Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2017 (Issue 104)

Showcasing the very best in gifting and homeware, this year more than 1,300 UK and international suppliers were present at Autumn Fair, as independent retailers and buyers from UK and overseas – including Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and Spain – looked for inspiration ahead of the next big gifting and home occasions. Highlighting the importance that the retail industry puts on Autumn Fair, over four days, buyers from Tesco, Fenwick, Wayfair, Debenhams and John Lewis paid a visit to the event, along with independent retailers like Steamer Trading, House of Cards, Inside Out and Everything Rosy Interiors. The new Inside Retail Hub proved to be a popular destination throughout Autumn Fair. A series of workshops took place, with retailers able to learn about creating professional in-store displays, utilising social media channels and improving engagement with their customers. At the Trends & Inspiration Catwalk, daily fashion shows took place, presenting the latest colours, accessories and clothing lines from Autumn Fair exhibitors. Global trends forecaster WGSN also gave its first ever live presentation at the event, highlighting the trends it believes will come to the fore in spring and summer 2018. With the inexorable rise of online shopping, bricks and mortar stores need to evolve in order to prosper. The Master the High Street Theatre – run in association with Brands of China – provided advice from some leading experts, including Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun, who spoke about how to future-proof your business against the digital high street. Looking ahead to next year, Louise Young, Divisional Director – Retail at Ascential, which runs Autumn Fair, commented: “This year’s Autumn Fair has seen exhibitors step up again in how they present their latest ranges. In particular, Home, Lighting and Contemporary Gift provided retailers with a feast of visual theatre in terms of styling and the many room sets now incorporated on stands. “The show also offers retailers an imaginative range of gifts for Christmas across all price points. Taking advantage of the weak pound, retailers from the United States, Europe and more travelled to the event to view the many product ranges that are exclusive to Autumn Fair.” Spring Fair, the sister event to Autumn Fair, will run from 4 th - 8th February, 2018. To register, visit springfair.com NEW PRODUCTS AND FUTURE TRENDS WERE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT AUTUMN FAIR All of the research and curatorial work for Ambiente’s 2018 trends is handled by the bora.herke.palmisano Trend Bureau. The trend scouts have been filtering the relevant seminal influences in design, art, architecture, fashion and lifestyle. This involves selecting products of Ambiente exhibitors and showcasing them in the form of trend worlds. As a heading for its trend message, its chosen the phrase Fusion, Link and Connection . “This is because each of the four thematic areas comprises several and sometimes even seemingly contradictory aspects,” says Annetta Palmisano from the bora.herke.palmisano Trend Bureau. “It’s increasingly about a quest for well-being, meaning and alternative options. The focus will be on everyday things, hand-made items, sustainability and being future-proof.” This will be specifically reflected in four stylistic directions: Modest Regenerations, Colourful Intentions, Technological Emotions and Opulent Narrations. The design that will be presented has been impacted by numerous influences, ranging from rustic simplicity to hints of Baroque opulence. The trade fair will include exclusive guided tours and talks by the design studio, offering intensive glimpses of the four trend worlds. On each day of the show, at 11:30am and 2.30pm, Annetta Palmisano will give a talk on the presentation platform of the Ambiente Academy, with plenty of examples of tomorrow’s design language. After each session, she and Claudia Herke will take the audience on a guided tour of the trends showcased at Galleria 1. Ambiente Trends will be supported by a brochure with a clear presentation of the research, using colour palettes as well as sample products and materials. Retailers will thus receive valuable stimuli for the coming year. For more details and to register for February’s show, visit the website ambiente.messefrankfurt.com AMBIENTE ANNOUNCES TREND WORLDS FOR 2018 Readers’ poll What we’ve learnt from the latest reader poll at giftfocus.com We asked: Do you belong to any trade organisation such as The GA, BAFTS or BTAA? You said: Yes! - 14% No - 29% No but I am considering joining an association - 43% I have joined an organisation in the past - 14% giftfocus 11 news & events