The popular, coastal Giving & Living trade show will now take place from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January 2026, in its usual venue, Westpoint in Exeter, just one mile off the M5, in the heart of the beautiful South West. The later dates mean that the show no longer clashes with Top Drawer Spring, or Harrogate Christmas Fair. Great news!
Posted: 10 June 2025
Autumn Fair 2025, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, has joined forces with SaveTheHighStreet.org, to launch Retail Makeover Mission, a bold new initiative launching aimed at revitalising independent retail and act as a catalyst for high street regeneration across the UK.
Championing independent retail innovation and resilience, the Retail Makeover Mission is a timely answer to the UK's retail crisis. The campaign launched on Tuesday 10th June with a competition for independent retailers to win a complete business transformation package worth over £10,000, and a survey to understand the pressures facing the industry to help drive positive change.
Posted: 10 June 2025
A new drive to grow the number of small businesses in the UK, through targeted support for side-hustles and start-ups, has been announced by Small Business Britain and eBay.
The new Side-Hustle Lab – a free, six-week online programme, designed to help people get started, scale up, and build successful businesses – will launch on 4th June.
With the number of small businesses falling by 9 percent over the last five years – from a peak of 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024 – the organisations are jointly calling for greater support for start-ups, and particularly businesses starting life as side-hustles.
Posted: 3 June 2025
Following a strong period of wholesale growth across the UK, The British Hamper Company has announced ambitious plans to partner with over 170 retailers by the end of 2025.
The milestone reflects the increasing demand for the company's artisan food and drink range and a growing appetite for premium, British-made gifting products.
Since launching its own-brand retail range in Autumn 2024, the Lincolnshire-based business has seen more than 28,000 gift tins reach homes across the country. This consumer enthusiasm has translated into rising interest from stockists, with the wholesale division rapidly expanding its presence in key retail sectors.
The brand's award-winning range is already proving popular at leading garden centres.
Posted: 28 May 2025
The winners of Gift of the Year 2025, organised by The Giftware Association, have been unveiled.
Gift of the Year honours outstanding products that capture the spirit of giving across the retail landscape. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries and some of the most inventive, heartwarming, and sustainable gifts the industry has ever seen.
These winners stood out for their exceptional design, innovation, and ability to wow the judges — who were made up of buyers and retailers — and ultimately will see their products in the hands of consumers, whether on the high street, online, or in boutique stores across the country.
Posted: 23 May 2025
G H Stafford & Son LTD — one of the UK's leading suppliers of leathergoods and accessories — is launching a nationwide Window Display Competition to celebrate the creativity of independent retailers. The competition kicks off on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Retailers are invited to submit photos of a window display featuring G H Staffords' products by Monday 7th July 2025, with a £100 account credit awarded to the best entry in each of six regions:
Scotland & NI, North, Midlands, South, Wales, and Ireland.
Posted: 22 May 2025
Get ready to discover a fresh wave of gift inspiration with the exciting launch of the INDX Gift Edit, a dynamic new trade show set to invigorate the UK giftware market in 2026.
Designed to connect leading suppliers with UK and Ireland retailers, the INDX Gift Edit will arrive at Midlands event venue, Cranmore Park on 19 May 2026.
Responding to the evolving needs of the gift industry, the INDX Gift Edit promises a commercially curated selection of high-quality products spanning food and drink, homeware, fashion accessories, stationery, toys, artisan crafts, and much more.
Jane Bartlett, Director of Events, AIS, and Cranmore Park: "We have listened to the industry and are creating an event that is both commercially focused and inspiring."
Posted: 20 May 2025
Clarion Events has announced that the January Furniture Show has been named a finalist in the Best UK Tradeshow (More Than 8,000sqm) category at the AEO (Association of Event Organisers) Excellence Awards 2025.
This prestigious recognition celebrates the January Furniture Show's continued commitment to delivering an outstanding event experience for the UK's furniture and interiors industry. Taking place annually at the NEC Birmingham, the show brings together thousands of industry professionals, leading brands, and emerging designers to showcase the very best in British and international furniture design and manufacturing.
The AEO Awards celebrate excellence across the events industry, highlighting innovation, growth, and impact. Being shortlisted in the More Than 8,000sqm category underscores the scale and success of the January Furniture Show as a leading trade exhibition.
Posted: 20 May 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's largest B2B retail trade show for Home, Gift & Fashion of the season, returns to the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, bringing together over 800 leading brands and 12,000+ retail buyers for four days of high-impact product discovery ahead of the busiest season in retail.
At the heart of this year's edition is a powerhouse line-up of industry favourites and bestselling brands across ten curated destinations who use the show as the perfect stage to unveil new products.
Retailers can expect to source from the likes of Candlelight Products, Bedeck, Ty UK, Gingko, Widdop & Co, Kikkerland, Sass & Belle, Bomb Cosmetics, Five Dollar Shake, Baby Republic, Ohh Deer, Powell Craft, and My Gifts Trade.
Posted: 13 May 2025
Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn is set to return to the SEC, Glasgow from 21-22 Sept 2025.
After a temporary shift to August, this boutique show is moving back to its traditional September slot – a more convenient buying period for retailers as the busy Scottish summer tourist season winds down.
This curated trade event will welcome around 100 exhibitors, offering a rich showcase of high-quality Scottish products alongside innovative brands from across the UK and beyond. Nearly a third of the exhibitors are new to the show, bringing fresh ideas and products to Scotland for the first time.
Ones to take a peek at are Harrow & Green Christmas gifts, MuseARTa, Christopher Walster illustrations, The Modern Crafter and Curiously Charmed jewellery.
Posted: 6 May 2025