PARTNERS’ PERSPECTIVE are gaining traction with both retailers and buyers alike.
ROI and networking gains
“ It is not about volume; it is about relevance. We make sure sponsors walk away with strategic outcomes, whether that is leads, feedback, or a stronger presence in the META retail landscape,” says Farouk Hemraj, Founder, Channel Hub.
“ Our model is built around targeted, pre-qualified engagement. Retailers and distributors are invited based on active buying roles and geographic relevance. We facilitate over 3,000 pre-scheduled, one to one meetings, enabled by a smart matching system and detailed profiling ahead of time,” adds Hemraj.
Exhibitors also pitch products through quick-fire sessions to help buyers identify fit before deeper discussions. Complementing this are curated panels, insights, and ECSF strategy sessions that frame the business context. By connecting the right people with the right tools, and embedding those conversations in a business-ready environment, conditions are created for deals to happen, not just discussions.
“ We have evolved the format to reflect post-pandemic shifts and digital retail maturity. While our core remains one to one meetings, we have expanded to include content tracks on AI, sustainability, and e-waste policy that align with today’ s priorities,” says Hemraj.
The ECSF forum, strategic partner insights from Canalys, CONTEXT and GfK, bring in fresh perspectives. The awards now include submission-based categories, recognising circular initiatives and launch excellence. The event has also integrated regional startup showcases and cloud-first retail technologies.
This hybrid of content, commerce, and connection reflects the reality that buyers and sellers need relevance, data, and innovation, on one platform.
Challenges and partnerships
“ Cloud marketplaces may offer scalability and speed, but they do not replace human relationships. In regions like META, trust still underpins business, and nothing builds trust faster than face-to-face engagement,” says Hemraj.
Buyers want to understand the people behind the product, how support, logistics, credit terms, and post-sale service are handled. These nuances rarely come through in a digital-only environment.
What we are seeing is a hybrid future: cloud marketplaces for transactions, and
summits like ours for relationship-building, product education, and strategic alignment.
The Summit gives vendors a pulse check on local dynamics and helps buyers discover under-the-radar brands that outperform global competitors in local execution. Even for brands already on marketplaces, faceto-face helps position them better with key channel partners, to better shelf space, stronger promotions, and faster sell-through.
Technology accelerates the deal flow, but trust accelerates adoption. •
Attendees at previous events
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