Theo Paphitis’ Spring Fair Performance

Sustainability leads as former Dragon heads show’s speaker line-up

Retail entrepreneur and former TV Dragon Theo Paphitis is heading up an impressive line-up of speakers at the upcoming Spring Fair

With the show running at Birmingham’s NEC, 5-8 February, 2023, for the keynote speech on the Inspiring Retail Stage on Tuesday, 7 February, Theo will be in conversation with The Sun’s business editor Ashley Armstrong delving into some of the current challenges facing businesses across the UK, as well as the opportunities that can often arise out of tougher trading conditions.

Among those sharing informative insights on the Inspiring Retail Stage on the same day will be Products of Change’s ceo Helena MansellStopher, who will lead a panel discussion on new packaging legislation, how it impacts the retail sector, and how to embrace its wide-ranging packing requirement challenges. Spring Fair will encompass 14 sectors within four destinations across eight halls - Gift which includes Greetings & Stationery in Hall 3, plus Christmas, Floral and Seasonal Decorations; Home with Living & Décor, Housewares, Everyday, and The Summerhouse; Moda fashion featuring its own catwalk as well as Jewellery & Watch, Womenswear, Fashion Accessories, and Footwear; and the newly-launched responsible sourcing show Source Home & Gift.

Nicola Meadows, Spring and Autumn Fair portfolio director said: “The show offers an incomparable destination for sourcing newness, innovation and your next bestsellers. Our vision for discovery builds on the show’s heritage as a trusted platform for buyers and adds an improved layout and unparalleled opportunities for cross-buying and creativity.”

(See Innovations pages 85-97)

Sustainable seminars

Sustainability will be a key focus of Spring Fair, with the first day’s seminar highlights (Feb 5) including A Disruptive New Model For Corporate Sustainability & ESG, with ex-Unesco special envoy and managing director of Element Four Georgia Elliott-Smith at 12.10pm proposing a model of disruptive sustainability that challenges the status quo and embraces activism.

Then at 1.20pm, John Pearce, ceo of Made In Britain, brings together a panel of speakers from leading British manufacturers, including Dartington Crystal, Petra Palumbo and Little Soap Company, to examine the latest innovations in sustainability messaging, as businesses step up to the increased demand from buyers, retailers and consumers for information about the environmental impact of goods.

The Monday (6 Feb) timetable sees retail expert Jonathan de Mello for Retail State Of Play: Market Overview, then Josh Pitman, md of Priory DirectPlanet Friendly Package, will share How To Minimise The Environmental Impact Of eCommerce.

Little Wren fledges

Baby products and growing trees are at the core of a new sub brand from Wrendale Designs as founder Hannah Dale has linked two of her passions, along with a fresh textile range.

Baby milestone cards, baby-grows and other nursery products feature in the inaugural collection under the Little Wren by Wrendale Designs brand.

Barley Bear’s expansion

Hot on the heels of IC&G’s launch of its Barley Bear plush collection, to coordinate with its popular card range, the company has expanded into gifting concepts, including mugs, notebooks and keepsake bears under the brand.

Everyone visiting IC&G’s stand at Spring Fair (Stand 3M10-N11) will have the chance to enter a raffle to win an extra-large Barley Bear raffle.

M&G shares the spills

Alongside its greeting card ranges, Museums & Galleries continues its expansion into textile-based products, and will be showcasing two napkin collections, one printed on organic cotton and the other printed on paper, at Spring Fair.

There is a collection of six organic printed cotton napkin designs, packed in fours, including two stunning William Morris designs from the V&A and a design based on Hokusai’s Great Wave from the British Museum. Alongside the cotton napkin collection, M&G is introducing a 12-strong range of paper napkin packs, each containing 20 33x33cm napkins, packaged with a branded insert. They will be on display at M&G’s stand 3L30-M31 at Spring Fair.

Right: Printed organic cotton as well as paper napkins join M&G’s product portfolio.

“We’ve wanted to develop a baby range for several years now, as so many of our retailers had asked for it,” said Hannah. “And my absolute favourite thing about the collection is that we’ve teamed up with Eden Reforestation Projects so, for every baby-grow purchased, we will fund the planting of a tree - we’ve included a gift tag with each one, so the recipient knows a tree has been planted in their baby’s name.”

Hannah wanted the Little Wren artwork to still have the Wrendale flavour but be distinct from the company’s existing core collections. “As always, the starting point for me was to design the cards,” Hannah added, “and, once I had this, the rest of the collection flowed from there.”

Little Wren comprises three different ranges - Little Forest is themed around woodland animals, Little Paws features puppy dogs and Little Savannah has elephants and giraffes.

Wrendale is exhibiting at Spring Fair, in Hall 3 Stand P10-Q11.

Above: Little Wren launches at Spring Fair.