EVENT REVIEW: SPRING FAIR 2023
AVRON AT SPRING FAIR
organisations that are interested so we need to tweak the packaging for them. It’s been really positive, we would’ve never had the opportunity at this stage to take the gamble and come to this show. Everybody’s been lovely even the huge companies - obviously, we’re new so we’re tweaking and growing but they’ve been giving us some guidance which has been really helpful. It’s actually great because there are so many businesses here, we’ve even found a packaging company that we’re liaising with now.
‘The atmosphere has genuinely been magical over the last four days.’
dreamers. I’m still dreaming, the dreams drive us, but you have to make those dreams come true and that’s the difference, having the drive the realise it.” Offering advice to small businesses, he said: “Business is common sense - don’t be shy, stick your elbows out and know your numbers”, adding that “50% of all small businesses fail in the first two years because people don’t know their numbers, they haven’t done their homework. Lots who fail the first time, go on to succeed the second. Learning from their mistakes, finding places to get help, understanding the things that really matter in business. The things you need to sweat and the things you don’t need to sweat because they don’t really matter.”
Newcomer areas
Spring Fair continues to champion the most innovative and inspiring start-up businesses who have been trading for less than 18 months
www.diyweek.net
in its expanding newcomer areas. Buyers can now discover the latest new talent in Beauty First, Kids First, Fashion First, and Gift First, as well as the GCA Debut area in collaboration with the Greetings Card Association (GCA). Following a successful four-year partnership with Autumn Fair, which has supported around 40 start-up businesses so far, Theo Paphitis’s #SBS Small Business Sunday winners are now hosted in the #SBS Village at Spring Fair. Twelve new winners and two past winners, who had been unable to exhibit previously due to Covid, presented their designs with some having such a successful show so far that they have confirmed to attend at Spring Fair 2024. Claire Towers from The Fox Glove
Tree said: “This is my first time at a trade show, it’s been brilliant. It’s been a game-changer actually, we’ve got to re-think and expand our production. We’ve had loads of orders, loads of leads, and big
She highlighted the importance of face-to-face networking and the community environment created by the show: “It’s great to be able to have that face-to-face conversation with people rather than via email or over the phone, you get to know the brands so much better. It’s great to connect with other people in the industry, we’ve developed a little community and everyone helps each other out. It’s been really enjoyable. We’ve had such a positive response and experience. We didn’t have many expectations, but we’ve absolutely smashed the orders. On the first day, we had a lot of small retailers show interest but these last two days all the big retailers rolled in. It’s amazing how two days can completely change your trajectory, we’re really happy. It’s been a life-changing show, all in just two days.” Tanya Cassidy from Glamavan said: “This is my first trade show, I’m part of Small Business Sunday. It’s been really nice to gauge interest in our products. We’ve taken a lot of orders as well as collected leads and contacts, some even returned today and placed orders.”
Buyers at the show welcomed the opportunity to discover newness. Chris Nethercot from Sainsbury’s said: “It’s a good opportunity to see new products and innovations, and I always encourage my team to come to Spring Fair.”
Vijay Sahdev, Managing Director of Avron Trading explains why he and his company have been a long time supporter and exhibitor at Spring Fair...
“The show was such a great opportunity to showcase the complete program of Dekton DIY products and our range of Goodyear car care products. “With DIY trending strongly in 2023, the show positioned us well to the market and provided the ideal opportunity to network with our established partners alongside welcoming great number of new accounts. “Nothing can trump face-to- face contact with our partners where we are able to really collaborate with carefully planned promotions and range reviews. With ‘Dekton Dave’, our new social media mascot, the new age of communicating our message was well received. It was refreshing to see so much activity in the current cost of living crisis, as value becomes a key driver for growth, something Avron has always had as a major principal in its business.”
Alison Mabberley from Gifts Made Easy said: “We have seen our existing supplier Cardology and also found a new supplier Gin Etc, whom we have bought from today. We also found some mosaic craft kits. We like to build relationships with our existing suppliers and also source new products. Both is important for our business.”
Connect @ Spring Fair 2024 takes place on 4 – 7 February 2024. Connect @ Autumn Fair 2023 returns to NEC Birmingham on 3 – 6 September 2023. For further information visit
www.autumnfair.com.
MARCH 2023 DIY WEEK 25
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