Autumn Fair Preview

Autumn Fair is back

Autumn Fair returns to the NEC, Birmingham from September 5-8 and promises to be jam-packed full of inspiring new products and collections from suppliers big and small. We take a look at some of the plans for the event and reveal what some of the exhibitors are launching for the upcoming season.

Like all returning events, the organisers of Autumn Fair are keen to ensure everyone’s safety while getting back to business and reigniting the retail industry. There will be Covid status checks for all attendees on arrival – including exhibitors, visitors, contractors, venue staff and organisers. There are also Safe & Secure Guidelines to deliver top health and safety measures to put the show community at ease.

Following the government’s latest guidance, and working in consultation with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), all attendees will need to demonstrate proof of COVID-19 status for entry to the event via one of the following ways: ● Proof of completion of a full course of vaccination two weeks prior to arrival. ● Proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test taken within 48hrs of arrival (retaken and reported every 72hrs). ● Proof of natural immunity shown by a positive PCR test result for COVID-19, lasting for 180 days from the date of the positive test and following the self-isolation period.

Further details on how to prove your COVID-19 status and FAQs can be found at www.autumnfair.com/contact-us/visit-faqs.

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 “Autumn as we return to delivering events and Fair are keen facilitating trade again. As such, it was imperative for Autumn Fair and Moda to ensure to verify attendees’ COVID-19 status on arrival. Putting these checks in place everyone’s adds an additional layer of reassurance for all attendees once they are inside the safety while event. Furthermore, our risk assessment getting back to is substantial, and the updated Safe & Secure guidelines are designed to deliver business and industry-leading health and safety standards and procedures that will help reigniting the put the minds of our community at ease.” Already the definitive marketplace for retail industry” the home and gift industry, the upcoming Autumn Fair is set to be the largest Home, Gift and Fashion event for the autumn season. The focus on sustainability continues for Autumn Fair 21 with the launch of The Sustainability Library and other initiatives. The Sustainability Library allows visitors to connect with sustainable brands exhibiting at the show, making it simple to discover the brands and suppliers that are striving to do their part towards a more sustainable and ethical future.

Greetings and stationery brands already signed up to the Sustainability Library include Penguin Ink, VENT for Change and The Art File. Each exhibitor that is part of The Sustainability Library will be marked with a Leaf icon, helping visitors to find sustainable brands and suppliers quickly and easily. This will also be translated onsite with the sustainable exhibitors having this icon displayed on their stands.

Sarah Laker, owner of Stationery Supplies adds: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to trade shows and attending Autumn Fair to hunt for sustainable stationery, greetings cards and gifts from independent UK businesses.”

Also launching at Autumn Fair are the new Curated Meetings. Designed to offer a highly curated, time-efficient and no hassle match-making service where buyers and suppliers only take meetings with partners they have selected and approved, Curated Meetings provides a unique opportunity for buyers and suppliers to meet and kickstart long-term relationships and creates a better, more productive way to buy. At present over 500 meetings are planned across two days. Using the Curated Meetings online platform, buyers can filter for products that truly suit their desired aesthetic, product type, price range and beyond.

You can pre-register now at autumnfair. com, and be sure to download the official Autumn Fair app. The full updated Safe and Secure Guidelines can be viewed at www. autumnfair.com/safe-secure with a dedicated section for exhibitors at www.autumnfair. com/safe-secure/guidelines-for-exhibitors.

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#SBS Pavilion. Autumn Fair have continued their partnership with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday which is dedicated to showcasing new and unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses.

The Art File

Hall 6 Stand B30-C31

After a highly successful return of face-to-face trade shows with Home & Gift and PG Live, The Art File are now gearing up for Autumn Fair 2021. “We’re very much looking forward to exhibiting at what will be the last trade show of the season for The Art File, and can’t wait to carry on the positivity and success from both Home & Gift in Harrogate and PG Live in London. We’ll be in Hall 6, Stand 6B30 - C31, continuing to showcase the 2021 everyday collections that were received extremely well at recent trade shows, as well as displaying our Christmas 2021 collection. Our launches for Autumn and Winter 2021 are full of love, joy, and optimism,” said James Mace.

