Tag Archives: Hyve Group

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.

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 Group reveals dates for the all-virtual Spring Fair @ Home 2021

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Hyve Group has confirmed the dates of its Spring Fair @ Home virtual event, an all-digital show that will take the place of the in-person Spring Fair 2021 that was cancelled last month over the continued uncertainty surrounding covid-19 restrictions.

Running from February 8th to 10th, Spring Fair @ Home has been designed to ‘bring the industry together, even when we remain apart’ by providing a hub for industry professionals in the UK and around the world.

Bringing together the key elements of what makes the show, Spring Fair @ Home will provide key industry insights, as well as a first-hand look at the latest products, trends and collections. Among the exhibitor line up are names such as Coach House, Puckator, Moulin Roty, Paper Salad, T & G Woodware, and Alexander Thurlow.

Julie Driscoll, managing director for Hyve’s retail portfolio, said: “We are delighted to be offering a digital platform for the Spring Fair community this February. Whilst we are working hard towards the return of our physical events, I am so proud that the team have been able to develop a virtual offering that has proved so valuable to both retailers and brands during such a challenging time for retail both here in the UK and abroad.”

Spring Fair exhibitor Steve Cox, UK sales director at Keel Toys, said: “Spring Fair is undoubtedly the most important fair of the year for Keel Toys. At the start of 2021 we all need to get creative to meet with all our key buyers effectively with the lack of physical shows. The Spring Fair Virtual show will be an important part of our mix to present the new ranges for 2021.”

An exclusive content programme will provide access to of-the-minute industry intel, trend insights, peer-to-peer panel sessions, and more.

Dedicated Virtual Showrooms will also provide buyers with an easy and accessible way to discover new brands and see what their current partners have to offer. The Virtual Showroom will provide carefully curated brand line-ups on the Spring Fair website. Dynamic profile will allow brands and designers to put their best virtual foot forward, with capabilities to host videos, lookbooks, brand imagery and more.

Spring Fair @ Home will also see the return of the Product Showcase concept. Giving brands the opportunity to take buyers on showroom tours, or simply talk through their latest collection, the Product Showcase offers exhibitors the chance to submit a five-minute video to be shown to buyers during a sector-specific time slot.

Spring Fair @ Home is open to all buyers and takes place on 8th – 10th February 2021.