Spring Fair ramps up its buyer experience

Spring Fair, the UK’s most popular, diverse, and trend led marketplace for Home, Gift, Fashion and Everyday, and retail’s definitive wholesale shopping destination, has revealed a raft of new experiences and activations to inspire buyers and enhance their visit making it more efficient and enjoyable. In addition to these initiatives, attending Spring Fair provides the opportunity to meet over 1,200 suppliers, ready to stock your shelves with their products.

Following months of research and insights from key partners, the Spring Fair team have created a ream of features that will be available to buyers who visit including free tea & coffee in Buyer Lounges which all buyers have access to, subsidised cloakrooms, abundant seating areas to relax and recharge, buyer concierge information points around the show, and discounts at Resort World. Spring Fair also continues to pay for parking at the NEC so all visitors and exhibitors can park for free for the duration of the show.

Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director, Spring Fair says: “This year’s show is all about creating a seamless buying experience that ensures successful sourcing and brings maximum delight and efficiency. Over the past year we’ve spoken with our community about how to enhance the Spring Fair buying experience, and we’ve listened. To offer a smoother and more enjoyable purchasing experience we’ve introduced new initiatives and improvements including a one-step registration for buyers ensuring a more personalised experience pre-show and new onsite information points offer quick resolutions to buyer’s queries during the show. The Little Black has returned, alongside the Show Guide and the Spring Fair app, giving buyers the tools they need to plan their visit. And, we’ve paid for your parking so all Spring Fair visitors can park at the NEC, completely free of charge. We also hope the new Sip & Shop Happy Hour will be a very welcome distraction to close a successful day’s sourcing.

There’s a real buzz of anticipation for the show and we are proud to introduce three new feature stages that will undoubtedly elevate your show experience. Get ready to be inspired, informed and empowered at The Inspiring Retail Stage, Trend Talks and Masterclass Studio and across the entire show floor.”

Buyer Concierge Information Points will be located throughout the show, helping buyers with their onsite journey and experience. Each sector now has dedicated community support manager to assist buyers in planning ahead for the show, and to provide support onsite and post-event as needed.

To help buyers identify key products look out for the Trend Trails for Sustainability, Licensing, Made in Britain, and those looking for a Distributor. For inspiration and the inside track on the newest and hottest products visit the popular New Product Showcase returns presenting a curated edit championing new products launching at the show located alongside the new Trend Talks stage in Home, Living & Décor in Hall 6.

As well as hosting the live judging for Gift Of The Year, buyers will also be able to immerse themselves in an art gallery style display in Hall 5 of the shortlisted products, and an education and information space including a historic photo timeline of Spring Fair’s partnership with the Giftware Association and Gift Of The Year.

Other must-see feature areas include the BIRA/BHETA Pavilion, the Cardgains Village, the #SBS Village, the GCA Debut Pavilion, the Footwear Showcase, plus the debut First areas for exciting new exhibitor launches in Beauty, Gift, Kids, Home, and Moda.

The Cardgains Village will be at the heart of the Greetings section. On this years’ stand several of their members including Cherry Orchard, IC & G, Jacksons, Rainbow Designs, Saraunds, UK Greetings, Word ‘n’ Wishes and Woodmansternes will all have pods showcasing the latest range of brand-new designs, greetings cards and gifts.

Spring Fair’s three show floor theatres, Inspiring Retail Stage featuring the MODA Catwalk, The Masterclass Studio, and Trend Talks including Pitch Live, will offer hours of free educational support, inspiration, and advice.

The Inspiring Retail Stage will host industry icons and fashion pioneers sharing their experiences, stories and advocacy. It will be a hub for thought-provoking keynotes, progressive discussions and the much-loved and crowd drawing Moda catwalks. Don’t miss the keynote speakers Dame Zandra Rhodes, Theo Paphitis, Kris Hamer of the British Retail Consortium and ESG pioneer Paul Wright.

Trend Talks in partnership with The Future Collective will be the go-to stage for discovering the latest retail trends and product innovations from future forecasters and creators. Discover insights from likes of Kantar, HappyHQ and brand experience consultancy, The Ready House. Trend Talks also hosts our new Pitch Live Dragon’s Den-style feature. Watch exhibitors from our Gift and Fashion destinations take to the stage with their most innovative products, pitching to an esteemed panel of industry judges looking for fresh and innovative products that epitomise the future of retail and provide effective solutions.

Debuting this February is the new Masterclass Studio located in Hall 3, created to share the tools to help retailers grow their business with leading agencies and consultants presenting their expertise on an invaluable array of topics. TikTok Shop, B Corp, Google, Avocado Social and The Buyer and Retail Coach are just a few names presenting their knowledge on subjects including digital marketing, social media, radical retail technology, conscious consumerism and more.

Buyers keen to enhance their visit with sustainable insights and actions, content sessions include eco-creative solutions for conscious consumers from Products of Change, navigating the path to B Corp certification, the opportunities and benefits of local credentials, and an informative overview on sustainable trends.

For some much-needed R&R stop by the show cafes in Home, Gift, and Moda. Enjoy some festive fun with reindeer at the Christmas themed Deck the Halls Café located in Christmas, Floral & Seasonal in Hall 5. A Starbucks pop-up will be serving their Christmas offering with Christmas cups and their Christmas special drink, an eggnog Latte. In Hall 2, discover the MODA Café which incorporates the Shoe Gallery, and the Keplin Café; and The Summerhouse Café is a welcome retreat in Hall 7.

Don’t miss Peppa’s Playground in the Kids, Toys & Play sector in Hall 5 by Hasbro to celebrate Peppa Pig’s 20th Anniversary. Join Peppa Pig at Peppa’s Party on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th February at 4:30pm for pink drinks and cupcakes.

After a long day walking the aisles, buyers are invited to attend the show’s new Sip & Shop Happy Hours. Four locations across the Gift, Home, Moda & Everyday sectors including the Summerhouse Café and Trend Talks stage will offer bubbles, music, and networking from 4.30 – 5.30pm on Sunday to Tuesday.

Look out for water stations, lanyard and badge recycle collection boxes, and tap to donate to the Retail Trust machines at the Show Guide stations.

With 13 product sectors across Home, Gift, Fashion and Everyday destinations, Spring Fair is the one-stop-shop for sourcing the newest products in UK retail, offering 1200+ exhibitors and over 100,000 new products. Over 100 brand new exhibitors will offer the latest and most popular products on the market enabling buyers to stock their shelves with their next best-sellers!

Spring Fair has brought the industry together for over 70 years so retail’s people can discover the latest products and trends. An efficient show layout designed around buyer’s needs will mean less time spent finding suppliers and products and more time experiencing them and everything else the show has to offer.