John Abbate is the Economic Growth Lead for High Streets at Westminster City Council and an Online Visual Merchandising Tutor at SDEA. With more than 20 years’ international experience across visual merchandising, retail store design, retail consulting and customer experience, John has worked with major global brands including Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and Alfred Dunhill across the US and Europe. Passionate about the UK high street, John’s mission is centred on supporting retailers through experiential retail strategies that strengthen the visual, physical and emotional touchpoints that shape the customer experience and brand.