns by popular demand, with Sauvelle, a new crafted French vodka, and Funkin Cocktails among the headline acts. The Beauty Symposium, run in association with The Red Tree Consultancy, is also back with an impressive line-up of well known speakers encompassing the worlds of cosmetics, beauty, luxury and retail. Wren Holmes, Marketing Manager of The Red Tree, will be give a welcome note and introduction followed by four speakers over the course of the Symposium.

Finally there will be a drinks reception for all those visiting the show, held on day one of the show, providing an opportunity to network with colleagues, new contacts and exhibitors.