The Art File’s complete, comprehensive, award-winning Christmas 2021 collection will be on display and available to order for any last-minute Christmas orders retailers may have. This will be one of your very last chances to order Christmas stock from The Art File for this year, so be sure to reserve your stock at Autumn Fair! The Art File spent many months crafting beautiful Christmas card and wrap collections so that everyone could make the most of the most important trading period of the year. Charity cards, luxury boxes, pop up cards, gift wrap and bags, single cards, relations - the list goes on, and there really is nothing wanting in their creations for 2021.

You can also see the latest everyday collections, launched only weeks ago, as well as a grand selection of their existing best-selling greeting cards, stationery, and gift packaging. The newest greeting card launches are Soulmates, Wildflowers, Grand & Graceful, and Parade. Parade is a showstopper, comprising of three different card constructions - Zig Zags, 3D Box cards, and 3D fold outs - all of which are packed with additional finishes including hot foils, UV highlights and die cuts. What's more, the packaging is made from 120gsm paper so it's completely recyclable, and The Art File are proud to say that the entire collection is made in the UK.

Soulmates is one of the brand-new collections for 2021 that performed extremely well at recent trade shows. The inspiration behind this collection follows the increasing trend for spiritual well-being and mindfulness connecting mind, body, and soul. Finished with hot foils and embossed lines, these cards are simply striking, and certainly had an impact on everyone who visited The Art File stand at PG Live and Home & Gift!

Sara Miller London, Natural History by Ben Rothery, I Like Birds by Stuart Cox, Snap To Grid, and the brand new Snowtap will be some of their popular licenses showcasing at Autumn Fair. The Art File are extremely excited to have teamed up with talented designers Susy Snow and Gracie Tapner, otherwise known as Snowtap. The result is a show-stopping collection of hilarious greeting cards, combining beautifully detailed and endearing artwork with funny quips to achieve the desired chuckle. This exclusive license was born from Susy and Gracie's love of the natural world, as well as a pun or two for good measure. This collection has been received extremely well so far, and the team can’t wait to see the reaction at Autumn Fair too! Ben Rothery is one of the most talented illustrators on the planet and Natural History, a timeless favourite, is our proof of that. Snap To Grid and I Like Birds have both been shortlisted for awards and are bright, cheerful, and popular collections. A multi award-winning brand, Sara Miller needs no introduction, always designing an enchanting collection of cards full of print, pattern, and colour.

The Art File will be updating their socials throughout the trade show. To keep up to date via our social media platforms, search ‘The Art File’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

“We’re very much looking forward to exhibiting at what will be the last trade show of the season for The Art File”

James Mace.

Emma Ball

Stand 20B23

Celebrating twenty years of supplying giftware, stationery and greetings cards this September, is a huge celebration for the team at Emma Ball!

Over the last two decades, the product range began from a set of 24 greetings cards alongside a few limited-edition prints; and has now massively grown - with a warehouse in sunny Nottingham full of cards and gifts to choose from!

Emma Ball have a huge variety of stockists, including gift, greetings, crafts and cookshops, then historical sites, tourist and garden centres. It’s not just Emma’s work now either, with other artists on board such as Caroline Cleave, Shelly Perkins, Eric Heyman, Abigail Mill and Susie Lacome.

Popular products include many UK-made items, such as greetings cards, stationery, gift wrap, tea towels, and trays. Emma Ball pride themselves on sourcing as locally as possible, believing in supporting local businesses, only sourcing abroad when there is no other option.

The team also offer a bespoke service, enabling customers to have exclusive products for their business. With their superb network of UK suppliers, they can offer bespoke to customers both big and small, with minimums as low as 100 units. They can take existing artwork of Emma’s and add a design element, such as a place name, although if new artwork needs to be produced, the same rules apply – no setup fees, no artwork charges, and low minimum values. Most importantly, they offer the same cost prices as for stock items, making it a very attractive option for customers.

