Event Review: Autumn Fair 2021
Autumn Fair & Moda deliver record orders and help refuel the UK retail industry
M
illions of pounds worth of business has been generated during the four days of the UK’s leading home, giſt and fashion trade show, Autumn Fair co- located with Moda, reigniting, and refuelling the retail industry.
Retailers from across the UK, including Harrods, Anthropologie, Dunelm, Walt Disney
Company, B&Q, Oliver Bonas, Fenwick, Boohoo, Blue Diamond Garden Centres, Bloom & Wild, British Garden Centres, Daylesford Organic, Fortnum & Mason, Graham & Green, Tesco, Hobbycraft, La Redoute, Lakeland, Next, Paperchase, Pets at Home, and Sainsbury’s, flocked in their thousands to attend the first major retail trade show since lockdown in March 2020. The desire to refresh their stock levels, inject newness and discover exciting new products
for their stores, and experience product in person, created a very confident mood and many exhibiting suppliers secured record numbers and quality of orders. Lucy Lee, Founder, Scream Pretty, said: “The best show we’ve ever had at Autumn Fair, and
we’ve signed up for the next two shows. We’re delighted and it’s exceeded our expectations. We like the new format for Spring Fair being four days instead of five, which we’ve wanted for some time so we’re very happy to be listened to and look forward to being there.” Tom Willday, Founder of Willsow, said: “This is our first big show and for us to be able to
place more of our books in small gifts shops, medium sized businesses, and huge retailers such as WH Smiths, Bloom & Wild, Thortful, and so many more companies that have been here, is amazing. They have been really interested in us which is overwhelming. We are that excited we will be booking Spring and Autumn Fair for next year. The organisers have all been great.” Creativity, innovation, inspiration, and inventiveness were in abundance throughout the four
key show destinations: Home, Gift, Fashion and Design & Source. Overall, feedback from exhibitors has centred on the amount of pent-up demand there is for face-to-face trading again. Many, including Little Bird Told Me, Hippychick, Asmodee, Inside Out Toys, Keel Toys, My Doris, Jess & Lou, Isles & Stars, The Travelling Craft Room, Fountasia, Lesser & Pavey, Richard Lang & Son/Lang’s, Sass & Belle, Kikkerland and Lesser & Pavey, have had their busiest shows ever, opened lots of new accounts, and seen a fantastic range of buyers. According to many other exhibitors, the shows delivered above expectations with a large number already rebooking for Spring and Autumn Fair 2022. Feedback on Spring Fair’s change of dates to a four-day show have also continued to be positive. The new and first-time exhibitors, including Amaura London, Crafty You Crafty Me, Katherine
Sheard Art, The Candle Brand, UK Telescopes, and Ibadah London, showing in the Gift First area, all had a fantastic show, and most have already booked into Spring Fair too. Visitor, Charlotte Greenwood, Design at Sainsbury’s, said: “It’s great to see things in person
again and be inspired.” Deborah Oakes, Owner of Snap Dragon added; “It’s brilliant to be back.” And, Sian Llywelyn, Director of Portmeirion Shops Ltd said; “Everyone seems to be ready for business and there is excitement in the air!” Julie Driscoll, Managing Director, Hyve Retail, Fashion & Digital Marketing said: “As a team,
we have all been completely blown away by the attendance and huge volume of orders being written during Autumn Fair and Moda, and want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of the last four incredible days. The reaction from all our wonderful exhibitors and visitors has been overwhelming and it’s very positive and encouraging for the future of the British High Street and retailing after over a year of challenges and uncertainty. “We are committed to the retail industry, developing exciting new initiatives for our next
show, Spring Fair in February, with all our partners and relevant associations. Based on the last four days at Autumn Fair, I have never felt more excited and confident in the collective ability of the retail industry to bounce back and reignite. We can’t wait for Spring Fair.” The final day of Autumn Fair’s Inspiring Retail Stage focused on its new partnership with the
Retail Trust and supporting the wellbeing of people in the retail industry. With the cost of mental health absences totalling £42billion per annum and 89% of employees saying they won’t disclose a mental health issue to a manager, Spring & Autumn Fair’s partnership with the Retail Trust has been created to support their much-needed work and help raise awareness of the issues. Following his session, discussing the importance of creating an industry that cares for the
mental and physical health of all within it, on the Inspiring Retail Stage this morning (8th September) Chris Brook-Carter, CEO, Retail Trust said; “It is really great to have the shows running again for the industry. Financial and mental stress is a huge concern for retailers, and it is working in partnership with key retail events such as Spring and Autumn Fair, that we can develop initiatives that can genuinely help people, help alleviate issues, and support the wellbeing of all those in our industry.”
• Autumn Fair and Moda 2022 take place from the 4th – 7th September 2022 at the NEC, Birmingham. For further information visit
www.autumnfair.com.
22 |
www.gardencentreupdate.com GCU Spring 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
