From Aardman through to Dame Zandra Rhodes, LicensingSource.net highlights just some of the activity happening at Birmingham’s NEC this week (4-7 February) for Spring Fair.
A is for Aardman which has a host of licensees at the show highlighting product for brands including Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep among others. Keep an eye out for Aurora, Big Potato Games, Puckator, Emu Australia, Flame Tree Publishing, Danilo, Museums & Galleries, Willow, Search Press, The Makerss, PlayPress, Paper Engine, DCUK, Pawprint Family and Half Moon Bay.
B is for buzzy atmosphere – the opening day of the show was a whirlwind of activity all the way through to closing.
C is for ‘conscious consumerism’ which Helena Mansell-Stopher, ceo and founder of sustainability education hub, Products of Change will be discussing in the first of her sessions on Tuesday 6 February. It Takes Two to Tango: Your Role in Conscious Consumerism will discuss everything from supply-chain shake-ups, transitioning to unpackaged, revitalising business values and embracing circular practices, plus the latest eco-creative solutions for growing conscious consumerism.
D is for Dragon in the form of Theo Paphitis – who is also the creator of #SBS Small Business Sunday – who will be talking on the Inspiring Retail Stage on Tuesday 6 February to give his perspective on business and retail in 2024.
E is for educational stages – get enhanced insights and learnings from three content stages: The Inspiring Retail Stage featuring the Moda Catwalk, The Masterclass Studio and Trend Talks.
F is for first time exhibitor, Primeur (8A50-B51) which is showcasing its new partnership with Bree Merryn. The company is highlighting its range of mats which feature a number of Bree’s animal-themed designs including Phelan the Pheasant, a family of Cuddly Coos, Barney and Fred the donkeys, the Hedgie Hike hedgehog family, a House Party of British birds, Puddle Parade of Ducks and the Nice to Meet Ewe Grey collie dog and sheep.
G is for Gift of the Year Awards, with the live judging and finalists showcase taking place during the show. There is a lot of licensed product featured this year and you can check out the shortlist by clicking here.
H is for Hasbro’s UK licensing director, Catrina O’Brien who will be hosting a licensing masterclass at 3pm on Monday 5 February. Cat will be sharing best practices, do’s and don’ts and the transformative impact of licensing on your business. A must-attend for retailers and creators looking to add a new dimension to their offerings through strategic partnerships and licensing agreements.
I is for institutions, heritage brands, museums and more, showcased by a number of greeting cards companies in Hall 3 including Museums & Galleries, Danilo, Ling Design, Portfolio and The Art File are just some of those worth checking out.
J is for Jellycat (7B30-C31) which always has a busy and buzzy stand at Spring Fair. The company currently doesn’t have any licensed product… could you be the licensor/agent which changes its mind…?
K is for Kids, Toys and Games, located in Hall 5 and where you will find a host of licensed product from companies including Whitehouse Leisure, William Lamb, Ty UK, Aurora World, The Puppet Company, Orange Tree Toys and DKB Toys & Distribution among others.
L is for Laura Ashley and The Libra Company which are collaborating on a number of new collections inspired by the heritage brand. “With 70 years of design excellence, Laura Ashley is one of the world’s best-loved home and lifestyle brands,” commented Paul McLaughlin, md at The Libra Company. “In this partnership, we have combined Laura Ashley’s enduring aesthetic and Libra’s dedication to design innovation. The result is a captivating collection of luxurious, sophisticated home accessories and furniture that encapsulates the essence of timeless design.”
M is for Moda, billed as Spring Fair’s ‘ultimate’ fashion destination which looks to provide buyers with a platform for sourcing the latest clothing, footwear, fashion accessories and jewellery/watch collections. There is also a Moda catwalk, offering a front row seat to the latest trends to hit the fashion world, so you never know where inspiration for licensed apparel will strike.
N is for paper and packaging company N Smith which is not only highlighting its own amazing business in Hall 3 (K41) but has also built The PG Pub for our sister title Progressive Greetings. It is open for business Monday and Tuesday from around 5.40pm.
O is for Olly Smith, one of the celebrities and brands being showcased by Pure Table Top (8E20-F21), alongside Kew and Joules.
P is for Peppa’s Playground which can be found in the Kids, Toys & Play sector in Hall 5 by Hasbro to celebrate Peppa Pig’s 20th anniversary. Join Peppa Pig at Peppa’s Party on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 February at 4.30pm for pink drinks and cupcakes.
Q is for Quirky Barn (6B10-D11) which boasts more than 22 collections and almost 1,600 products in the garden/outdoor and dining/housewares categories. Its sole focus is on artisan handcrafted items with a mantra of ‘recycled, reclaimed, up cycled and salvaged’. Worth a look on your show floor wanderings.
R is for Robin Reed, the UK’s oldest established Christmas and party cracker company which is back at Spring Fair with a bang (pun intended). Absolutely worth a look but who wouldn’t love a licensed cracker?
S is for sustainability – examples of which can be seen across the show floor. Spring Fair is continuing its Power of One campaign (which launched in 2018) which empowers retailers and consumers to take actionable steps to change the world, no matter how large or small. From products to people, the campaign focuses on championing sustainability in all areas of the industries represented at the show, including licensing.
T is for TikTok Shop, which is sponsoring Spring Fair’s new Masterclass Studio. The partnership is dedicated to helping grow retail businesses by offering expertise in TED-style talks on an array of topics from social media skills, buying best practice, radical retail technology and conscious consumerism, from TikTok Shop’s experts and leading agencies. Definitely of interest to the licensing community, the e-commerce solution integrated within TikTok enables merchants and creators to showcase and sell products for the TikTok community to discover and purchase directly through a complete in-app experience.
U is for unwrapping the latest sustainable trends, the second session from POC’s Helena on 6 February (1pm). The session will help visitors to discover the cutting edge trends and emerging products shaping the retail sector’s future and reducing its environmental impact.
V is for V&A – the pre-eminent heritage brand can be seen across the show on various stands including Museums & Galleries.
W is for walking the Trend Trails for Sustainability, Licensing, Made in Britain and those looking for a Distributor.
X is for eXclusively at Spring Fair with a number of companies only exhibiting at the Birmingham show.
Y is for Yvonne Ellen‘s quintessentially British outlook on the natural world, which is being showcased by Captivate Brands (8B30-C31), alongside new designs from Mary Berry and Catherine Lansfield among others.
Z is for (Dame) Zandra Rhodes, who will take to the Inspiring Retail Stage for a fireside chat with retail analyst Natalie Berg, exploring her remarkable journey in design, leadership and innovation. The Fabric of Success: Dame Zandra Rhodes on Reinventing Fashion and Retail Leadership will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 7 February in Hall 2 within Moda.
