Tag Archives: Autumn Fair

Autumn Fair launches its own app to help visitors ‘discover more’ at next month’s trade show

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Sustainability and Made In Britain Product Trails are listed among the features of an official app being launched by Autumn Fair and the show’s organisers this year, as the Birmingham retail trade show prepares to get underway early next month.

The new app has been designed as an easy-to-use digital show guide to give visitors more information ahead of the show in order to help them get the most out of their visit and aid with on-site navigations. The app users AI technology to offer product recommendations based on unique interests.

It also enables searches for exhibitors to find out their stand number and location, while the built-in interactive floor plan map helps visitors navigate their way around the show and the featured Sustainability and Made in Britain Product Trails.

It can also bookmark and save exhibitors, products, and seminars from the theatre timetable to individual profiles. All registered visitors get instant access to the app, visit https://www.autumnfair.com/show-app-visitor.

Thousands of buyers have already pre-registered for Autumn Fair indicating the appetite for the exclusive product and content that the show is renowned for. Sought-after new brands to the Gift sector include Rex London who is celebrating its 40th anniversary, Allied Imports which is showcasing Orla Kiely for the first time, as well as Find Your Glow, Opticaid, Grange Street, Potter’s Crouch, Scentiment Gifts, Welsh Connection, Bispol Candles, Go La La, and The 3D Factory.

In a new direction for its global business, accessories brand Claire’s will showcase its latest trend collections within its concession space model which offers over 10,000 SKUs, as well as fixtures and staffing. Arts on Scarves launches its new scarf range and designs for the first time at Autumn Fair. The Seed Card Company launches a stunning new greeting card collection called Nature Always Wins and its new post-consumer waste Christmas wrapping paper designs which coordinate with the Christmas card collection, and Ceramic Design Heritage offers a first view of its bespoke heritage collection.

Autumn Fair continues its long-standing partnership with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday, supporting small independent businesses as they launch into the marketplace. Visitors will be treated to these 11 incredible up and coming designers and brands: Bring A Book to Life, Arcform, Alexia Claire, Kind2, Zac & Bella Fashion, Cushy Paws, Kate O’Brien Art, Lizzie Martell Illustration, Rose May, Canterbury Brewers, and Leo Charley & Me, as they make their first steps into business.

The Gift First areas will house more new and first time exhibitors in the form of Amaura London, Crafty You Crafty Me, Katherine Sheard Art, The Candle Brand, UK Telescopes, and Ibadah London. Amaura London’s eco home fragrances are luxurious, sustainably made, mood-boosting and lovingly hand-poured in the UK.

For those sourcing Sustainable and Made in Britain gifts, the app encourages visitors to use the Products Trails to discover brands including The Sugar Shed, Bumble Wrap, The Beeswax Wrap Company, The Giggle Gift Company, Pintail Candles, and St Eval Candle Co.

Meanwhile, for buyers looking for new toys and gadgets, a host of leading brands will be on show including Rainbow Designs, House of Marbles, Winning Moves, Keel Toys, TY UK, Cheatwell Games, Thames & Kosmos, Rachel Lowe, Grossman, Whitehouse Leisure, Kidicraft, Alphabet Jigsaw, Child’s Play International, Squelch, Bakedin, Craft Buddy, GetRetro, and Cartamundi UK.

Showing for the first time at Autumn Fair are Jigsaw Puzzles, Bachmann Europe, SES Creative, Click Europe, and Willsow. Within Toy First, an introductory new platform for up-and-coming designers, buyers will discover MAI clothing, Fabula Toys, Treasure Map Trails, and Colour Chronicles.

Covid status checks will be in place at Autumn Fair as the show readies to open its doors in September

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Autumn Fair has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival at the show this year, as it prepares to open its doors for the first time in 18 months since the pandemic hit, this September 5th to 8th.

The show’s organiser has also updated its Safe & Secure Guidelines to deliver new health and safety measures to put the show community at ease this year. September’s Autumn Fair will ask all attendees, including visitors, exhibitors, contractors, venue and organiser staff to verify their Covid-19 status on arrival.

The move is in adherence to the latest government guidance, working in consultation with the Association of Event Organisers and means that all attendees will need to demonstrate proof of Covid-19 status for entry to the event.

This can be in the form of a  proof of completion of a full course of vaccination two weeks prior to arrival, proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test taken within 48 hours of arrival, or proof of natural immunity show by a positive PCR test result for Covid-19, lasting for 180 days from the date of the positive test.

Further details on how to prove your COVID-19 status and FAQs can be found at https://www.autumnfair.com/contact-us/visit-faqs and further information for international exhibitors and visitors will be provided very soon.

Ian Solomon, operations director, Hyve Group plc, said: “The health and safety of our customers and community have been, and continues to be, a top priority as we return to delivering events and facilitating trade again. As such, it was imperative for Autumn Fair and Moda to verify attendees’ COVID-19 status on arrival.

“We have made the decision to implement COVID-19 status checks, even though this is not currently mandated within government guidelines, as the evidence suggests that this is the best way for us to reduce the risk of transmission within the event itself. Putting these checks in place adds an additional layer of reassurance for all attendees once they are inside the event.

“Furthermore, our risk assessment is substantial, and the updated Safe & Secure guidelines are designed to deliver industry-leading health and safety standards and procedures that will help put the minds of our community at ease.”

