in the news
Spring Fair gets Fresh
Autumn Fair rises to the
A new grA oup stand will be
Jeremy Corner
launched in the Greetings
retail challenge
hall at next year’s Spring
Fair International (February
7-11) with the aim of
Over 220 new companies will be exhibiting at Autumn bringing together exciting
Fair in September, joining those that are returning after an design-led greeting card,
absence from the show as well as more than 110 overseas gift and jewellery suppliers
companies from as far afi eld as France, Australia, Brazil, and discerning retailers,
Scandinavia and Japan. agents and distributors.
Pre-show retailer registrations are also showing strongly Fresh has been set
with a 51 per cent increase – attracted by the half a up by Jerup by Jeremy Coremy Corner, managing dirmanaging director of Blue Eyed Sun e
million products and 40,000 new launches on show in and David Wigley, a director of Pango Productions. In a busy
Birmingham. marketplace, they intend to create a ‘buzzy’, easy-to-fi nd area
Louise Young, managing director of Emap Connect that will attract high quality buyers from the UK and overseas.
Home & Gift, organiser of Autumn Fair International, “The new group stand will be a destination for everyone
commented: “One can only marvel at the resilience and who is looking for outstanding suppliers with fresh ideas,” says
ingenuity of people in the industry. The downturn seems Jeremy. “And Fresh will appeal to design-focused exhibitors
to have brought out the best in our exhibitors. The products they will be offering are not only well who are keen to maximise their marketing exposure with start-
designed and innovative, but also have keen price points that will tempt even hard-nosed buyers. up budgets.”
“We are attempting to drive as much business as possible to suppliers’ stands by encouraging He has drawn on his own experience of group exhibiting,
crossover buying,” added Young. “We have also held free workshops to help exhibitors maximise and adds: “It is an extremely effective way of standing out from
their revenue from Autumn Fair as well as sending them a step-by-step booklet to boost sales the crowd. What makes this project so special is that, unlike
opportunities.” any other group stand we have been a part of, it will be in a
This year’s centrally located hall. It’s going to look fantastic and will add
Autumn Fair Show Details real value for those attending Spring Fair.”
will also see the
6-9 September 2009. at the NEC, Birmingham
Jeremy says that Spring Fair organiser Emap Connect
launch of Cook Home & Gift has been “fantastically supportive”, and
Live! featuring a
Greetings & Stationery – Hall 4
continues: “We are also thrilled to have the backing of The
large, working Giftware Association, particularly as its membership includes
kitchen in Kitchen
Opening Times:
many of the types of companies and retailers we are aiming to
& Dining (hall
6th – 8th September 2009 9.00am – 6.00pm
attract.
2), which will “Fresh is being created by experienced design-led
showcase new
9th September 2009 9.00am – 4.00pm.
exhibitors for others like them. I am extremely keen to see this
products and area become a hotbed for fresh ideas and design talent at
equipment being
The show is open to trade buyers and suppliers only. Entry to Autumn
Spring Fair. It will be a dynamic mix of gifts, cards and jewellery
sold by exhibitors, Fair International is FREE for those who have pre-registered at www.au- for the best shops – a bazaar, fi lled with lots of exciting new
with live
tumnfair.com. Entry to Autumn Fair International 2009 is £30 for visitors
products and design-led ideas for buyers who want those
demonstrations
who have not pre-registered. To register or for additional information
extra-special purchases for their stores.”
of their uses and
visit www.autumnfair.com or email visit@autumnfair.com.
For further information about Fresh, contact Dave, Jeremy
benefi ts. or Cindy at 0845 2690469 or visit www.freshexhibitions.
com; you can also email hello@freshexhibitions.com
International
Greetings
Bee Gee backs WWII memorial fund
Bee Gee Robin Gibb paid Robin Gibb The campaign, called The
returns to profit
a visit to Wyevale’s Bicester Forgotten Heroes, was launched
garden centre on 1 August by the Heritage Foundation — a
Hertfordshire-based manufacturer of cards, wrap
to launch a range of greeting charity that raises money for plaques
and crackers, International Greetings PLC, has
cards and fi ne art prints that and memorials for British achievers
posted a jump in profi ts of £4 million on the full-year
are going on sale to help raise — in partnership with the Bomber
2009, from a loss of £4.8 million a year ago.
money for a World War Two Command Association (BCA) and The
Despite write downs from the failure of
memorial. Daily Telegraph.
Woolworths, the new management team says it
Gibb is president of the The BCA appointed publishing
is now on course to deliver profi table growth from
Heritage Foundation, which company Artique Gallery to launch
continued operational improvements and enhanced
has launched a national the range of cards and prints, which
margins and cash generation.
campaign to raise £2.5m for a are being sold across the UK to raise
“It was a transformational year for the Group and
memorial in London in memory funds for the memorial target.
despite the challenging market conditions we made
.co.uk
of Bomber Command crews. So far, £1.2m has been raised
excellent progress in restructuring our business.
Events manager through the card sales, but the BCA
This has resulted in a stronger and more balanced
Jeanette Cocklin said: “The still needs an extra £1.3m to be able
income stream,” said CEO, Paul Fineman.
photographs were taken between 1939 and 1945 to build the memorial.
According to Fineman, International Greetings
of the men at work, the land army girls working the The Bomber Command Memorial will
is increasingly focusing on everyday product
land and some of the farmhouses children were commemorate 55,573 bomber airmen who were
and reducing its reliance on seasonal activity like
evacuated to during the war. The cards and prints killed during World War Two. All the men who fl ew
eetingstoday
Christmas. A signifi cant emphasis has been placed
will be sold at the garden centre to help raise funds with Bomber Command were volunteers and their
.
gr
working with value and discount retailers to sell
for the memorial.” average age was 22.
signifi cant volumes at much greater margin. Key
retail partners include Tesco.
www
6 www.greetingstoday.co.uk
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