Spring Fair and Autumn Fair have announced a series of senior leadership appointments, reinforcing their commitment to long-term growth, strategic focus and delivering exceptional experiences for exhibitors and visitors alike.
These appointments come at a time of sustained commercial and community momentum across both events, with strong growth already secured for upcoming editions and well into 2026.
At a time when retailers are navigating continued economic pressure, evolving consumer behaviour and rapid innovation, Spring Fair, Autumn Fair and Glee play a vital role in supporting the UK retail sector. As platforms for discovery, connection and commercial opportunity, the shows are increasingly focused on helping businesses of all sizes adapt, grow and thrive in a changing marketplace.
Recognising the scale, complexity and opportunity of the UK’s largest trade show and its transition to an experience-led marketplace, the organisers have appointed a new dedicated Event Director solely for Spring Fair. On the 1 December, Fay Tranter joined the team as Event Director of Spring Fair, bringing with her a strong and diverse background spanning B2C and B2B events, marketing, sales and event leadership. Fay has also worked within the West End, including a stint with Andrew Lloyd Webber, giving her a unique blend of commercial and creative expertise.
Spring Fair continues to demonstrate significant growth across its exhibitor and buyer base. Buyer registration is currently tracking 20% ahead year-on-year, alongside a 30% increase in new brands, a 10% rise in new exhibitors and a 20% uplift in international brands. This strong performance underlines the show’s growing relevance and appeal to both established and emerging businesses across the retail sector.
Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director commented, “As the largest show in the UK, Spring Fair demands year-round strategic focus and dedicated leadership to unlock its full potential. But more broadly, our role is about supporting the retail industry at a time of real change. From independent retailers to major multiples, businesses are looking for inspiration, practical insight and trusted connections, and Spring Fair has a critical part to play in enabling that growth. Fay brings a fresh perspective, a wealth of experience and an infectious energy, and I’m incredibly excited to see how her leadership will help us deliver even greater value for the industry.”
Alongside this appointment, the team has also confirmed leadership plans for Autumn Fair and Glee, following the successful colocation of the two events. While both shows retain their distinct identities, communities and sector focus, the alignment creates a valuable opportunity to strengthen the overall second-half-of-the-year proposition. To support this, Matthew Mein has been appointed Event Director of both Glee and Autumn Fair, ensuring each event continues to deliver clearly defined value for its core audiences while benefiting from closer strategic coordination.
Both Autumn Fair and Glee are currently tracking 20% ahead year-on-year, reflecting strong demand from exhibitors and buyers alike. In particular, Glee continues to perform strongly with its core garden, leisure and outdoor living community, underlining the importance of maintaining a focused and tailored offer for its longstanding exhibitor and visitor base. Collectively, the two events delivered an 8% increase in buyers in 2025, and momentum is already translating into future commitment, with 80% of the combined floorplan already sold for 2026.
Jackson Szabo added, “With Glee and Autumn Fair coming together, alignment is critical, not just for the shows, but for the sectors they serve. Our ambition is to create environments that genuinely help retailers source better, plan smarter and build more resilient businesses. Matthew understands the challenges facing the industry and the importance of serving distinct communities well, and that’s exactly what we need as we look to support sustainable retail growth across the UK.”
Fay Tranter said, “Spring Fair has an incredible heritage and a hugely exciting future. I’m thrilled to be joining at such a pivotal moment and look forward to working with the team and the wider industry to build on its strengths, embrace innovation and continue to deliver real value for our communities.”
Matthew Mein commented, “Glee and Autumn Fair together represent a huge opportunity. Bringing these communities closer will allow us to create a more connected, dynamic and impactful event experience. The growth we’re seeing now, and the strength of the 2026 pipeline, makes this an incredibly exciting time to take the next step.”
