Koelnmesse looks back on a successful 2024 trade fair year: with a turnover of EUR 365.8 million, a profit of EUR 21.3 million and a total of 76 events in Cologne and worldwide, the company was able to further consolidate its position as one of the leading international trade fair organisers. A particularly encouraging development was that the company's subsidiaries in Germany and abroad made a significant contribution to the positive overall result. Koelnmesse remains resolutely on course for growth in the current year. The new Confex conference and exhibition centre, international premieres, major contract extensions, and new digital services strengthen the company's structure and offering.
Posted: 3 July 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's leading marketplace for home, gift, and fashion, has revealed its most ambitious and retailer-focused content programme to date. Practical, focused, and easy to consume, it's been thoughtfully designed to fit around buyers and deliver maximum value in minimal time.
Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, this year's show recognises the pressures facing independent retailers, from rising costs and evolving customer behaviours to the demands of digital transformation and responds with a powerful new programme of over 30 short, high-impact sessions.
Across the brand-new Retail Corner stage and Buyers Retreat, the agenda is packed with real-world strategies, future-facing trend intelligence, and expert-led workshops to help home, gift and fashion retailers buy smarter, sell better, and future-proof their businesses, while staying connected to the wider retail industry without missing a beat on the show floor.
Posted: 2 July 2025
ICHF Events has announced that the craft industry trade show CHSI Stitches will pause in 2026. The show has welcomed more than 250,000 visitors through its doors since it was started in 1976. Simon Burns, ICHF Managing Director said: "CHSI Stitches will pause in 2026. This will allow us to step back and consider the evolving needs of the creative craft industry; shaped by shifting consumer behaviour, digital growth, and new retail models."
Posted: 1 July 2025
Knitted Knockers UK, a registered charity in England & Wales which offers free of charge bespoke knitted and crocheted knockers to women who have had surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis, proudly announces its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of confidence boosting, sometimes lifechanging assistance to women in the UK. The Charity relies on donations to help it do that and is solely run by volunteers.
Posted: 12 June 2025
The popular, coastal Giving & Living trade show will now take place from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January 2026, in its usual venue, Westpoint in Exeter, just one mile off the M5, in the heart of the beautiful South West. The later dates mean that the show no longer clashes with Top Drawer Spring, or Harrogate Christmas Fair. Great news!
Posted: 10 June 2025
Autumn Fair 2025, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, has joined forces with SaveTheHighStreet.org, to launch Retail Makeover Mission, a bold new initiative launching aimed at revitalising independent retail and act as a catalyst for high street regeneration across the UK.
Championing independent retail innovation and resilience, the Retail Makeover Mission is a timely answer to the UK's retail crisis. The campaign launched on Tuesday 10th June with a competition for independent retailers to win a complete business transformation package worth over £10,000, and a survey to understand the pressures facing the industry to help drive positive change.
Posted: 10 June 2025
Leading stationery brand STABILO is proud to announce the BOSS ORIGINAL Highlighter, has been awarded 'The Icon Award' at this year's Stationery Awards. The awards were held on Tuesday, 13th May, the first evening of The London Stationery Show, where the world's biggest stationery brands gathered in The Business Design Centre to celebrate new products and their latest offerings. Amongst 16 categories, STABILO was shortlisted in five, spotlighting its varied product offering, including sustainable features, stationery classics, and famous collaborations.
Posted: 22 May 2025
Craft Industry Alliance is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Golden Scissors Awards, recognising excellence in the crafts industry. The awards ceremony took place live on stage at h+h Americas. Five outstanding craft professionals were recognised in front of an audience of several hundred of their peers for their contributions to the industry. The craft industry includes world-class corporations and thousands of visionary small business owners whose never-ending creativity continually lifts the entire sector to new heights. The Golden Scissors Awards are an opportunity for the industry to acknowledge those who have offered outstanding leadership and innovation and made important contributions to the industry as a whole.
Posted: 20 May 2025
h+h americas 2025 concluded its most successful edition yet, welcoming more than 5,180 industry professionals (29.7% increase over 2024) from 48 countries, all 50 U.S. states and 2 U.S. territories to the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont, Illinois. With 558 exhibitors representing 27 nations and a dynamic lineup of over 328 programmes, this year's event continued to set the standard as North America's most influential handicraft trade show.
Posted: 15 May 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's largest B2B retail trade show for Home, Gift & Fashion of the season, returns to the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, bringing together over 800 leading brands and 12,000+ retail buyers for four days of high-impact product discovery ahead of the busiest season in retail.
At the heart of this year's edition is a powerhouse line-up of industry favourites and bestselling brands across ten curated destinations who use the show as the perfect stage to unveil new products.
Retailers can expect to source from the likes of Candlelight Products, Bedeck, Ty UK, Gingko, Widdop & Co, Kikkerland, Sass & Belle, Bomb Cosmetics, Five Dollar Shake, Baby Republic, Ohh Deer, Powell Craft, and My Gifts Trade.
Posted: 13 May 2025