8 minute read
Autumn Fair
Stepping Into Autumn
Autumn Fair, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from September 5-8, will be opening its doors for the first time since 2019, with exhibitors and retailers excited to finally re-engage in person.
Co-located with fashion and footwear show Moda, PG&H put event director Jessica Dawnay into the hot seat to find out more about the show’s highlights.
“We are so excited to be back and can’t wait to welcome our community to the NEC Birmingham after such a long time apart,” enthuses Jessica Dawnay, event director of Autumn Fair.
“The show will be brimming with newness and inspiration, with tens of thousands of new products and over 600 brands. Feedback is really positive,” confirms Jessica. “If the last year showed us anything beneficial, it is how much people and businesses have missed face to face networking. It has given the industry a fresh appetite for physical shows.”
Spanning Home, Gift, Fashion and Design & Source, the show includes Online Marketplace, hosted curated meetings and product trails, enabling visitors to search for sustainable and Made in Britain products and brands. In addition, an Autumn Fair app will further enable visitors to source products and connect with brands.
New this year is the integration of Moda, which will be showcasing trend forward collections across fashion, footwear, jewellery and accessories. “Moda will drive key crossover buying opportunities, additional footfall, and a host of new retailers,” explains Jessica. “As retail gets back on its feet, many businesses have diversified to offer their customers more choice, so Moda’s integration into Autumn Fair is a total nobrainer as lifestyle boutiques, department stores and garden centres want one easy to navigate, streamlined buying journey offering a one stop shop, where they can source fashion, lifestyle, accessories, gifts and homeware under one roof.” On the sustainability front, she adds that following the successful launch of the Sustainability Trail at Spring Fair 2020, the focus will continue at Autumn Fair with the launch of The Sustainability Library and a host of onsite initiatives.
“And don’t miss a visit to the #SBS Pavilion,” states Jessica. “We are continuing our partnership with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday, dedicated to showcasing new and unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses, and we’re excited to see all our winners at the show.”
Also taking place at Autumn Fair will be curated meetings, planned across two days, bringing together buyers from national and independent retailers with relevant quality suppliers.
As for online, Jessica explains: “it’s imperative that we deliver a 365 experience for brands and buyers. Earlier this year we launched Online Marketplace, a global digital trading arena enabling trusted brands and vetted buyers to trade all-year-round on a secure wholesale platform. It already features over 5000 products from 50 brands including Rex London, Felt So Good, Lisa Angel and Sass & Belle, as well as boutique
brands including Betty Hula, Seedball, and VENT for Change. With newness and curation at its heart, the Online Marketplace showcases a regular flow of new collections and enables brands and buyers to deepen relationships started in person at Autumn and Spring Fair.”
As for the safety of exhibitors and visitors, Jessica confirms that the show has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival, and has also updated its Safe & Secure Guidelines.
Visit www.autumnfair.com
Top right: Jessica Dawnay, event director, Autumn Fair. Above: Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, shown at the #SBS Pavilion in 2019, will be back at Autumn Fair this September. Above right: Home fragrance will be among the sectors being showcased. Left: Visitors browse the aisles at a previous show.
