MAD//North - The Herd in Manchester

Last week, some of the team swapped the office for the vibrant chaos of MAD//North in Manchester.

They spent two days experiencing firsthand how relentless innovation, brave storytelling, and disruptive thinking keep our industry moving forward. From the keynote stages to the networking floor, here are their key takeaways from the event:

Georgia Reierson, Senior Partnerships Executive:

“MADNorth was as busy and crazy as expected! It just goes to show that our industry thrives on human connection and having conversations. It was great to catch up with people I had only dealt with virtually, and our stuffed New Digital Age zebras certainly helped footfall to our stand.

“What stood out to me was the appetite for retail media, and how it continues to grow in the media landscape. Our Editor-in-Chief, Justin Pearse, hosted the retail media stage all day, which remained at full capacity throughout. I had a fantastic time, and it was great to make new connections and see old friends of New Digital Age.”

Andy Oakes, CEO and Co-Founder:

“MAD//North was an excellent event that clearly showed the market's direction. Whilst networking remained a key element, there was more activity around the stands and coffee areas than in the bars. People came to do business rather than sink pints.”

Also, an indication of the market was the popularity of the Retail Media stage, hosted by our Editor in Chief, Justin Pearse. Every seat was taken across the day, a real sign that this is the hot topic of the moment.”

Looking ahead

With notebooks full and creative batteries recharged, Team Bluestripe are ready to put everything they learned into practice. Stay tuned to see how we’re turning these disruptive takeaways into game-changing results for our clients