Newly in stock for the Autumn Fair, is an extensive range of Washi-Tape – perfect for journaling, crafters, and wrapping gifts all year round. There are 30 designs available in sizes 15mm and 20mm, in 10 metres of length, presented in delightfully decorated packaging. As well as Christmas cards and baubles that are all ready to ship out!

Emma Ball have eleven large ranges of greetings cards, from fun and quirky to lovely art cards. All of the cards are 6” x 6” square and retailing at £2.35.

Please drop by the stand if you would like any more information, all products will be showcased. Alternatively, get in touch with Lucy – 0115 9858081 or sales@emmaball.co.uk for more information. www.emmaball.co.uk top sellers

The Bone China mugs are still top sellers. Now available in over 50 designs, each mug is presented in a beautiful storage box retailing at £12.50. Brand new designs will showcase at the show, including Eric Heyman’s popular Buzzy Bees, and Emma’s Alpacas. These are all only available through Emma Ball!

Alex Sharp Designs

Stand 6B21

Alex Sharp Designs have extended their floral range of cards which will all be available at Autumn Fair 2021 and also at Top Drawer in January 2022. Already proving really popular with all of the shops they are in, the floral range have wraparound images, so that they look pretty front and back, therefore look lovely from all angles and capture shoppers’ eyes.

The images of the flowers were shot by Alex largely in her garden or in areas to local to her as she used the time at home during lockdown to its full advantage.

The cards are 15cm x 15cm square and come with recycled brown envelopes. All of her ranges are printed by FSC approved printers. The cards are blank inside for your own personal message. www.alexsharpdesigns.co.uk

Heaven Scent

Stand 6G02

Sarah Pettitt Designs in partnership with Heaven Scent will be showcasing her new designs on a beautiful range of Candles and Reed Diffusers, at Autumn Fair this September.

“I am excited to continue to create designs for candles, reed diffusers and soaps and will be adding six new designs to my existing Illustrated candle range. I have carefully chosen six new fragranced Candles for Christmas and three of these fragrances will also be available in a Natural Plant Based Reed Diffuser with an illustrated box,” she explained. www.heavenscent.co.uk

Eco-friendly Card Co

Stand C610

The Eco-friendly Card Co has just launched its collection of charity Christmas cards in support of The Wildlife Trusts. Celebrating the very best of British wildlife, each card features interesting information on the back about the species depicted. Packs are available in two sizes (125mm x 125 mm square and 153mm x 153mm square) with either a 40p or 50p charity donation. There are eight cards in a pack printed on 100% recycled board packed with 100% recycled envelopes in a compostable bag.

In addition to Christmas cards there are also notecard wallets, a 2022 calendar and an extensive collection of everyday greeting cards also available. The whole range is now available to order online at www. ecofriendly.cards and will be on show at the Autumn Fair alongside the publisher’s art and other photographic collections.

www.ecofriendly.cards

Fay’s Studio

Stand 6C24

Fay’s Studio is launching new additions to her popular In The Wild range, including the pictured Chicken and Tulips. This design is printed onto an FSC heavyweight embossed board and comes hand-finished with flecks of bio-glitter, wrapped with recycled envelopes in a recyclable bag. All cards are blank inside.

Also launching at Autumn Fair are the Blossom Birthday and Christmas ranges, these were developed during lockdown and were inspired by the rainbow colour trends and the back to nature way of life which inspires all of Fay’s designs.

www.faysstudio.com

Natural Partners

Stand 6A24

Natural Partners have added 16 beautiful new designs to their already extensive and popular range of greeting cards by the celebrated cat artist, Lesley Anne Ivory. The new cards will be on display on the company’s stand (6A24) at Autumn Fair, along with lots more of their latest releases and best-selling ranges. Visitors will also be able to pick up a copy of their latest trade catalogue. Alternatively, the entire collection of over 1,400 designs by more than 50 artists and photographers is available on their website. www.naturalpartnersart.co.uk