Feature - Springfair

In with the new

Spring Fair is aiming to be back with a bang this February after the pandemic caused last year’s show to be moved to a virtual event.

Running from the 6th-9th February at NEC Birmingham, the line-up of exhibitors includes a selection of toy and gift companies, as well as fashion and homewares, all keen to showcase what they have to offer throughout 2022 and beyond.

“Over the last seven years that I have worked in the Kids, Toys & Play sector, I am always excited to see the newness that every long-standing exhibitor brings from new product lines launches and new ranges. Not forgetting the excitement from all the first-time exhibitors who have so many fabulous new products,” said Bhavika Pattni, key account manager for show organiser, Hyve Group. “This year is even more thrilling as it is the first Spring Fair in over two years and I just cannot wait to see the buzz on the floor, especially after the success of Autumn Fair.”

As with Autumn Fair, which took place at NEC Birmingham in September, strict Covid health and safety regulations will be in place to ensure the fair can run as smoothly and safely as possible. These include the requirement to show a valid Covid-19 pass or a negative result to a lateral flow test taken within 48 hours, as well as the need for all attendees to wear a face covering during the show.

Once inside, toy retailers will be keen to head to Hall 5, where a focus on Kids, Toys & Play means visitors will be able to see the latest product launches from companies including Kidicraft, Rubies, Casdon, Rainbow Designs, Smart Toys & Games, Orange Tree Toys, Wilton Bradley, Amscan, The Source Wholesale, Toynamics, Rex London, The Noble Collection, Bachmann Europe, Bertoy, Brainstorm, Keel Toys, University Games and Gibsons.

“Across our exhibitor profile, we have seen the growth in many new game companies, pre-school toys, children’s books and even outdoor play,” added Bhavika.

As sustainability and ethics continue to gain momentum among buyers, with 82% of visitors stating their interest in sustainable and ethical brands, there will also be a strong focus on the topics with initiatives such as the Sustainability Trail highlighting sustainable brands and the work they are doing.

Spring Fair’s manifesto for 2022 is Empowering Change, and this sets the agenda for the show’s Inspiring Retail Stage. A full schedule of live content from experts in their field will provide exclusive insights, trend reports, keynote conversations and panel discussions on the key topics facing retail. Each of the four days of the show will cover a dedicated theme correlated to the Empowering Change manifesto. Topics will include: Sunday 6th February - Future of retail is collaborative; Monday 7th February - Sustainability and Innovation now; Tuesday 8th February - Changing mindsets: being comfortable with the unknown in order to thrive; Wednesday 9th February - The way we do things.

Jurassic Park collectible figures (The Noble Collection)

“Retail is changing, and it’s changing in all areas of businesses,” said Suzanne Ellingham, head of Content, Hyve Group. “This year’s Inspiring Retail Stage theme of empowering change will feature inspiring and innovative retailers who are changing their business with a positive impact. From the drive towards sustainability and transparency, how retailers are

evolving customer experience, consumers shopping everywhere, on every channel, and how to make that work for independent retailers who are time poor. Industry leaders, trend forecasters and a range of retailers will be sharing their stories with the Spring Fair audience in the hopes that sharing these ideas will give retailers the confidence to change and may even spark a few ideas.”

New for Spring Fair 2022 will be Curated Meetings which offer a platform for bespoke time efficient business meetings between buyers and brands. First trialled at Autumn Fair in September, the initiative is being scaled up for Spring Fair with even more space and meetings across more sectors. Leading retailers signed up for Curated Meetings include John Lewis & Partners.

Buyers are able to pre-schedule the new brands they want to meet with, see the products up close and talk directly to business decision makers. They will also be able to enjoy a £250 travel expense subsidy and attend presentations on the Inspiring Retail Stage. Meetings will take place in the private Curated Meetings Lounge, with complimentary food and drink.

For further information on Curated Meetings and Spring Fair in general and to register for the event, visit www.springfair.com. The full list of exhibitors can be found in the Exhibitor section, while there is also a handy Spring Fair App to help navigate the fair.

Arendelle Castle 3D puzzle (University Games)