Drakes 2018 Conference

The 11th Annual Drakes Supplier Conference was held on the Gold Coast at the Sheraton Mirage and what a fantastic event. Held over four days, it was our opportunity to spoil our suppliers and offer fun activities for the whole family. It’s made up of a full-day Business Session, plenty of time to spend with the family and culminates in a Supplier Awards Gala dinner recognising our suppliers and their achievements within the Drakes business.

Our Business Session was very well received, with key Drakes team members providing very informative and very clear on the direction that Drakes are now taking in our pledge to be a wholesaler as well as a retailer, completing the package of vertical integration for Drakes. It’s our opportunity to let our suppliers know what’s in store for Drakes in 2019.

Family for Drakes is so important. This is a family event, run by a family business with family values but corporate thinking. With this being one of the only family friendly conferences around, it’s always exciting to see so many smiling faces of the kids that are lucky enough to attend. This years’ conference saw 100 kids in attendance which is a fantastic effort by the companies that support us. The suppliers are our lifeblood – we can’t have these times or events without their support.

A perfect balance of (little) work and relaxation, it was great to spend some time with our suppliers who continue to support Drakes and we are looking forward to their ongoing support with a collaborative approach to grow all of our businesses in this ever challenging industry. To the suppliers who attended our conference: we truly appreciate the faith that you have in our business and in turn we pledge to show our faith in yours.