Reinforcing its position as an essential industry networking hub, Autumn Fair is building on its partnership with trade associations The British Independent Retailers Association (bira) and BHETA ahead of the 2016 exhibition.
The new initiative will involve the creation of a dedicated area for bira and BHETA members that they will collectively support and promote.
This joining of forces will see the independent retail trade coming together to drive innovation and optimise business opportunities for their association members at Autumn Fair, the UK’s most important seasonal retail trade exhibition for the home and gift market.
Bira will host a brand new feature area within Contemporary Gift & Home at Autumn Fair – called the ‘bira Contemporary Collective’ – where its supplier members will show their contemporary home and giftware in an inspiring new format and host customers in the shared hospitality area, the ‘bira bistro’.
BHETA members will reinforce the unity and synergy between the two associations via their members who will also be present in the area, which is sure to be an important hub for independent and online retailers and multiples attending Autumn Fair.
Will Jones, Executive Director of BHETA, commented: “We are delighted to be part of this joint initiative as it offers the industry an opportunity to collectively focus on Autumn Fair that still offers genuine trading opportunities for all suppliers. This is also an excellent opportunity for smaller innovative companies to showcase their products as the stand deals available really do represent excellent value for money.”
Autumn Fair has long been the right platform for buyers to meet, network and do business with their exhibitors, providing visitors with over 1400 inspirational suppliers who are looking to sell into the retail market.
Portfolio Director for Autumn Fair Naomi Barton (pictured right in red), said: “We know that September is the right time of year for buyers to attend in order to stock top-trending products ahead of the Christmas period as well as other key seasonal buying occasions such as Easter and Mother’s Day.
“We are also seeing a trend in the major multiples wishing to view products even earlier than ever before – Autumn Fair therefore acts as a pre-Spring showcase, as well as enabling retailers to restock products that are proving successful. We are delighted therefore to offer both bira and BHETA members exclusive packages that will include a dedicated cross-channel promotional marketing campaign to our thousands of key industry professionals before and during Autumn Fair 2016.
“This powerful new alliance between bira and BHETA, who are joining forces at the show for the first time, allows members a fantastic transactional platform where they can meet their chosen buyers for the last time in the calendar year as well as the ability to launch brand new products early.
Membership and Marketing Director of bira, Sarah Golden adds: “Evolving with the buyers’ needs at an exhibition is essential to staying relevant and crucially making sales, so evolving our Cookshop and Housewares Association Supplier Village to present our selected bira direct suppliers in this new contemporary gift format was an obvious move.
“September remains the key month for seasonal buying with our independent retailers, so Autumn Fair is a must for any shop selling home, gift and lifestyle products. All independent retailers are welcome to the bira Contemporary Collective zone, and can enjoy refreshments in the bira bistro. Whilst there, they can benefit from special show offers from the participating suppliers as well as an exclusive joining offer for bira.”
For further information about how to participate within either the Bira Collective or as a BHETA member at Autumn Fair 2016, please contact Jessica Dawnay at jessica.dawnay@i2ieventsgroup.com or call 0203 033 2145.
