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Industry News
All Change At Spring Fair Keynote Speakers Include Mary Berry
PEOPLE Below: Buyers will soon be heading off to Spring Fair.
Visitors to Spring Fair, taking place at the NEC from February 2-6, will see a new look and feel this February, with two distinct sectors: Gifts (Piazza halls) and Home & Living (Atrium halls). The new prime location for the revamped Summerhouse is Hall 20, located in between Living and Accents & Décor. Among the keynote speakers will be Mary Berry, who will be appearing in the Inspiring Retail Stage (Hall 6) in conversation with Ashley Armstrong, retail editor for the Times, on Monday February 3 at 1pm. Mary will be talking about her life and how she has taken inspiration from her garden to create her own range of tableware in collaboration with Captivate Brands, and will also be visiting Captivate Brands’ stand in Hall 8. Making a return to the Inspiring Retail Stage will be Queen Of Shops Mary Portas, among the keynote speakers at Autumn Fair 2019, who will be taking to the stage at 2pm on Tuesday February 4. Other keynote speakers at the show include Oliver Bonas, John Lewis, Selfridges and Harrods, as well as JML. “Our 2020 line-up is highly relevant for today’s challenges,” says Spring Fair’s portfolio director Charlie Cracknell. “It will help shape thinking, and we anticipate it to be our most exciting yet. We’re taking steps to embrace and indulge inspiring ideas from the industry’s most exciting innovators and disruptors. We want everyone to leave feeling invigorated, inspired and with a new mindset for the year ahead and beyond.” For the first time, Spring Fair has partnered with Modern Retail for the Good Retail Awards 2020, celebrating retailers that are making a positive impact. Six categories - including Sustainability Initiative, the Community Award and Digital Impact Award - will be presented on Tuesday February 4 at the show. Opening on February 1, Everyday (formerly Volume) is situated in Halls 9 and 10. Visit www.springfair.com
GOTY Winners Revealed Following a ‘live’ judging in mid-January, the Gift of the Year 2020 winners will be revealed at an evening awards ceremony held on the first night of Spring Fair, Sunday February 2, on the Inspiring Retail Stage (Hall 6) at 6pm. Among the 41-strong judging panel this year was PG&H/GiftsandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks. To see the full list of finalists, turn to page 101.
Paladone Wins A Top Award Paladone was the winner of the Large Business of the Year trophy at the recent Sussex Business Awards. The company has continued to work hard in its quest to become “the eco warriors of the FMCG gifting industry”, with Paladone’s marketing manager Alex Ryan commenting: “the judges’ enthusiasm for our eco efforts has reinforced that we are heading in the right direction.” Right: Paladone recently won the Sussex Business Awards’ Large Business of the Year category. Below: Part of MAKE International’s quirky Jane Foster mug collection.
MAKE Joins Forma UK exclusive brand distributor Forma House has signed a deal to distribute MAKE International across the UK. MAKE joins a diverse portfolio of ranges currently under the Forma umbrella including: Sagaform, Eva Solo, Zuperzozial and Dreamfarm. MAKE was established in 2005 by director Dominic Speelman who joined forces with ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones, the company’s head of design, in 2008.
p Clive Harper (right) has joined Ashleigh & Burwood as a director, bringing with him over 20 years of industry experience in the home fragrancing market place. “I look forward to the challenge of assisting the growth of the brand reinforcing the company’s commitment to work with their partners in the market,” commented Clive.
Candlelight Partners With Designer Katie Alice British lifestyle designer Katie Alice has brought her nostalgic style to an exclusive range of Candlelight candles and reed diffusers, with the collection officially launching at Spring Fair (Hall 3, stand H20-J21). Explains sales director Debbie Isles: “The range captures the very best of vintage design, which is still very much on trend in homewares.” Katie will be making a personal appearance on the company’s stand during the show. (See Last Word on page 130). Above: Among Katie Alice’s Wild Apricity designs for Candlelight.
Paddington Giftware Eddingtons has secured a new partnership to develop a collection of Paddington giftware and homewares, with the new collection making its debut at Spring Fair (Hall 8, stand E44-F45) - focusing on three key areas: Paddington ‘on the move’, ‘at breakfast’ and ‘baking accessories’. The collection is centred around the original Peggy Fortnum illustrations, which have been applied to some of Eddingtons best selling lines. Right: Eddingtons’ new licensed Paddington gifting and homewares collection.
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