From Cath Kidston, Hamleys, and The Works to Google, FlightStory and the Natural History Museum, Spring Fair offers retailers exclusive insight and inspiration from some of the industry’s most influential voices
Spring Fair 2027 (7th – 10th February, NEC, Birmingham) is putting some of the biggest names in retail, business, fashion, technology and licensing centre stage, giving visitors the opportunity to hear directly from senior industry leaders and experts, with all talks and sessions included free of charge as part of their show visit.
From the CEO of The Works and the creative minds behind the Cath Kidston x Aardman collaboration to experts from Google, FlightStory – home of The Diary Of A CEO – as well as Hamleys and the Natural History Museum, the latest speaker announcements underline Spring Fair’s commitment to delivering an exceptional programme of insight, inspiration and practical advice alongside its world-class retail buying experience.
These speakers join an already impressive line-up of industry leaders announced for Spring Fair 2027, including Debenhams CEO Dan Finley, Blue Diamond’s Alan Roper, Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones CBE, British Retail Consortium Chief Executive Helen Dickinson, and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis.
Spring Fair brings together the retail industry not only to discover new products and brands, but also to access the ideas, expertise and connections that can help businesses grow. Unlike events where access to high-profile conference content comes at an additional cost, Spring Fair makes its speaker programme available to visitors free of charge, creating an added-value experience for independent retailers and major buyers alike.
Fay Tranter, Event Director of Spring Fair said, “We believe access to great insight should be part of the Spring Fair experience, not an added extra. We are incredibly proud to bring such a high calibre of speakers to the show, giving retailers the opportunity to hear directly from some of the most influential names and organisations in the industry, completely free of charge. Whether it’s learning from the people behind iconic retail experiences, understanding the next generation of consumer behaviour, exploring the power of creators or discovering how AI can support a business, buyers can take away ideas and inspiration that would be difficult to access elsewhere. It’s about making Spring Fair much more than a buying event – it’s a place to learn, connect and be inspired.”
As retailers continue to consider the role of physical stores in an increasingly digital world, Spring Fair will bring a major retail name to the stage to share its perspective on the enduring power of bricks-and-mortar shopping. These talks are particularly relevant commercially for independent retailers looking to drive footfall and create compelling in-store experiences.
Gavin Peck, Chief Executive Officer of The Works Stores Ltd, will explain why the retailer is backing physical stores, fresh screen-free products and the thrill of discovery. In Bricks & Mortar? It Works – Why The Works is Putting Stores Before Screens, Gavin will discuss the thinking behind the business’s strategy, what customers are responding to and why he believes the high street still has a compelling future.
Keane Herman, UK Business Lead at Hamleys, will reveal how one of the world’s most famous toy shops transforms a visit into an unforgettable experience. In A Little Hamleys Magic: How Hamleys Turns Play, Theatre and Discovery into Memorable Retail Experiences, Keane will explore how live shows, hands-on activities and character meet-and-greets bring theatre and discovery into the store, and what other retailers can learn from its approach. Both sessions take place on Tuesday 9th February on the Heart of Retail stage.
What happens when Cath Kidston’s distinctive prints meet Aardman’s much-loved characters? Holly Marler, Creative Director at Cath Kidston, and Ilona Sunderland, Creative Services & Product Development Manager at Aardman, will take visitors behind the scenes of this playful partnership to explore how two iconic British brands have brought their creative worlds together to create a fashion collection full of personality.
In Cath Kidston x Aardman: Behind the Collaboration – How Two Iconic British Brands Bring Character to Fashion, Holly and Ilona will trace the journey from the first idea to the finished designs, exploring how creative collaborations can bring fresh energy to familiar brands, attract new audiences and create products customers love. The session takes place on Monday 8 February at 11am on the Style Studio stage.
With creators increasingly building successful product businesses and turning engaged audiences into customers, Natasha Birk, Head of Product & Ecommerce at FlightStory, home of The Diary Of A CEO, will share the lessons retailers can take from this fast-growing commercial landscape.
In The Creator Playbook: Lessons for Retailers, Natasha will explore how creators develop products, build communities and turn trust into commercial power, offering practical insight into storytelling, product development and launch strategies. The session takes place on Monday 8th February in the Masterclass Studio.
For fashion buyers planning their next collections, Deryane Tadd, founder and buyer at The Dressing Room, will deliver her SS27 Trend Report: The Looks, Colours and Details to Know – Fashion’s New Language of Trust.
Drawing on her experience as an independent retailer and buyer, Deryane will identify the key products, colours, fabrics and silhouettes shaping Spring/Summer 2027, helping visitors understand the trends and opportunities to consider when building their next ranges. The session takes place on Monday 8th February in the Style Studio.
From immersive hotel experiences and tonies® audio stories to fashion collaborations with Lucy & Yak, the Natural History Museum is finding unexpected ways to bring nature into everyday life.
Join Louisa Skevington, Licensing Manager, as she shares how the Museum turns its scientific heritage and collections into creative partnerships, reaches new audiences and develops products and experiences that inspire curiosity while creating commercial opportunities.
The session, Nature Reimagined: How the Natural History Museum Brings Nature into Products, takes place on Tuesday 9 February in the Licensing Studio.
Helping retailers understand the opportunities and practical applications of artificial intelligence, Christine Braithwaite, Digital Skills Trainer at Google, will lead Making Sense of AI with Google, part of the Grow with Google programme.
The session will introduce the fundamentals of AI and machine learning, explore real-world applications and explain the responsible use of generative AI, including its limitations and risks. Visitors will also get hands-on with effective prompting techniques through a simple framework and live demonstration.
Google will deliver daily one-hour workshops at 10.30am in the Masterclass Studio, designed to help retailers strengthen their digital knowledge and explore practical ways to use AI in their businesses. The first session takes place on Sunday 7th February, with further workshops running throughout the show.
The latest speaker announcements add to Spring Fair’s wider programme of expert-led content, designed to give visitors access to fresh thinking and practical knowledge across the retail industry.
The programme brings visitors unparalleled opportunities to hear directly from some of the most influential voices shaping the future of retail, gaining valuable insight, practical advice and fresh perspectives – all included free of charge with their Spring Fair visitor registration.
Visit https://www.springfair.com/stage-programme-2027 for the full programme.
Spring Fair 2027 takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 7th – 10th February 2027. For more information and to register, visit www.springfair.com
