Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 115)

149 Meeting the sustainabil ity chal lenge Shoppers are increasingly demanding more sustainable, responsibly sourced and ethical goods. Julie Driscoll, managing director of Spring and Autumn Fair, explains how action is the only option for the retail industry Consumers are increasingly concerned about how environmentally friendly, responsibly sourced and sustainable their favourite products are. This interest is becoming a hugely influential factor in purchasing decisions and is redefining responsible retailing. This has manifested itself in a number of ways, from consumers taking to social media to call out their favourite outlets for perceived packaging faux pas, to shoppers voting with their feet and turning their backs on retailers that fail to act. With the problem only set to grow, this is a make or break situation for retailers. The decision to create or stock more sustainable products is not only an ethical choice, but a commercial one too. Ignoring or shying away from the public outcry is simply not an option. The retail market’s agenda will come to be defined by those businesses who were able to rise to the challenge, while those who fail to reap consumers’ warnings will pay the highest price. Sincerity of commitment is vital. Retailers must put the issue at the heart of everything they do and take action, whether that means finding alternative packaging materials or making their supply chains more transparent. SETTING THE AGENDA As a forum for the sector, Spring and Autumn Fair’s agenda aims to empower retailers and suppliers, giving them the tools to take matters into their own hands. Providing shop-owners with the knowledge required to get on board with current sustainability measures is essential. As industry leaders, we need to be providing practical and implementable advice. At February’s Spring Fair, we launched our Power of One campaign, energising the retail industry to take action against plastic waste and unsustainable practices. The initiative champions the UN’s development goal for more responsible production and consumption by driving small yet powerful steps towards an eco-friendly future. Building on the campaign’s previous success, we will be driving it forward at Autumn Fair 2019. We’ll look to challenge visitors, retailers and suppliers alike to take on one change as part of their contribution to furthering the case for environmental and ethical justice. The campaign, which initially launched at the fashion trade show Pure UK, also hopes to give the retail industry the power to speak up and focus on long-term improvements, from the shop floor to senior leaders. MAKING CHANGES We know that as an event organiser, we too can do more. It’s why we’re committed to recycling every visitor guidebook at our shows and why at Autumn Fair we’ll be making our speaker stages out of recyclable materials. We’re also introducing a rating for products to make it as easy as possible for visitors to identify eco-friendly and responsibly sourced items. In the next few years, we will continue to help identify and profile exhibitors with ethical and sustainable credentials. We’ll also seek to collaborate with more ambassadors to raise awareness of this essential movement. This challenge has the potential to spark industry innovation, new ways of doing things and a realignment of what we value. Seismic changes are required, but those will only come once we change what is within our means now. That is the essence of Power of One. “The decision to create or stock more sustainable pr oducts is not only an ethical choice, but a commercial one too. Ignoring or shying away fr om the public outcry is simply not an option.” For further information visit autumnfair.com BUSINESS ADVICE

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=