Other key features of the updated guidelines include a reduced contact registration system, a Code of Conduct, and exhibitors have been given advice on exhibition stands, including on stand layout, data capture, staffing and displaying product effectively.

While it is no longer mandatory to wear masks, the show’s organisers will be encouraging all attendees to consider wearing them, especially when in enclosed or crowded spaces.

Julie Driscoll, managing director, Retail and Fashion, Hyve Group plc, said: “Autumn Fair is a curated show for a new era of retail, designed to reinvigorate the industry and provide the essential networking and product inspiration that the industry has missed during the pandemic.

“All the measures being put in place are to help exhibitors and visitors feel confident about attending events once again. There is huge pent-up interest, but quite rightly we need to provide clear information and the correct procedures. The new guidelines enable exhibitors and visitors to understand what to expect on site. With our long-standing heritage and experience, we can confidently deliver a trusted platform and marketplace for physical business to take place again and give buyers the chance to discover a whole host of inspirational products and collections from returning favourites, as well as new, sustainable, made in Britain, and a huge number of ‘exclusive to the Autumn Fair’ brands.”

The full updated Safe and Secure Guidelines can be viewed at https://www.autumnfair.com/safe-secure with a dedicated section for exhibitors at https://www.autumnfair.com/safe-secure/guidelines-for-exhibitors.

 

Hyve Group introduces Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace

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Hyve Group has detailed the launch of its Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace, an online platform that will enable global partners across the wholesale home, gift, and fashion sectors the chance to trade throughout the year.

The Online Marketplace is a brand extension to the heritage brands Spring & Autumn Fair, two live events which are now complemented by a 365 digital trading platform. It will allow brands to access serious, vetted buyers all year round, deepen relationships started at the live events at the NEC, generate leads and take online orders.

Buyers can find new products from brands, discover new brands online, build their collections and shop with ease throughout the year.

Officially launching on May, 4th 2021, the Online Marketplace will initially be home to 50 curated brands across the gift, toy, homeware, beauty, and wellbeing categories but will also be open to more brands at a discounted rate.

Speaking on behalf of Hyve Group, Julie Driscoll, managing director UK retail and fashion, said: “With the Online Marketplace we are giving our retail community an additional trading platform. Spring and Autumn Fair are the first omnichannel retail trade events in the UK to do this. As we move forward, our focus is on re-fuelling retail for 2021 and beyond, supporting our community in recovering from the pandemic and building back stronger than ever.”

Event director for Spring and Autumn Fair, Jessica Dawnay, added: “We are so excited to be able to offer our audience even more value than before. As the UK’s leading retail trade shows, it is our duty to bolster the retail industry.

“Whilst we know that nothing will ever replace the experience of touching and seeing products at an in-person event, we are excited to be able to bring our community together all year round via digital and omnichannel solutions such as the Online Marketplace.”

Project and digital marketing director, Karin Hausmann, said: “2021 is our new product development year and we are investing to support our customers as they build their future products. We are very excited to be launching the Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace.

“Our top priorities are quality and curation, and we are committed to continuous evolution and building a platform that answers our brands’ and buyers’ needs. Our heritage makes us a trusted partner.”

Hyve Group is partnering with Events United to offer this digital ecommerce platform. Owned by Picaflor, Events United specialises in creating digital extensions to physical events with extensive experience within the retail sphere.

On top of its digital development, Hyve Group will also be launching a Curated Meetings programme for 2021. Designed to connect the community at its in-person shows, the Curated Meetings programme will connect pre-qualified buyers, who are actively sourcing, to relevant, high-quality suppliers through pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings.

The team will be trialing the concept at Autumn Fair 2021 with a full roll out of the programme expected for Spring Fair 2022.

Hyve confirms – Autumn Fair 2020 is cancelled

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Hyve, the organising team behind Autumn Fair, has confirmed the cancellation of this year’s home and gift retail industry show.

The announcement arrives following speculation that the show was to be called off owing to the ongoing situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing measures and laws around gatherings still in place. This year’s Autumn Fair will now be replaced with a virtual event this September.

Hyve has also confirmed that Spring Fair will continue to take place on the 7th-11th February 2021 and Autumn Fair will return to the NEC on the 5th-8th September 2021.

Hyve and the team behind Autumn Fair are now working closely with partners and clients to deliver a virtual forum this September with exclusive seminar content and practical advice designed to educate and inform participants. More information on the virtual forum will be available on the website in due course.

“We have been listening to both our exhibitors and visitors, and the feedback from the market has been incredibly supportive of Autumn Fair. We’re excited to have the opportunity to take a fresh approach and launch a virtual forum this September,” said Jessica Dawnay, event director, Spring & Autumn Fair.

“We are also looking forward to when the industry can meet again in person and will focus all efforts and resources on helping the industry bounce back in 2021, both at Spring Fair in February 2021, and Autumn Fair taking place 5th-8th September 2021.”

“Autumn Fair is consistently one of our favourite and important exhibitions of the year. That said, the idea of a virtual show is inspired, and I look forward to getting fully involved in showcasing our latest puppet and soft toy collections online,” said Peter Lockey, The Puppet Company Ltd

Autumn Fair and JWF continue to provide exclusive webinars, industry news and product updates that keeps the home and gift retail community informed, connected and inspired on The Community hub.