Show News: Industry news from Craft Focus magazine

Spring Fair the launch pad for new products

Buyers highlighted their delight at their new discoveries and the feedback throughout the day was buoyant and energised. Hillary Fuller, from Attico in Bournemouth said, "We've had such a great show, and seen loads of new and innovative products. We're actually running behind schedule as we discovered two new companies that we've not bought from before and they are perfect for us, and now we're off to meet more of our regular suppliers." Stephanie Taylor Howl from Just-Tickety Boo Events, Burton-on-Trent added, "The show is amazing, it's not just an average show, it's much bigger and better! The stands really draw you in, it has been a really immersive experience. We have found it easy to navigate around the show, signage has been excellent. It's been good to meet the brands in person and make relationships directly with the sellers. I found some lovely high-end ribbon, some amazing frosted trees and some enormous wreaths which will be great for my Christmas events. We have seen some lovely new products, the quality is excellent and the prices have been competitive. We stumbled across some new suppliers, they are local to us and we never would have found them without visiting Spring Fair, which is great!"

Posted: 8 February 2024

Read this story

Frankfurt: In brief!

The trio of Frankfurt consumer goods fairs, consisting of Ambiente, Christmasworld and Creativeworld, impressively demonstrated that the entire global consumer goods industry was a guest at the fully booked Frankfurt exhibition grounds for five days. Even the rail strike could not dampen the success: "Mission accomplished! Together with around 5,000 exhibitors and participants from over 170 countries and regions, this top-class trade fair trio strengthens the consumer goods industry in uncertain times", summed up Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.

Posted: 6 February 2024

Read this story

Craftworks announces partnership with Cox London

A new exhibition Jay Blades presents Craftworks is proud to announce an exciting partnership with Cox London, an award-winning studio and workshop, that celebrates traditional craft within a thriving modern business. Cox London's exceptional craftmanship will be on display at the show with a dedicated space showcasing their artworks. Nicola and Chris will join many other industry experts on a series of panel events and seminars. The inspiring programme will be announced in due course.

Posted: 30 January 2024

Read this story

Top Drawer delivers an expanded show and second successive visitor increase!

Top Drawer S/S24, the first sourcing event of the year for the UK's retail industry, closed its doors last week following three days of successful, vibrant trade at Olympia London; having delivered a show that was 10% larger than 2023, it also benefited from a second successive year of visitor growth following a hugely successful acquisition strategy that resulted in thousands of new faces on the show floor, with 35% of them never having attended previously. The international flavour of recent editions also continued, with over 40 countries represented across the three days including the likes of Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Greece, Iceland, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

Posted: 24 January 2024

Read this story

h+h cologne 2024: Know-how and networking as a career booster

With a new zones concept that promotes knowledge transfer and networking, across four new zones an event programme tailor-made to meet the needs of the retail trade and its partners awaits the visitors of h+h cologne from 22nd to 24th March 2024. One of the highlights is the Future Talents Day on the last day of the fair, which gives young talents the opportunity to present themselves to the international trade audience. Tickets for the trade show as well as for the Deep Dive workshops that enable the concentrated transfer of knowledge are available now.

Posted: 18 January 2024

Read this story

Spring Fair announces Dame Zandra Rhodes as a speaker

Spring Fair has announced that British fashion and textile designer and pioneer Dame Zandra Rhodes will take to the Inspiring Retail Stage for a fireside chat with retail analyst Natalie Berg, exploring her remarkable journey in design, leadership, and innovation.

The Fabric of Success: Dame Zandra Rhodes on Reinventing Fashion and Retail Leadership will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 7th February in Hall 2 within Moda, Spring Fair's trusted fashion destination.

Delving into her origin story, the evolution of British fashion, and her role in home furnishings, discover how her style and daring collaborations shaped her brand, drove innovation and legacy.

This session is a must-watch for those interested in the intersection of retail creativity, industry advocacy and the cultivation of female leadership in retail.

Posted: 15 January 2024

Read this story

Only one week till Top Drawer S/S opens!

Top Drawer, the UK's premier design-led retail trade show, is back in one week with its Spring/Summer 2024 edition, featuring a collection of over 600 hand-picked brands across 9 curated sectors. Taking place at Olympia London from 14th - 16th January, buyers will have the opportunity to discover the latest products, brands and trends, as well as network with the rest of the retail industry. This season's show is a must-visit, as it's jam packed with everything a retailer needs to start 2024 with a bang! Here are just some of the highlights to see and enjoy at Top Drawer: Bigger and Better Than Ever Following double-digit visitor growth in 2023, this January's Top Drawer has seen a 10% increase in exhibitor numbers, bringing retailers an unparalleled choice of hand-picked suppliers to explore.

Posted: 9 January 2024

Read this story

The Little Black Book has launched

Spring Fair, the UK's diverse, and trend led marketplace for Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday, has launched this season's The Little Black Book – the buyer's go-to guide for the show taking place from 4th – 7th February 2024 at NEC Birmingham. Digital copies of The Little Black Book will also be sent to everyone who registers. To register for Spring Fair and be in with a chance of receiving a free copy of The Little Black Book visit the website: https://www.springfair.com/visitor-registration

Posted: 2 January 2024

Read this story

Industry veteran Alison Graham joins Clarion Retail

Clarion Retail has announced the appointment of Alison Graham, who will spearhead the commercial team on flagship tradeshow Home & Gift.

Graham joins Clarion having spent more than two decades working at Spring and Autumn Fair and more recently on logistics event, Deliver, and brings a wealth of experience and contacts to the role.

Clarion Retail Show Manager David Westbrooke said: "I'm thrilled to welcome Alison to the team – having worked with her previously, I know without doubt that she is the perfect person to help drive our portfolio forward; her impressive event experience combined with strong relationships across the retail industry reinforces our campaign to deliver the best possible customer experience."

Posted: 21 December 2023

Read this story

Spring Fair and Autumn Fair strengthen leadership team with new appointments

Hyve Group has announced the appointment of two new leaders to the team, Jackson Szabo as Portfolio Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Soraya Gadelrab as the new Event Director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair.

The two senior appointments to the team will strengthen the leadership team for Retail's definitive wholesale shopping destinations, shaping the future of the industry.

Nicola Meadows, Divisional Managing Director for the Retail, Manufacturing and Engineering Division says: "We're thrilled to introduce our two new leaders Jackson Szabo and Soraya Gadelrab who are joining our team. Their fresh perspectives and wealth of experience will undoubtedly invigorate our sector. Bringing together years of experience with a track record of innovation and success, these talented individuals will propel the team forward."

Posted: 14 December 2023

Read this story