CloserStill Media acquires eCommerce Expo

The eCommerce Expo, held on 27 and 28 September in London, has a new owner. Today, CloserStill Media, Justin Opie and Graeme Howe have announced that they are acquiring eCommerce Expo from UBM. Howe and Opie are the former owners of IMP Events, from where they launched eCommerce Expo in 2006.

eCommerce Expo was subsequently acquired by UBM, but now the event returns to its founders. “We are absolutely delighted to be back running the event. These are exciting times for the ecommerce sector and the market generally. The UK leads innovation in the ecommerce sector and the event is the industry showcase”, says Justin Opie. “We look forward to working with the retail community, solution providers and industry stake-holders to help the event become the definitive and interpretive event for ecommerce in Europe.”

After Howe and Opie ran IMP events, they joined ecommerce association IMRG, which was a founding partner of both the eCommerce Expo event and the eCommerce Awards and remains an important partner of the expo.

Howe and Opie are partnering with CloserStill Media to run the expo. “They have an incredible track record of investing in and operating award-winning exhibitions in related sectors and we share a common vision for the potential and importance of the event”, Howe comments.

‘It has to be more relevant for senior buyers’

The eCommerce Expo runs 27 and 28 September at Olympia in London. The new teams wants to further develop the event and make it more relevant for senior buyers. The first part of this plan is the announcement of the Digital Customer Theatre at the event. The organization wants to use this as a first step to build on the seniority of delegates, by making the event more strategic and visionary in its content proposition.

About CloserStill Media

CloserStill Media was founded in 2008 and was named the fastest growing exhibition company in Europe by the Financial Times this April. It also won Exhibition News’ Awards for best business exhibition and best exhibition marketing earlier this year.

eCommerce Expo is just one of many ecommerce events taking place in Europe. Check out or handy and renewed calendar to see which events you can attend later this year!