SPRING FAIR LAUNCHES 75TH ANNIVERSARY ‘RETAIL INSIGHTS’ PODCAST SERIES WITH JEFF BANKS CBE

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Spring Fair, the UK’s largest home, gift, fashion trade show which takes place on the 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has launched a new Retail Insights podcast series for retail, and by retail, to celebrate its upcoming 75th anniversary and shine a light on businesses in the industry.

A first of its kind for a retail trade show, Spring Fair has collaborated with legendary designer and TV personality Jeff Banks CBE to create the series of free podcasts featuring interviews with 15 industry figureheads which will run over a period of 14 weeks from the 20th October. Available through all popular podcasting platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcast, plus watch through YouTube and at https://www.springfair.com/inside-retail

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The podcast series was concepted to give a voice back to the retail community who have been a part of Spring Fair, to celebrate the rich heritage of Spring Fair, and spotlight the people and brands who make up everything that Spring Fair is. Featuring guests with a huge breadth of knowledge of the retail industry across all backgrounds and sectors, the series will benefit retail businesses of all sizes, from inspiring start-ups to 50-year-old staples in the industry.

The Spring Fair team brought together all 15 guests for a special 75th Anniversary media day which was hosted by Banks and filmed in the Spring Fair studios. The candid conversations reflect on the past, present and future of retail – the stories that come out of building a retail business or being part of a retail business, stories that will inspire and resonate with many in the industry.

Listeners will be able to enjoy Banks in conversation with much-loved independent retailers including Nest and Coopers of Stortford, brands such as Talking Tables and Candlelight, buying group EK Retail, and The Giftware Association and The Greetings Card Association, as they discuss an array of insightful topics including reinventing your brand, growing a bricks and mortar store, catering for all customer demographics, catalogue and mail orders business development, growing a small business, being a designer/maker and business owner, the power of licensed products, how to sell your products to a global buying group, and how retail associations can help your business be more successful. The interviews also reflect on what it means to be part of the retail community, how to keep your company relevant for over 30 years, the power of storytelling, and how to stay true to environmental strategies and make a profit.

Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director of Spring Fair says, “In honour of Spring Fair's 75th anniversary we're shining a light on the incredible businesses that continue to make this a successful event for the retail industry. As we embark on this milestone event and reflect on the journey we've taken together, this coming 2025 show we'll be turning our focus outwards. After all, we can't celebrate Spring Fair's 75-year history without honouring the people and community who got us here. We are incredibly excited to launch this anniversary podcast series – which as available for free to all of retail to help inspire. As a business leader or owner in retail this podcast is for you. For anyone looking to start a retail business this podcast is for you. And for the retail community this podcast is for you. There are also a few tips and tricks on how these businesses have either successfully shopped trade shows or successfully sold their products at trade shows. These are money can’t buy insights on how to be successful for businesses looking to sell products B2B. The series really has the feel-good factor and makes for very interesting listening.”

 

Jeff Banks adds, “Spring Fair is still one of the biggest trade exhibitions in Great Britain and I have spent many a productive and inspiring day at the show over the years - it has been integral to the success of my designer collaborations with brands exhibiting there. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Spring Fair team to create this thoughtful and stimulating podcast series to celebrate the show’s incredible 75 years and help champion the people and businesses that make up the Spring Fair community.” 

The first podcast launches on 20th October and features an interview with exhibitor Nick Ronald, Managing Partner of Casa Verde on reinventing your business, how Spring Fair has helped bring Casa Verde to life and why it is the lifeblood of the industry. Ronald says, “Spring Fair was key to getting Casa Verde off the ground. Trade fairs are the lifeblood of our industry for two reasons. One, we are a very personable company and we’ve been blessed with about 1000 trade customers who are all a joy. And it’s so important to meet them face to face. And second, Spring Fair is really the only place you’re going to meet new customers and if we’re to grow we have to show our goods and be there. It’s incredibly hard work but we go home as high as a kite.”

Each 10-20 minute episode, packed full of insights, is available to listen to or watch as a video, streamed via Apple, Spotify, YouTube, all popular podcasting platforms, and at https://www.springfair.com/inside-retail. The series will launch weekly every Sunday from the 20th October.

