Sony managing director Gildas Pelliet and BSH Home Appliances chief executive Michael Steinle have been confirmed as speakers at this year’s conference of electrical retailers’ association Retra.

The list of speakers lined up for the annual industry event, to be held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel on April 16-17, also includes Jonathan Casley, sales and marketing director at Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, and Gary Sharp, sales director at Morphy Richards.

This year’s conference theme is ‘The Winning Pitch’.

Speaking, too, are Charles Gordon, owner of whatvacuum.com, and Graham Loosley, senior consultant in search engine marketing and optimisation at  KPI Business Services.

Nigel Catlow, business group director of consumer electronics at GfK, will update delegates on where the industry is heading.

AWE Europe, which recently joined Retra Install, is one of the largest distributors in the custom installation market and it has also fielded a speaker - product manager James Drummie.

Further speakers will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Said Retra president Andrew O’Gorman: “As the final stage of digital switchover nears completion and the CE market is forecast to drop further, the conference will focus on innovative ways to keep those tills ringing.”

Retra chief executive Bryan Lovewell added: “I am delighted that the conference has almost sold out with more than three months to go until the event, which is a jewel in Retra’s crown.

“My message is quite simple – don’t delay, book today. Failure to act quickly could mean you miss your chance to attend the industry’s annual conference. When the last place has been sold, that’s it, so act now to avoid disappointment.”

For more information and to book your place at the 2012 Retra conference, email Frank Caimino, Retra’s membership executive, at frank.caimino@retra.co.uk; or telephone 01234 269110.