The Next, a high-profile event at SBS Cafe on 24 and 25 May, has become, over the years, a much-anticipated appointment for stakeholders in our Trade. From the number of people already registered, the 2023 edition is also expected to be a great success. Among the many participants, we expect about a hundred from abroad. This should be an unforgettable event, given the participation of over four hundred top, international, retail managers. In a challenging economic context, this important meeting offers all guests business growth and, just a few months before Mobile World Congress 2023, provides an opportunity to show off further innovations in all core categories. A first generous space is dedicated to the GaN Nano Tube range up to 140W which further complements the energy sector, which already put GaN technology chargers from 30W to 120W on proud display in Barcelona. From today, with this new line, we are able to offer a greater number of high-performance accessories: the conductivity properties of gallium nitride are exploited to the fullest, because they enable operation at higher voltages and higher frequencies, while still maintaining better resistance to heat. The wall chargers, which come in different shapes, are even more compact than before; they handle high power levels and allow fast charging and total efficiency. Designing and disseminating products that are both cutting-edge and, at the same time, meet the expectations of the public, is a source of pride for us. Another example is the Magsafe ecosystem which, transversally to our multi-brand strategy, has a global offer for iPhone users. Branded SBS, Puro and case&me the buyer can discover accessories - compatible with Magsafe technology - that speed up recharging: from using smartphone protectors to wireless chargers in different forms (bases or stands), to products for outdoor activities where a power bank or car charger are essential. We have created a vast number of articles that hook and unhook in an instant, without mechanisms or blocks, thus facilitating daily use and optimising the frenetic pace of modern society. In short, you'll be spoiled for choice with accessories that make iPhone wireless charging even easier and faster, thanks to a strong and stable magnetic connection. In addition, browsing the various brands, you can select the line you like best, there is something for every need and personality. Within this ecosystem, Snappy Holder also stands out; this practical disk was created to be attached to the back of iPhones equipped with Magsafe technology and used as a stand to take selfies or watch videos in comfort. Branded case&me, it is just one of many fantastic products which enable you to express your personality. On the whole, the range, whose brand dates from September 2022, is generally gaining ground. At The Next, we are delighted to present many functional and protective bags which, in addition to being aesthetically fashionable and ideal for the summer season, are also must-haves for regular travellers, people on the go, who need to have their mobile phones, headphones and personal items always at hand. Trendy creations are born from continuous stylistic research: from the study and renewal of colours to the ability to make "beauty" practical, to the selection of materials and shapes that stand out from the crowd. All with a view to attracting attention to lifestyle accessories that are fun, functional and, above all, always new and captivating. Even these novelties - shoulder bags for smartphones, AirPods pouches, pochettes and foldable bags - with the logo clearly visible so as to elegantly enhance your outfit, mix and match well with each other. In fact, we create the collections with a view to Cross-Selling so that our audience can differentiate themselves and at the same time make their own combinations and make more products complementary both in terms of function and style. We are also very excited to officially launch the project doodroo® precisely at The Next, an event we now consider the ideal showcase for conveying a complete exhibition panorama in terms of new catalogues, services and technology. The strong drive towards branding objectives to make a real difference in the market can be clearly seen. Indeed, we acquired doodroo®, a brand dedicated to fans of the tablet world, to be in line with consumer needs and with the expectations of retail, as well as the online channel. In addition to offering excellent resistance, this special screensaver film, has the peculiarity of reproducing the typical "paper effect". An extraordinary result that has long been dreamed of by artists and writing enthusiasts who work on tablets or iPads which lack a natural surface. As a result, students, teachers, note-takers, designers and artists, who were sceptical about using these devices, can now, thanks to this new film, reconsider using digital devices that offer an experience equal to the paper one. The doodroo film® protects the screen from scratches and, thanks to its anti-glare surface, gives optimal results under any light condition. Still on the same theme, SBS has created a corner entirely dedicated to the application of various films to show how complete and varied is the service, aimed at every protective and aesthetic need: it becomes possible to protect and embellish smartphones and accessories in a personalised and creative manner. Among the most popular services, we