4 minute read
News
Autumn Fair ends on a high
Attracting thousands of visitors, Autumn Fair 2022 ended on a high, with a focus on collaboration, community, and conscious retailing.
The four-day show, which took place from September 4 to September 7 at NEC Birmingham, offered retailers a space to meet, reconnect, network and source, as well as learn about sustainability.
Buyers were able to view millions of new products, showcased by hundreds of exhibitors, including gifts, homeware, décor, greeting cards, stationery, Christmas, beauty and wellbeing, womenswear, fashion accessories, jewellery and footwear.
Attendees included representatives from John Lewis, Fenwick, Fishpools, Marks & Spencer, T.K. Maxx, Wayfair, Dunelm, Next, Pretty Little Thing, Paperchase, Hallmark, Rymans, Blue Diamond, Dobbies, Chester Zoo, The Science Museum, Kew Gardens, The Works, The Hut Group, Homebase, Mint Velvet, The Dressing Room, Pamela Shiffer, and Between the Lines. On the final day of the show, Autumn Fair portfolio director Nicola Meadows commented: “There has been so much to celebrate at Autumn Fair, and as the doors close today, I feel immensely humbled by the response from our community and the passion, drive, and enthusiasm to work together to refuel retail and work towards a better, more responsible and kinder way of doing business. I’m very excited to look ahead to Spring Fair and deliver another memorable show for the home, gift, fashion, and sourcing markets.” Spring Fair takes place from February 5 to February 8 at NEC Birmingham. Visit https://www.springfair.com/ for more information.
Tourism in Scotland has begun to bounce back strongly with foreign visitors returning this summer, bringing much needed business to shops and attractions. Following this successful season, Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn provided a welcome chance for retailers to seek new products and network with suppliers. The show took place at the SEC in Glasgow from September 17 to September 18.
Having been brought forward by a day to accommodate the Queen’s funeral, the event still attracted attendees keen to re-stock and re-order. Although visitor numbers were below prepandemic levels, exhibitors said ordering was good and ahead of last year.
The Launch Gallery for new suppliers was as usual a mecca for buyers seeking new products and ideas. Companies such as Christine Gilbert Art, Fiona Matheson Studio, Lin Pin Crafts, Little Paper Soul cards, 1874 Works and Flow Glass exhibited for the first time.
Show Director Mark Saunders said: “Business was brisk following a good summer season and the autumn should follow suit. Despite the challenges facing the economy, there is still strong demand for good quality giftware, which we witnessed over the two days.”
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring will be held at the SEC in Glasgow from January 22 to January 24.
Lesser & Pavey remembers Her Majesty
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is being remembered by Lesser & Pavey’s new range of quality items released through the brand name Royal Heritage.
The commemorative collection includes a fine cup and saucer, mugs, trays, plates, a keyring, place and coaster mats, a spoon rest and gift sets. Each item is beautifully packaged to reflect the contents.
The company’s in-house design team put together the range in celebration of the Queen’s reign, depicting her from April 21 1926 to September 8 2022. Orders are being taken now. Limited stock will be available with delivery in November.
Image is the design not the final product.
Selfridges launches biggest ever Christmas Shop
Selfridges launched its biggest Christmas Shop to date (20% larger than last year) on October 3, in a dedicated new destination on the fourth floor of the department store group’s Oxford Street flagship.
The Christmas Shop also opened on the same day at Selfridges’ Manchester and Birmingham stores. For 2022, it has been imagined as a ‘magical and immersive place’ where visitors are invited to spend time savouring the festive experience and choose ornaments that are special to them.
The Shop offers curated decorations, lighting, ornaments, advent calendars, gift wrap and cards, alongside personalisation services. Customers can explore more than 1,200 pick and mix baubles (35% more than in 2021). Half of the decorations are exclusive to Selfridges and can’t be found anywhere else in the UK - and 60% are ‘Project Earth’ labelled as being more planet-friendly options. Photograph: courtesy
The retailer reported that Christmas related searches at of Selfridges Selfridges.com have significantly risen on 2021, with Christmas decorations up 60%, crackers +25%, Christmas tableware +30%, advent calendars +350%, lights and trees +138%, and Christmas wrapping paper +69%.
As well as offering more planet-friendly choices than ever before, the Christmas Shop has been built with sustainability in mind, reusing baubles from previous displays in-store both for bauble walls and recycled into tabletops, giving them gold, red and silver flecks.
