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UK:Spring Fair 2005, Birmingham - Higher value
gifts and houseware attract UK buyers |
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2005-2-22
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Though Christmas sales were like a nightmare to be forgotten, retailers flocked to the NEC in Birmingham to give Spring Fair 2005 - the UK''s biggest gift and home exhibition - a welcome uplift in its 30th year.
At the close of the five-day event on February 10, 2005, organiser TPS estimated that attendance would be at around 81,000, topping last year''s total.
Many of the 4,000-plus exhibitors, particularly in the gift and houseware and tabletop halls, were delighted with the footfall and levels of business. Those in the Hong Kong pavilion - which appeared to be busier than in 2004 - also expressed satisfaction.
Some suppliers were reluctant to invest big sums in product development, preferring to extend lines that have been successful, while smaller, independent retailers at the fair were looking for lower ticket items.
Typical of these was Steve Mead, of London''s Greenwich Collectibles, who was buying "value-for-money giftware" on the Orchid Designs stand.
He said that collectibles were just not selling. And in absence of secondary markets many of these products are not even making their retail price on e-Bay. He added that manufacturers required to bring new ideas and lower editions and reclaim the confidence of the collector.
"We are now looking for gifts. You can''t beat the quality and value coming out of China. Ninety per cent of what we are selling in our shop is made there. We have noticed that some suppliers at this show have actually cut their prices," he stated.
Another retailer, Suresh Shah, of Situls, Nottingham, said: "I''ve picked up details about a few interesting things. I need to go back to base and assess what we are currently doing and what we need to change. The collectibles market is not there - now it''s gift buying on impulse; if it''s nice and at the right price, the customer will buy it."
There was certainly no lack of product variety at the show. Key sectors included gifts, the re-branded Garden Living and Design sectors, together with housewares and tabletop, gallery, greetings, festive, toys, essentia, volume, discover and jewellery areas.
There were seven gift halls which comprised the biggest part of Spring Fair, providing an offering of general giftware, decorative accessories and candles, fashion/gift jewellery, collectibles, luggage and bags, souvenirs, confectionery and the summerhouse items.
Festive featured over 100 international Christmas, seasonal and floral decoration exhibitors, with Toys drawing 200 suppliers, 50 more than last year.
The Jewellery sector at Spring Fair offered the largest collection of jewellery at any UK trade event, with 450 exhibitors showing precious metal, gemstone and fashion jewellery products, as well as clocks and watches.
Jewellery Halls 17 and 18 had a significant international flavour, with two international groups from Hong Kong and Italy and individual companies from Belgium, Germany and America.
The next Spring Fair - 2006 show will take place in Birmingham from February 5-9. |
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