Autumn Fair - Birmingham NEC 5th - 8th September 2021 Hall 7, Stand B62-C63 www.aromatizetrade.co.uk
WHAT’S NEW
Nature Inspired Jewellery Talbot Fashions is showcasing its gift boxed natural paua shell jewellery and fashion accessories. The latest additions to its range include a selection of red paua shell designs, which are perfect accessories for the festive season. Its other bestsellers include wildlife, flowers, hearts, sea life, Christmas designs, Celtic and classics - Talbot Fashions offers exclusive designs at very competitive prices. Talbot Fashions T: 01273 776415 W:www.talbotfashions.com
Hall 7 Stand E50
Fashion Mitts We are smitten with the latest addition from Hot Tomato. Their super soft, faux suede mitts come in nine gorgeous colours, are free-size and a fab way to work your favourite colour into your everyday ensemble. See the full collection, plus many more launches at Autumn Fair. Hot Tomato T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W:www.hot-tom.com
Hall 20 Stand E20
Home Fragrance Covered Aromatize is the leading UK supplier of home fragrance products in the UK. Its vast portfolio includes brands such as Aroma Accessories, Woodbridge and Village Candle, and covers every element that is required in the home fragrance market. No company offers as many designs or variations of electrical wax melt burners, electrical diffusers and non-electric accessories at such competitive prices. Aromatize T: 01254 300268 E: sales@aromatize.co.uk W:www.aromatizetrade.co.uk
Hall 7 Stand B40-C41
Art Deco Jewellery The stylish Art Deco Collection from the popular Equilibrium brand at Joe Davies features a range of necklaces, bracelets and earrings all making a bold statement.This simple and elegant range has been designed with all the glamour and glitz of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Elements of the design include stunning lapis blue and emerald green colours which contrast beautifully with the silver and clear diamantes, adding a touch of extra glamour. Joe Davies T: 0161 975 6300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W:www.joedavies.co.uk
Hall 7 Stand A30-B31
Cocktail-Inspired Fragrances Home fragrance expert Ashleigh & Burwood is adding three new scents to its signature Lamp Fragrances and The Scented Home collection. The new additions, which will be available as Lamp Fragrance, Reed Diffusers and Reed Diffuser Refills, draw on the popularity of boozy gourmands with fruity cocktails and aromatic gin-inspired fragrances. The new fragrances are Rhubarb Gin, Pink Pepper & Tonka and Passionfruit Martini. Ashleigh & Burwood T: 01932 267060 E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk W:www.ashleigh-burwood-trade.co.uk
Hall 7 Stand C20
WHAT’S NEW
British Made Candles Potters Crouch Candles offers top quality, hand-made in the UK, scented candles using natural ingredients. All its products have a quality fragrance and are 100% cruelty and vegan friendly. The new Wellness Range offers seven new scents including Violet, Sandalwood & Orris Root; Vanilla, Oud & Jasmine and Sandalwood, Mint & Peppercorn. Potters Crouch Candles Dragonfly Candles Three designer glass tumblers have been sourced by Best Kept Secrets, each available in twelve ‘Seriously Scented’ fragrances in White Wax and, of course, with Sparkly Toppings. A stunning presentational box in navy blue and pink with a Dragonfly theme adds enormously to the whole package. As well as this there is a matching designer Dragonfly bag which results in a truly glamorous fragranced candle gift at a sensible price. Best Kept Secrets T: 01670 512222 E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk W:www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk
Hall 6 Stand K24 and Hall 20 Stand A25
T: 01727 836454 E: info@potterscrouchcandles.co.uk W:www.potterscrouchcandles.co.uk
Hall 20 Stand E41
Stormtrooper Licensed Gifts One partnership you can expect to see at Autumn Fair is Puckator's official Original Stormtrooper range. This collection has grown considerably in the past year, now sporting products such as the highly popular LED digital thermometer bottle and the Relaxeazzz plush travel pillow and eye mask. Puckator's LED digital thermometer bottles are created using the highest quality stainless steel and are BPA free PVC. Puckator T: 0800 0116969 E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk W:www.puckator.co.uk
Hall 7 Stand D48-E49
Books For Everyone Bookspeed has been a family-run business for over 30 years and it has established itself as the marketleading supplier of books and games. It specialises in creating bespoke ranges no matter what type of retailer you are. Bookspeed is an expert in the cultural, heritage and gift retail sectors, which translates to the thousands of books and carefully curated ranges being available. Bookspeed T: 0131 4678100 E: sales@bookspeed.com W:www.bookspeed.com
Hall 20 Stand D44-E45
Socks A Plenty Sock Academy and its three brands; United Oddsocks, Cockney Spaniel and Cucamelon, are ready to make the perfect addition to any gift range. It has had lots of fun with its new designs within United Oddsocks this year, from the gruesome 'Dead Legs' to the beautiful 'Flower Box' so there is bound to be something that takes your fancy. The team can't wait for you to come and see them at Autumn Fair! Sock Academy T: 01582 882124 E: sales@sockacademy.com W: www.sockacademy.com
Hall 20 Stand F45