may mention Fast Skin 3.0 and Fast Skin Plus for a reliable and tailor-made professional application; in particular, we have recently introduced a brand new Fast Skin Plus machine, lighter, smaller and more user-friendly than the previous one. Skeen offers a full digital service to personalise and protect the back of your phone. Fast Skin Maxi it is the machine that goes transcends standards because it allows the customisation of large devices, like PCs and consoles; equipped with internal sensors that detect the type of material, it can produce on-demand films through an automated process of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence - a feature of all our 3.0, Maxi and Mini machines. Furthermore, from today it is also possible to create customised films, through Skeen Designer, with the Skeen Maxi service for computers and tablets. The Next is also the perfect opportunity to showcase two novelties to be found among our professional services: we integrated two materials that expand the product range. Anti-fingerprint 100% clear is the made-to-measure film for smartphones, anti-fingerprint, super transparent and sliding: not only does feel pleasant to the touch, the real novelty lies in its transparent effect, distinguishing it from opaque, anti-fingerprint films. Foldable, on the other hand, is the first film created to internally cover foldable phones: it is very flexible and resists the continuous opening and closing movements of the device over the long term without any difficulty; here, too, the use of a transparent material that does not dim the mobile phone screen is a winner. All services and related projects are specifically designed to meet the needs of shops and end users, guaranteeing increasingly high-performance, technological solutions. As if that were not enough, two more innovations have been prepared for The Next: Skeen Checkout and Fast Skin Mini.Skeen Checkout makes it possible to customise a purchase through e-commerce, while at the same time promoting the drive to store. Anyone who wants to apply a Skeen film can do so, direct from the chain's e-commerce site; from here, users are sent directly to the free Skeen Designer App to select the phone and the format of the film to be printed and choose their favourite images and/or texts, giving full rein to their imagination; Once the purchase has been completed on the site, all that remains is to install the protective film in-store, choosing between home delivery or passing by the store. This method enriches the offer because it integrates the customer experience with a digital process.Fast Skin Mini, good for devices up to 10.2”, is an evolution of the Fast Skin 3.0 machine; it has the same technical characteristics, but is presented in a more compact version, thereby making it suitable for more restricted spaces or smaller counters. This year we have dedicated a very important area to omnichannel projects dedicated to offline-to-online and online-to-offline conversion. In the first case, through Find Me, we simplify retail sales operations so that the end user can still buy their chosen product even if it is currently out of stock: simply scan the item's QR code and you will be able to directly access the online product catalogue. The sales point does not incur any warehouse and maintenance costs; the consumer obtains immediate information and experiences a seamless shopping experience by paying directly at checkout and having their purchases delivered straight to their homes within a few days. In the second case, we have decided to revolutionize the reordering mechanism by offering our Digital Store Management service for franchise chains. Starting from sellout data on the one hand, and from the chain's strategy on the other, we now know how to envisage an automatic reordering of accessories, guaranteeing a consistently excellent shopping experience for the consumer and avoiding loss of business and missed sales for the entrepreneur. The state-of-the-art automation that the system offers is a big step forward from traditional measurement and leads to important sales optimisation insights. The main takeaway from this special edition of The Next is, above all, the ability to make other accessories in the portfolio of complementary products or services available to the buyer. The cross-selling strategy consolidates the relationship with the customer - who often buys more products in the same purchasing process - thereby increasing profitability. This approach, therefore, definitely produces added value: more traffic is generated, even within the store, and consumer loyalty grows, increasing the retailer's profitability.The secret to effective cross-selling lies in providing solutions to the Trade and the end user; to this end, we study the habits and needs of customers in order to know which products or services to offer. This also means higher-quality customer support. Furthermore, the word planning is fundamental to obtaining effective results: every time we study solutions for the market, we first define the objectives, the products on which we intend to focus, the most appropriate category management and the promotion methods to be used. At The Next there is an air of constant, well-defined and shared corporate growth at all levels; thanks to solutions carefully designed to provide a winning commercial offer, we are able to formulate customised responses for each sales channel.