Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2019 (Issue 111)

giftfocus 89 spring fair preview contemporary greeting cards from new members of The Greeting Card Association, making it easier to locate unique and innovative new designs. Among the 24 new suppliers on display will be Lucy Ledger, Mike Bravo, Crumble & Core, Paper Sole, Jemima Banks, Cheeky Chop Cards, Sarah Boddy and Arch & Ivy. These new small owner and illustrator companies will showcase their ranges of greetings cards, wrapping paper, stationery and calendars alongside leading names, including Woodmansterne, TMS International, Ling Design, Belgium Greetings, Museum & Galleries, Great British Card Company, The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Five Dollar Shake and Talking Tables. The blend of small independents and large companies is what makes Spring Fair one of the best places to source exciting designs from around the world. The return of Glee The popular Glee showcase returns for 2019, giving garden retailers the chance to restock after the Christmas period and prepare for upcoming Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Core gardening focuses, including garden care, landscaping, garden decoration and outdoor entertainment, will be supported at Spring Fair café. The café will act as a main hub, housing key industry associations, with a New Product Showcase for garden centres looking to diversify their ranges. Spring Fair product match Following on from the success of Autumn Fair 2018’s Product Match app, designed to help visitors locate the best suppliers for their businesses, Spring Fair will see the launch of a newly improved and updated version of the app. The app will continue to learn about visitors’ preferences the more it is used to ensure that all attendees have the most productive and streamlined fair possible. Speakers and stages The Main Stage is the ideal for retailers to hear new ideas. The 2019 agenda will see a range of retail leaders sharing insights into topical issues such as Brexit, the impact of technology in retail, trends to inform buying decisions and the personal stories behind some of the most well-loved brands. Organisations confirmed to speak on the main stage include Louis Vuitton, Wrendale, Pinterest, The V&A and The Colour Hive. The Studio theatre will be dedicated to delivering content that will look at future trends from the fashion and luxury sector, showcase emerging design talent, tackle topical discussions, changes in consumer behaviours and valuable business insights from industry leaders. Speakers include designer Rachel Galley, National Association of Jewellers chairman Simon Forrester and Unique Style Platform founder Jane Bellman among many others. The Retail Skills Theatre is designed to help improve skillsets and provide advice on everything from product photography and packing to EPOS systems, fleet and freighting. With a range of workshops and sessions built with online and brick-and-mortar retailers in mind, visitors can learn about SEO and social media strategies, stock planning and post- Brexit currency management, instore and online visual merchandising and building an authentic identity. Louise Young, managing director for Spring Fair, commented: “The marketplace that Spring Fair offers is something the internet cannot provide: a place to touch the products, feel their weight, speak to the suppliers and compare your options. Discover a full range of products whether you’re looking to stock your shop or your website, or just looking for inspiration.” Louise continued: “Visitors to Spring Fair will have unmatched access to the newest products and trends taking hold in 2019, across our 16 carefully edited show sectors. As always, we’ll be bringing together the most innovative products and the creative thinking of the trade to have a real impact on the financial success of both retailers and exhibitors. For the home and gift industry, it’s an event not to be missed.” g For more information or to register for the show, visit springfair.com