Preview
Spring Fair
The Show Must Go On Trade shows may not be allowed in person at present, but Spring Fair @Home is proceeding online in February.
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fter the ups and downs of much of 2020 there was hope that Trade Fairs could operate again in 2021 but sadly the pandemic had other ideas and for now things are proceeding in the virtual space. Spring Fair @Home is taking place on February 8-10 and is keen to provide key industry insights, the latest products, trends and collections to be enjoyed from the comfort of your home or office. As much as the NEC is great for person-toperson interaction and is a social time as well as work, Spring Fair @Home hopes to still bring the industry together online. The virtual format will provide exclusive content sessions that cover trends, industry news and business tips and tricks. The exciting line-up of speakers will feature a keynote appearance from business mogul Theo Paphitis. In an exclusive interview, Theo Paphitis will chat with the BBC’s Sasha Qadri, offering an insight into his experience, his views on the future of retail, and sharing advice for other entrepreneurs and small businesses. Julie Driscoll, Managing Director of UK Retail for Hyve Group said, “I am delighted to be welcoming such key names as Theo Paphitis onto the Spring Fair @Home line up. Our speakers have so much experience and knowledge to share with our audience and I know that they will bring real value to many of the businesses involved in Spring Fair @Home.” Spring Fair @Home will also be joined by Beth Horn, Head of Industry, Retail & Ecommerce at Facebook who will share her insights into the role social media will play in the future of retail, one of the biggest opportunities for retailers to harness. In the Product Showcase you can see view showroom tours as well as watch product presentations from exhibitors across Everyday,
Home, Living & Décor, The Summerhouse, Beauty & Well-being and more. The Virtual Showroom is where you will discover new brands, find the latest trends, product updates, lookbooks and the contact details you need for new suppliers or your favourite exhibitors. Trend insights will also make up a key portion of the Spring Fair @Home line-up, with appearances from Mintel, Colour Hive and Trend Bible. EMEA Director of Trends at Mintel, Simon Moriarty will discuss consumer behaviour trends for 2021 and beyond, outlining the effects of the pandemic on shopping habits and purchasing decisions. Colour Hive’s Creative Director, Sam Donnachie, will share the latest trends in colours, materials and finishes, helping buyers to inform and refine
their purchasing decisions. Trend Forecaster, Owen Wright, from Trend Bible will also share the macro-trends informing the more niche product aesthetics. Of course, Spring Fair is also the home to a raft of Industry Awards as well and these have been especially co-ordinated for this virtual experience. Winners for Gift of the Year Awards and Good Retail Awards will be announced in online ceremonies – be sure to check them out to see who comes out a winner.
Spring Fair @Home is open to all buyers and takes place on February 8-10, 2021. Register at www.springfair.com to get involved.
How are you feeling about no physical trade fairs at present? Elizabeth Blandford - Blandfords of Ledbury and Broadway
“I love buying at Trade Fairs … actually I just love buying new products!! Luckily for us we did good new buying last Spring so these we will just carry through. I’ve been introduced to new companies that have contacted the shop through our social media and I have my eye on some others that I’ve spotted. We will be relying on companies’ agents, reps and visiting warehouse showrooms.” Annette Ritchie - Spirals, Sheffield
“We usually attend the Spring and Autumn Fairs at the NEC, although we find them too big to enjoy.” Helen Flook - Sales Manager, Marmalade of London
“We are going to miss the trade shows as we love doing them, we get to meet our stockists and it becomes a social event as well as work.” Paul Hooker - Commercial Director, Joe Davies
“At Joe Davies we are huge supporters of exhibitions and no Spring Fair is a big blow, that said trade must go on.”
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