 

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Podcast schedule:

20th October – Nick Ronald, Managing Partner of lifestyle brand and The Summerhouse exhibitor Casa Verde.

27th October - Maggie Thornton, owner of award-winning gift shop Alligator Pear in Burgh Heath.

3rd November - Kay Hutcheson, Head of Product Marketing & Product Operations from home, garden and lifestyle store Coopers of Stortford in Bishop Stortford.

10th November - Tim Hollis, Retail Brand Development Manager from Talking Tables, a B Corp business that is the go-to for innovative, sustainable and design-led products that add fun and style to every gathering.

17th November - Samantha Gibbs, Director of Nest, a trio of card and gift shops in Stoneygate, Broughton Astley and Thurlaston in Leicestershire.

24th November - Aylish Ellwood, Trade Marketing Manager from Enesco, gift supplier exclusively offering well-known licences for all-time favourites such as Beatrix PotterTM, Disney®, Willow Tree, Heartwood Creek® by Jim Shore, Harry Potter, Scion Living, Lolita® and many more.

1st December - Daniel Kullmann, Head of Corporate Communications, EK Retail, a large European multi-sector group that supports around 4,000 independent retailers in the living, electrical, toy, baby, fashion, home, DIY, sports and book sectors.

8th December - Stephen Spencer, Ambience Director, Stephen Spencer + Associates. Chair of Spring Fair’s Advisory Board, Spencer has helped some of the brightest stars and most prestigious brands in the retail, leisure, and tourism sectors.

15th December - Double Episode. Sarah Ward, CEO of the Giftware Association and Adriana Lovesy, Membership & Marketing Manager of the Greetings Card Association.

22nd December - Craig Wensley, Co-Founder & Managing Director of DCUK, The Original Wooden Duck Company.

29th December - Evan Lewis, Founder of VENT for Change, one of a growing number of conscientious brands that combine beautiful design with impeccable eco credentials and an ethical purchasing alternative.

5th January - Ray Qudos, Consultant at Keplin Group, an innovative and agile consumer branding and product business offering design, import, storage, shipping and selling services.

12th January - Amanda Peffer, Director of Blade & Rose, a leading British children’s fashion brand, instantly recognisable for its original iconic and unique signature leggings, with fun and quirky designs on the bottom

19th January - Mike Winch, Founder of Candlelight, a market-leading designer, importer, and wholesale supplier of exquisite giftware and home accessories, with a legacy spanning over 50 years.

 

The Retail Insights podcast is part of the broader Inside Retail thought leadership hub available on the Spring and Autumn Fair websites. For years, this platform has provided valuable content on sector trends, consumer insights, and technological developments, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from brands and event partners, exploring key topics on the future of retail.

 

As the go-to destination for digital content in the retail industry, Inside Retail offers expert recommendations through video interviews and articles from industry insiders, partners, and guest writers. Covering everything from trends to sustainability, it’s designed to help businesses grow and enhance their customer experience.

 

About Spring Fair

Spring Fair is the UK’s leading retail event attracting 38,000 attendees with a combined budget of £2.25bn. It hosts the largest, highest-spend assembly of retailers in the country and is the ultimate destination for buyers. Over 1,200 exhibitors across Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday categories, will showcase tens of thousands of new and exclusive products.

 

2025 will celebrate 75 years of rich heritage. Inaugurated by the Queen in 1975 when it moved to the NEC and endorsed by retail icons, Spring Fair has remained a trusted marketplace for retailers even through significant industry changes.

Spring Fair sparks connections, broadens horizons, and enables opportunities for the wholesale home, gift, fashion and everyday retail communities to thrive. As the ultimate hub for forecasting and innovation, Spring Fair delivers essential trend and industry insights to keep retailers informed and ahead of the curve.

 

For more images of the interviews and interviews please download via https://we.tl/t-iSPcO4cyvf

 

Join us at Spring Fair 2025 for more insights, visit www.springfair.com for more information.

Sign up to receive the Retail Insights Podcast at Inside Retail | Articles, Videos & On Demand | Spring Fair.

 

Spring Fair’s 75th edition runs from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham.