REVIEW: SPRING FAIR 2020 A


lways a popular part of


the show with


visitors, this year’s Spring Fair theatre programme featured a fantastic line-up of


speakers, with a host of seminars and workshops designed to educate, excite and inspire. Featuring key trend insights, practical sessions and inspirational talks from industry experts, the line up also included high profile keynote speakers, Mary Berry and Mary Portas. Across


five days and three


stages, visitors were treated to fresh retail sector insights from industry innovators and disruptors. Recognising that consumers’ needs and wants are evolving, Spring Fair’s theatre programme was specifically curated to help visitors identify opportunities to invigorate their retail business and fuel greater sales and profits. The show’s raft of expert speakers focused on outlining the essential, on-future and scale- certain trends that visitors will need to sit up and pay attention to for a successful 2020.


Inspiring Retail Stage For the duration of the show, Spring Fair’s Inspiring Retail Stage, located in hall 6, became home to the best ideas in retail. The stage hosted insightful seminars, celebrity Q&As and expert panel discussions covering hot topic issues from sustainability, customer experience, and the ever-increasing move towards hybrid retailing. This stage also delved into consumer trends designed to equip retailers with everything they need to better engage with their customers and the community around them.


Alongside major industry keynotes, John Lewis, Selfridges, Google, PWC and Mintel, trend partners Colour Hive also joined the stage alongside numerous industry commentators and independent retailers, who all shared their successes with the audience.


Design and Source Stage For 2020 Spring Fair pledged to open up new opportunities, markets and trend influences as part of its ‘Hello New!’ event theme and mantra. As part of this, the show recognised the growing importance of the creative design process that brands and retailers must go through before they take those new products to manufacture.


The Design and Source Stage


featured as part of the show’s all-new sourcing area in hall 18. Speakers provided talks on how to get one-step ahead of market rivals in 2020 by looking beyond the UK’s borders for the best and


12 DIY WEEK 14 FEBRUARY 2020


SPRING FAIR HIGHLIGHTS LATEST TRENDS, PRODUCT INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY


With a revamped show layout and a number of new features, this year’s Spring Fair was once again the place to be for over 50,000 retail professionals looking to find new suppliers and product inspiration. Here, DIY Week takes a look at some of the industry insights, latest trends and exciting new products that could be found at this year’s event.


most competitively priced products. They also addressed the latest design practices and inspiration sources, while helping educate on more practical issues such as product lifecycle management and sourcing techniques.


Amongst the stage’s speakers were designers and creatives from some of the UK’s most well-known retailers and brands, including Oliver Bonas, Harrods, JML, West Elm, Penguin Random House alongside interior designers and international sourcing


experts. Colour Hive, Spring and Autumn Fairs Trend Partner were also be on hand to help guide audiences


through the colour, material and finish trends for 2021.


Retail Skills Theatre Covering the essential must-know tips, tricks and best practices for the retail


industry in 2020 were


the speakers in the ever-popular Retail Skills Theatre. Located in hall 2, the stage was host to a number of educational


speakers focusing


on delivering practical insights for everyone from fledgling start- up retailers to established online independents looking to improve their offering. Amongst the speakers were management coaches, HR experts,


digital consultants


and PR strategists, with Google Digital Garage running a series of workshops within this theatre. Charlie Cracknell, Spring Fair director, said: “The


portfolio


climate that retailers operate is in a state of transformation. Whilst


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