Drawing buyers from across the UK, Ireland and across the globe, the leading wholesale marketplace for home, gift and fashion, Autumn Fair opened Sunday with a spectacle of newness and source of inspiration from over 500 exhibitors. Buyers from Homebase, Graham & Green, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Card Shop, Mothercare, Paper Tiger, The Olive Branch, Wilkies, John Lewis & Partners, Mooch, The Cotswold Shop, Ashwood Nurseries, and many more flocked to the show enjoying a host of special features including the New Product Showcase, Connect Buyers Lounges, and captivating fashion brought to life on the Moda Catwalk.
Posted: 4 September 2023
The new responsible sourcing show, Source Home & Gift, which opened Sunday welcoming an international line-up of audited manufacturers championing responsibly and sustainably made products, has reported a very successful first day of trading. Taking place across four days at the NEC Birmingham and running parallel to Autumn Fair, Source Home & Gift has tripled in size from the first edition in February, with a diverse showcase of homewares, furniture, gifts, toys, textiles, packaging, and stationery and greetings producers and manufacturers from over 300 exhibitors from over 14 countries including Bangladesh, China, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uganda, UK, Uzbekistan, and Egypt.
Posted: 4 September 2023
Women's power is at work in the next episode of the Digital Academy: three top international designers and architects share their views on the challenges, opportunities and successes of women in architecture and design-related fields. Esha Gupta, Founder and Editor, Design Pataki, India, Molly McGowan, Management Partner, Ennead Architects, USA, and Shida Salehi, Founder and Principal, Customs Bureau, England talk about their different experiences and share their requirements for the future. The discussion will be hosted by Mike Chapman, co-founder and executive producer of the television series ByDesign TV.
Posted: 1 September 2023
Autumn Fair, opens this weekend and is the UK's leading wholesale marketplace for home, gift and fashion, hosting over 500 exhibitors and thousands of inspirational new products vying to be retail's next bestsellers ahead of the industry's most profitable time of year. Leading retailers including Aldi UK, John Lewis, B&M, Boyes Stores, Marks & Spencer, British Garden Centres, Card Factory, Dobbies Garden Centre, Harrods, Holland & Barrett, JoJo Maman Bébé, Matalan, New Look, Next, Sainsburys, Squire's Garden Centre, The Works, Toys R Us, TJX, Dunelm, Homebase, Home Bargains and many more, have joined the new connections programme Connect @ Autumn Fair. With this, the latest insights and trend-led content, plus the new responsible sourcing show Source Home & Gift, visitors will be taken on a voyage of discovery. Source Home & Gift has a compelling line-up of over 300 audited, quality global manufacturers who pride themselves on responsible manufacturing and sustainable production. Buyers attending the NEC this September will be dazzled by the combined 800 exhibitors, spanning across 6 halls, shaping a must attend Autumn Fair and Source Home & Gift this season.
Posted: 1 September 2023
Ben Massey has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), with the announcement made at the NAJ Summit.
Ben Massey's appointment comes after sustained growth for the Association across membership and its education offering. Ben transitioned to Principal Officer last year, helping lead the NAJ's Senior Management Team, building stronger links within industry and in government and ensuring the effective implementation of the Association's strategy. He now becomes CEO with immediate effect.
NAJ President Gary Wroe said: "I would like to express my gratitude to Ben on behalf of the National Committee for his dedication and hard work during the recent structural and strategic changes. His contribution has been vital to the Association's progress and accomplishments."
Posted: 29 August 2023
Smart Toys and Games successfully scooped two award wins at the Independent Toy Awards including gold for SmartGames 'Cats & Boxes' in the Educational Games category and bronze for SmartMax 'My First Build & Drive' in the Construction category.
Smart Toys and Games is thrilled to be recognised for two awards by a highly respected group of retailers and especially delighted to have been awarded gold in the educational games category for SmartGames 'Cats & Boxes.' The popular compact game, which is suitable for ages 7 years +, challenges players to move the puzzle pieces one by one until all 5 of the furry friends are inside a box.
Posted: 28 August 2023
Drawing inspiration from the stunning autumn and winter months, St. Eval has seized the festive season and are delighted to divulge their charming Christmas collections for 2023, including elegant pots, showstopping pillars and beautifully illustrated tins and tealights. New for 2023, watch the magic of the season come alive in jewel-toned pots of mesmerising midnight blue, charming winter plum purple, and enchanting forest green. Crafted with care and infused with the spirit of Christmas, these festive candles add warmth, joy, and a touch of elegance to enchant the evenings.
Posted: 23 August 2023
Independent award-winning jewellery retail business Bradley's Jewellers York has updated its Eco Rocks brand with the new Eco Rocks Colour Editions Collection of fine jewellery set with synthetic coloured stones and laboratory-grown diamonds.
Following the success of its first foray into laboratory-grown diamond jewellery, Bradley's Jewellers York has created a debut line of three-stone rings, each one set with a laboratory-created coloured stone solitaire flanked by two laboratory-grown diamonds.
Posted: 22 August 2023
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) is delighted to announce that Toy Fair 2024 has sold out five months ahead of the show opening and will expand into the Upper West Hall to accommodate the growing demand for space. The UK's largest toy, game and hobby trade show, which will be celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2024, will take place at Olympia London from the 23rd-25th January 2024. More than 200 exhibiting companies will be occupying the Grand and National halls on both levels- and now also part of the Upper West Hall. One of the stands to occupy the Upper West Hall will be TOMY who are returning to the show in 2024.
Posted: 21 August 2023
Renowned for its inspirational and insightful content, Autumn Fair has announced this year's focus will be on home & gifting trends and sustainability with dedicated days for each. Visitors to the show, taking place from the 3rd – 6th September at NEC Birmingham, are invited to attend trend workshops with leading global futures agency TrendBible, sustainability sessions with Products of Change, as well as presentations offering trade show advice for new businesses, how to navigate through challenging economic times, and motivational masterclasses – all taking place on the Inspiring Retail Stage & Moda Catwalk in Hall 8 which will also host the high energy trend-led catwalk shows.
Posted: 19 August 2023
