Craft Focus - April/May 2022 (Issue 90)

23 SHOWS & EVENTS This season’s most unmissable events  Spring Fair comes back with a bang Spring Fair, the UK trade show for home, gift and fashion, generated millions of pounds worth of business kick-starting and refuelling the retail industry. A return in buyer confidence and the buzz, enthusiasm and energy throughout the show was backed up by reports of huge volumes of orders and the average order values going up. Buyers including John Lewis, Next, Morleys, Wayfair, Oliver Bonas, Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick, National Trust, V&A, Merlin Entertainment, Tesco, Sainsbury, Argos, B&Q, Paperchase, Scribbler, Funky Pigeon, Waterstones, Hobbycraft, Matalan, as well as garden centres such as Squires, Notcutts, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, and Barton Grange attended. Charlotte Overend, Buyer from La Redoute said: “We’ve been to the Spring Fair a few times now and it’s better than before, so happy with meeting all our suppliers and new ones too, placed a few orders and its definitely the show to be at. Will be back for Autumn Fair.” Julie Driscoll, Divisional Managing Director, Spring Fair & Moda, said: “It’s been a truly extraordinary four days at Spring Fair, we’re so pleased to be able to report on such overwhelming success stories and hear the brilliant feedback from our visitors and exhibitors. “Backed up by our 72-year heritage and experience, Spring Fair continues to look forward, to listen to and understand the marketplace, to evolve and innovate, to strive to deliver the ultimate buying experience and the best return on investment for our exhibitors. Despite the two-year break, the team haven’t stood still. We’ve invested in our people and in new products such as Curated Meetings to ensure we not only have our finger on the pulse of what our customers and the retail industry needs, but also to continually think ahead to the future to create new ways of doing business. We look forward to putting on another retail spectacle at Autumn Fair and look forward to welcoming you all back.” Curated Meetings continued to offer the wow factor with its super-charged and game-changing way of doing business. Hundreds of focused face-to-face meetings took place leading to new partnerships and connections. Maritia Osipova, Buyer, Wallaces Homevalue & Garden Centre, Ireland said: “Curated Meetings are great, short, oneto-one meetings, and you have the full attention to your potential customer or new supplier. It’s a quick and easy way to communicate. It’s a brilliant opportunity and everybody should try it. I’ve met with nine companies all in one day. It’s great, really energizing. I’ll definitely be placing orders with some of them when I get home. I would 100 per cent join Curated Meetings again.” For further information about the show, visit the website: www.springfair.com Shows, news & events Diary dates BCTF 10th-12th April, 2022 Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate https://bctf.co.uk/ Giving & Living Online 9th-11th May, 2022 https://givingliving.co.uk London Stationery Show 17th-18th May, 2022 London Design Centre, London www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk

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