Destination retail drives growth in retail solutions and experiences at Autumn Fair and Glee Across home, gift, fashion and garden retail, businesses are increasingly recognising that success isn’t driven by product alone. Buyers are arriving at trade shows looking not only for the next bestselling products, but also for the expertise, technology and services that will help them sell those products more effectively. That shift is reflected in one of the fastest-growing areas across both Autumn Fair and Glee 2026. Whilst the sectors carry different names - Retail Solutions at Autumn Fair and Retail Experiences & Services at Glee - both are expanding in response to growing demand for specialist expertise, AIpowered innovation, operational support and technologies that help retailers work smarter, improve customer experiences and drive long-term profitability. Taking place at the NEC Birmingham this September, Autumn Fair (6th - 9th September) and Glee (8th - 10th September) will welcome more than 1,250 exhibitors, showcase over 500,000 products and attract more than 20,000 retail buyers, creating Europe›s largest buying event for home, gift, fashion and garden retail. Different names. One shared ambition Although Retail Solutions and Retail Experiences & Services have been developed for different audiences, they share the same purpose: helping retailers build stronger, more resilient businesses. Whether serving high streets, shopping destinations or modern garden centres, today’s retailers face many of the same challenges. Rising operating costs, changing customer expectations and rapid advances in technology are driving investment in smarter ways of working, with businesses increasingly looking beyond the products they sell to the systems and expertise that support commercial success. Claire Gatenby, Co-Founder of Squashed Pixel who will be offering free Shopify Clinics during Autumn Fair to help retailers tackle real business challenges, said: “Retail has never been more connected. Customers don’t distinguish between online and offline anymore; they simply expect every interaction to feel effortless. The retailers seeing the strongest growth are those investing in technology that removes friction, empowers staff and creates one consistent customer experience across every channel.” Technology may be one of the fastest-moving areas of retail, but exhibitors across both shows agree that its role is not to replace great retailing - it’s to give retailers better information, better insight and more time to focus on the customer. www.autumnfair.com, www.gleebirmingham.com Spring Fair and Theo Pathitis #SBS Partnership announce record 18 small business winners for 2027 Spring Fair, the UK’s leading Home, Gift & Fashion retail experience, has announced the 18 winners of its 2027 Spring Fair x #SBS Small Business Sunday competition, giving a record number of entrepreneurs the opportunity to exhibit free of charge at the show’s dedicated #SBS Village when Spring Fair returns to the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 February 2027. Now entering its eighth year, the partnership between Spring Fair and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis continues to provide one of the UK’s most valuable launchpads for emerging retail brands. This year’s competition saw a significant increase in interest, with applications up by around 10% and judges commenting on the exceptional quality and diversity of entries. A record 18 businesses have secured fully funded exhibition stands through the partnership, representing a 50 percent increase on previous years and pushing the total number of businesses supported to well over 100. Theo Paphitis, TV Dragon, Retail Entrepreneur and Small Business Champion said: “The partnership between #SBS Small Business Sunday and the Spring & Autumn Fair team has now been running for eight years, and with this year’s competition we will have awarded over 100 free stands to small business owners. Year on year, the connections and relationships formed within the #SBS Village demonstrate just how valuable this opportunity is for growing businesses. It is a genuinely business-boosting experience, and I am already looking forward to meeting this year’s 18 finalists. Spring Fair continues to be a hub of opportunity, fresh thinking and new connections.” Fay Tranter, Event Director at Spring Fair added: “Every year we’re inspired by the incredible talent coming through the #SBS community, but this year’s entries raised the bar again - the quality was outstanding, making the judging process incredibly difficult. These 18 businesses represent exactly what independent retail is all about - creativity, resilience, originality and entrepreneurial spirit. One of the things I love most about Spring Fair is seeing businesses at the very beginning of their wholesale journey. Through the #SBS Village we’ll be able to support these brands from day one, introducing them to thousands of retail buyers and giving them the platform, confidence and connections to accelerate their growth. We can’t wait to welcome them to Spring Fair 2027 and see where this opportunity takes them.” Taking place at the NEC Birmingham, Spring Fair 2027 will once again bring together thousands of buyers and brands across home, gift, fashion, and outdoor living, offering unrivalled opportunities for networking, sourcing and growth. Spring Fair 2027 takes place 7th – 10th February 2027 at the NEC Birmingham. 15 NEWS & EVENTS
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