Autumn Fair opened yesterday, and saw thousands of buyers walking the aisles of the NEC to discover the latest products for their stores.
The four-day show is a key seasonal buying event for many independent businesses across the UK looking to refresh their stores and stock up in time for the festive period, and reports from a busy first day indicate positivity, plenty of order writing, and highlighted the importance of seeing products and people in person, says organiser, Hyve: "A huge variety of big-name retailers, department stores, garden centres, activity centres and independent retailers attended including Tesco, Poundland, Elphicks, Blue Diamond, NHS, Willows Activity Far, Willowbrook Garden Centre, Blue Tiger, Leonards Hardware, Island jewellers, Diageo, Newbank Garden Centre, Roys of Wroxham, Collins Group, Boyds Stores Ireland, Baldwins Department Stores, Madison and Mayfair, Wrights Hardware, DFDS Ferries, Longacres Garden Centre, West Country Retail, Wilkies Trading, Graham and Green, The Toy Barnhaus, Tilley and Grace, Howleys, Gift Box London, and Southwold Pier."
Soraya Gadelrab, event director of Autumn Fair, comments: “We’re buzzing with excitement as we welcome over 12,000 buyers this week to explore the most diverse and inspirational display of new products from over 800 incredible suppliers. Autumn Fair is the perfect time to discover and stock up for the peak retail season and the first day has been very busy with a lot of positive feedback.”
Feedback from exhibitors includes this from Kerry Singh (Final Touches): “The show has been full, we didn't expect it to be so busy. We have taken orders earlier on in the day than usual and seen lots of positive buyers which is an exciting start to the show."
With 38% of the show featuring new exhibitors and 30% exclusive, Autumn Fair offers retailers access to thousands of products that cannot be found elsewhere, says Hyve.
Autumn Fair runs from 1st-4th September at the NEC Birmingham. Register to attend here.
