Autumn Fair is a gift and home trade show that takes place every year at Birmingham NEC. Launched in September 1990, it focuses on contemporary and traditional products from both independent talents, big-name brands and online retailers.
Whether its hunting out new products and innovations, networking, meeting like-minded design-obsessed individuals or hearing from experts in a line-up of seminars, it’s an event that should certainly be on your radar.
With 12 different show sectors, ranging from Contemporary Gift & Living to The Light Show focusing on lighting, there’s over 1,400 exhibitors to look out for across the four-day show. There’ll be design-led gifts and gadgets, art and wall decor, textiles and furniture, plus personalised products and stationery supplies.
Highlights include understated craft-inspired furniture and accessories from Dutch brand Kaemingk and new launches from Danish company Hubsch. Le Creuset will launch its new ‘Moorland Mist’ collection, while Suck UK will be selling gifts exclusively at Autumn Fair. I’ve also already spied Villeroy & Boch, By Boo, Nordlux and VITA Copenhagen (who will be incorporating interactive and submersive lighting experiences in their stall), to name a few.
There is also an exciting range of seminars. The legendary fragrance guru Jo Malone will be leading the line-up, followed by the winner of BBC’s The Great British Design Challenge Martin Holland, creative director of WGSN Lifestyle and Interiors Lisa White, as well as fellow bloggers Jen Stanbrook of Love Chic Living and Kate Watson-Smyth of Mad About the House.
Jo Malone said: ‘I’m looking forward to sharing my brand building story; the highs and lows of starting all over again and how I intend to change the fragrance industry for a second time through creativity and innovation!’
If you need a bit of help working on your social media strategy or getting the low-down on SEO, there’s free Meet The Experts sessions. These one-on-one retail clinics will offer visitors the opportunity to speak directly to industry experts around any retail challenges that they face in their own businesses. Or the more fashion-minded among us might fancy checking out the daily catwalk shows.
Autumn Fair promises to be an inspiring show packed with new brands and products to fall in love with, will you be going?
Autumn Fair takes place 4 – 7 September 2016 at Birmingham NEC. Find out more and book tickets here: http://www.autumnfair.com
This post was written in collaboration with Autumn Fair, all thoughts and opinions my own.
