The stage has been set for Autumn Fair 2015, the most important retail buying event in Europe taking place in the second half of the year. Organised by i2i Events Group, the exhibition will run from September 6 – 9 at The NEC, Birmingham.
Autumn Fair will showcase the best new products from 1,400 exhibitors across 13 different market categories, with tens of thousands of new launches that offer superb cross-over buying opportunities and countless sector-specialist products. Show categories are:
Gift, Contemporary Gift & Home, Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets, Volume Gift & Home, Brands of China, Greetings, Gift & Craft, Fashion Jewellery & Accessories, Home, Table & Kitchen, Body & Bath, Retail Shop, The Summerhouse and – an exciting new introduction for 2015 – The Light Show.
The Light Show at Autumn Fair will be the only Lighting Industry Association-endorsed decorative lighting event taking place in the UK this year, incorporating such market-leading luminaries as Dar Lighting, Searchlight, Interiors 1900, Impex Russell, TP24, Endon Lighting and Illuminati.
The Company Director for Searchlight, Dov Hamburger, commented: “The lamps will be lit, the chandeliers will be shining and the glasses will be gleaming. It will be a great show, one we’ve been planning and waiting for”.
Alongside some of the most well-known and successful bellwether brands in the business, Autumn Fair will host hundreds of new companies and first time exhibitors in what promises to be an essential destination for retailers in search of the hottest new products and trends ahead of Christmas.
Joining the show for the first time in 2015 is the Caribbean Export Development Agency, a group pavilion of 12 companies from across the Atlantic displaying an eclectic mix of home accessories, handmade cosmetics, jewellery, indigenous pottery and ceramics, leather crafts and natural body and bath products in its first European showcase.
Also new for 2015 is Taste Taiwan Design, a group pavilion devoted to unique and emerging Taiwanese design talent that is exclusive to Autumn Fair this season, while Danish home interiors and outdoor living brand IB Laursen APS also joins the show for the first time this year.
Exhibiting within the flourishing Home sector will be inspirational British design-led company Abigail Ahern Designs. Abigail Ahern has established herself as one of the most influential tastemakers in home interiors, whether pioneering dark colour palettes, or the cactus craze that has been the biggest trend of the summer. Abigail will showcase her new furniture, lighting and home accessories in a comprehensive collection for Autumn Fair.
Another new development for 2015 is the arrival of the Carpet Export Promotion Council, a colourful collective of up to 12 Indian rug and flooring companies who are collaborating on a group stand in Hall 2 of the exhibition.
The unrivalled new product display to be showcased at Autumn Fair will include the biggest and best selection of Contemporary Gift & Home products available to the UK and wider European retail trade ahead of Christmas. Major industry suppliers including Enesco, Junction 18, Wild & Wolf, Heaven Sends, Disaster Designs, Rex International, RJB Stone and Temerity Jones London will all present their new lines within this show sector.
Located within Contemporary Gift & Home in Hall 3 will be the must-see Designlab feature area, a unique showcase of cutting-edge design-led product from companies such as: Queen Tea, Cherith Harrison, Colourful Dove, Itzbugginiz, Fab Funky, Molten Wonky, Boop Design and Clockwork Soldier will show off their unique new collections.
Also exclusive to Autumn Fair in the second half of 2015 is The Summerhouse collective of luxurious, design-led gift and homeware from 16 handpicked companies from around the world
For those on the lookout for future trends, the WGSN-supported Trends Theatre, located in Hall 3 adjacent to Designlab, will provide a wealth of ideas and inspiration. WGSN will provide forward thinking design direction for the retail community via three macro trend concepts to be presented via daily webinars, while retailers and business leaders will share the secrets of their success.
The content programme at Autumn Fair is designed to guide visitors through some of the challenges facing bricks and mortar retailers, from how to identify the next big thing to visual merchandising and photography, and provide inspiration for the season ahead.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has once again partnered with Autumn Fair for 2015 and will be on stand 4N31-N32. UKTI contributes to the content programme at Autumn Fair and this year presents iconic British designer Emma Bridgewater as the keynote speaker. Emma will discuss her brand’s export journey from the eCommerce theatre on Tuesday September 8 from 14.00 – 14.30.
Showcasing the latest trends in Fashion Jewellery & Accessories to stunning effect will be the Catwalk feature in Hall 4, where runway shows interspersed with trend presentations will take place daily for the duration of Autumn Fair.
Another important centrepiece for the show is the Ecommerce Theatre, situated within the buzzing Retail Shop area, also in Hall 4. Ecommerce seminar content will address some of the most challenging issues faced by retailers, with session topics ranging from social media to Search Engine Optimization and website design.
Retail Shop is a key growth area for Autumn Fair, reflecting the swiftly evolving retail environment where over 10 per cent of purchases are made online and 62 per cent of British consumers use their mobile phones and tablets to shop with. Exhibitors within Retail Shops can help businesses navigate the huge online space, build a multi-channel offering and enhance their bricks and mortar offering through in-store solutions. This area of the show will include:
Logistics companies, digital marketing and social media specialists, web designers, payment providers, product photography, warehousing and returns companies, mailing houses, POS suppliers and packaging solutions.
The new Portfolio Director for Autumn Fair, Naomi Barton, commented: “I’m incredibly excited to be working on Autumn Fair, which has massively grown in stature over the years and is one of the fastest-growing seasonal trade exhibitions in Europe, showcasing more new and innovative products than any other event of its kind taking place in the Autumn/Winter season. The addition of The Light Show is a very important development and perfectly aligned alongside Autumn Fair given that September is the ideal time of year for lighting buyers. I am also delighted to be welcoming so many brand new companies to the show, along with our loyal existing clients.”
For more information on Autumn Fair and to register for free visit the website
