AUTUMN FAIR

With an exclusive edit of sought-after furniture and interior accessories brands, and the launch of “game-changing” programme Connect, many retailers are banking on Autumn Fair for sourcing next season’s bestsellers.

Furniture News has received a sneak peek at what visitors can expect to see at the UK’s onestop shop for wholesale home, gift and fashion, which will take place at the Birmingham NEC from 3rd-6th September. In the Home segment, living and decor buyers will discover on-trend decorative interiors, textiles, accessories and furniture, while The Summerhouse promises hand-picked and curated interior accessories and gifts.

Proposte

www.propostefair.it

The 30th edition of Proposte, which concluded on 20th April, saw growing visitors numbers and exhibitor satisfaction, states the show’s organiser: “Visitor attendance was very high, especially on the first day of the event, with operators visiting Villa Erba to discover excellence in furnishing fabrics, curtains, trimmings and wallcoverings.”

The show, which was supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Italian trade agency ICE, invited operators and journalists from China, India, Korea, Slovenia, Tunisia, the US, Japan and New Zealand, to promote trade relations between Italy and further afield, while the overall visitor count proved positive, says show director Massimo Mosiello: “There were +23% more foreign visitors compared to the 2022 edition. More came from the US ( + 26%), the UK (+ 33%), France (+12%) and Germany (+13%). The performance of China was also positive.”

Hill Interiors, McGowan & Rutherford, London Ornaments, Walton & Co, Malini, Wild Java, Ancient Mariner Furniture, Blooms by Samuel Baker, Richard Cooper Bronze, Malini, Sompex, Deluxe HomeArt, Febland Group, Besp-Oak Furniture, Final Touches, Edge Company, Katrina Hampton by Ambassador Textiles, Teal International/Satchville Gift Company, Dutch Imports, Daughters are among the brands presenting their new ranges and next bestsellers at this year’s show.

Autumn Fair will also see the introduction of retail’s largest meetings programme to date, Connect @ Autumn Fair. Offering a new way to shop the show, Connect will help buyers find the right brands, while enabling the show’s exhibitors to create leads, orders and opportunities in an efficient manner – by fuelling thousands of pre-arranged meetings and networking opportunities before the show even opens. The new programme is free for buyers to use, and there is no minimum meeting requirement.

Also worth a look are the New Products Showcase, where a curated edit of next season’s must-haves will be presented, and the gift and fashion destinations, where buyers may spot lucrative cross-buying opportunities.

Four start-ups in the Ala Cernobbio proved popular, while other interesting proposals were showcased in the Ala Lario. At the end of the show’s second day, Proposte celebrated its 30th edition with a light dinner and music in Villa Antica. In a speech addressed to the attendees, show president Alessandro Tessuto reiterated the concept that the success of the event, which, in 30 years, has become the point of reference in the world of furnishing textiles, can be chiefly attributed to the participation of those who have continued to support and believe in it.

The show’s marketplace remains accessible online at fierasmart365.propostefair.it.