4 minute read
Be inspired at Autumn Fair
, divisional managing director at Hyve Group plc, to discover everything you need to know about the next Autumn Fair on September 3-6 at the NEC Birmingham
Greetings Today speaks to Nicola Meadows
There have been some big changes for Autumn and Spring Fair recently, can you tell us more?
Yes, we’ll be bringing you a show like never before with the launch of Connect @ Autumn Fair, retail’s largest meetings programme ever. Offering a new way to shop the show, it will help buyers find the brands their customers will love, and help Autumn Fair exhibitors to create leads, orders and opportunities in an incredibly efficient and effective way by fuelling thousands of pre-arranged buying meetings and valuable networking opportunities before the show even opens.
It’s never been easier for buyers to find what they are looking for. They will have access to detailed information on all exhibitors before the show opens, with the ability to search and filter them by criteria that are most important to their business. This includes searching by product type, sustainability accreditation, minimum order value, carriage paid, and much more. For example, searching by exhibitors offering LGBTQ+ cards that are FCS certified with a minimum order value of £50 or less.
All meetings take place during the show on the exhibitor’s stand, so buyers can view, touch, and ask them questions about their products in person, providing the perfect opportunity to launch new products. With valuable time saved by managing their time efficiently and prioritising important meetings, buyers have more time to shop the show for unexpected new product finds, trends, and inspiration.
Plus, the new programme is completely free for buyers to use and there is no minimum meeting requirement.
What was the reasoning for introducing Connect @ Autumn Fair?
The most common questions and feedback we get from our exhibitors before they exhibit, at the show and once they leave the show is; What buyers are coming? Who attended and from what companies? and What were they there to buy?
Connect @ Autumn Fair gives exhibitors access, pre-show, to thousands of buyer profiles so they can see for themselves. This inevitably will help them to generate leads, opportunities, and orders in an incredibly efficient and effective way.
Added to that, it offers retailers the best of both worlds – the opportunity to plan ahead and secure meetings with exhibitors in advance of the show as well as the joy of simply discovering and shopping the show in the traditional way.
By offering exhibitors the opportunity to book meetings and plan ahead they will be able to manage their teams more effectively at the show and ensure the most important meetings are prioritised.
And what changes will visitors see?
There won’t be any changes to the show floor. Autumn Fair continues to showcase the most sought-after products and suppliers under one roof and we’re proud to be the UK’s leading wholesale marketplace for home, gift and fashion. Autumn Fair is an experience the internet can’t provide - giving you the opportunity to make valuable connections and to touch, feel and see the latest products.
What can visitors expect from the Greetings & Stationery sector?
It’s going to be packed full of the most vibrant collections of every kind of greetings and stationery products. We are welcoming back a host of favourites including new designs from The Art File, Emotional Rescue, Paper Salad, The Little Dog Laughed, Five Dollar Shake, Emma Ball, Cardology, Penguin Ink, The Seed Card Company, as well as our popular GCA Debut area, which showcases up-and-coming new designers including Hazel Bee, Fox Under the Moon, Angie’s Folk Art, Dixons Doodles, and Nicole Elders, with more to be announced soon.
Joining the Autumn Fair line-up for the first time is Manuscript, which distributes its own-brand calligraphy and pen products across the world as well as an extensive collection of pens and craft products from leading brands.
What else should visitors plan?
Autumn Fair will have an exciting new line-up of live content available across three stages – the Inspiring Retail Stage, Moda Catwalk, and Source Home & Gift. The Inspiring Retail Stage and Moda Stage return with insightful discussions covering the latest trends, sustainability, wellbeing, and the future of retail. The Moda Catwalk will kick off the new season in style bringing the latest clothing, footwear, accessories and jewellery trends to life. The schedules and updates on our speakers will be announced in the coming months.
Visitors can also make a beeline for the New Products Showcase for a curated edit of this season’s must-have bestsellers.
What’s one piece of advice would you give to a newbie visitor?
Register for Connect @ Autumn Fair as soon as possible to make the most of the pre-show features.
What: Autumn Fair
When: September 3-6
Where: NEC Birmingham Web: https://af23-registration.personatech.com
Comedy connections
Duggoons is debuting three new ranges at PG Live. The delightfully funny yoga range, called Juxtapositions, mixes hand-drawn yoga poses with found captions in hilarious ways. You’ll never stand on a yoga mat again without giggling.
The essence of comedy is unexpected connections. A whimsical purchase of some books at a charity shop, a pair of scissors and a desire to amuse led to Snippets, a range filled with unexpected combinations of images and captions, which will make you laugh out loud. The cards have a printed linen background, reminiscent of the covers of old books.
And after all the parodies, was it even remotely possible to do something exciting and genuinely funny with Keep Calm And Carry On? Duggoons took up the challenge. The decision was made that mere wordplay was not enough, there had to be a visual twist as well. Come judge for yourself whether the Keep On Cluckin range succeeded - Stand 18, Springboard.
Duggoons
0774 5601453
Duggoons@yahoo.com www.duggoons.com
