All The Fun Of The (Spring) Fair 

By Jakki Brown
7 February 2020

Culinary celebs Mary Berry and Michel Roux, retail expert Mary Portas and Escape to the Chateau’s Angel Strawbridge were not the only familiar faces at this week’s Spring Fair, as they joined the industry’s ‘famous’ retailers there to lap up the new launches from publishers galore.

Above: Angel Strawbridge, of hit TV programme Escape to the Chateau was at the show launching her own textiles.
Above: Angel Strawbridge, of hit TV programme Escape to the Chateau was at the show launching her own textiles.

PG Buzz shares a few snaps from the show…

Above: The corks were popping on the Woodmansterne stand every afternoon! (Right -left) Seth Woodmansterne, Warren Lomax (PG), Kate Leach and Tony Eglington.
Above: The corks were popping on the Woodmansterne stand every afternoon! (Right -left) Seth Woodmansterne, Warren Lomax (PG), Kate Leach and Tony Eglington.
Above: The show was the public launch of TPS, the new six-publisher planning solution that is being headed up by Chris Houfe (right), who is seen here with Tim West, sales manager of participating publisher, Second Nature.
Above: The show was the public launch of TPS, the new six-publisher planning solution that is being headed up by Chris Houfe (right), who is seen here with Tim West, sales manager of participating publisher, Second Nature.
Above: Paper Salad had a fab new stand as part of the publisher’s 15th anniversary celebrations. A special birthday cake, featuring the co-founders Karen Wilson (right) and Claire Williams collecting a Henries award at the October event.
Above: Paper Salad had a fab new stand as part of the publisher’s 15th anniversary celebrations. A special birthday cake, featuring the co-founders Karen Wilson (right) and Claire Williams collecting a Henries award at the October event.
Above: The Progressive Greetings ‘pub’ had lots of lovely ‘regulars’ including (right-left) Tim Gould (Objectables), Heidi Early (Earlybird Designs), Sarah Laker (Marple Stationery Supplies) and Dominic Early (Earlybird Designs).
Above: The Progressive Greetings ‘pub’ had lots of lovely ‘regulars’ including (right-left) Tim Gould (Objectables), Heidi Early (Earlybird Designs), Sarah Laker (Marple Stationery Supplies) and Dominic Early (Earlybird Designs).
Above: There was many an emotional moment on the Really Good stand as founder David Hicks and general manager Lisa Shoesmith started the countdown to closing down the business.
Above: There was many an emotional moment on the Really Good stand as founder David Hicks and general manager Lisa Shoesmith started the countdown to closing down the business.
Above: Belly Button Designs, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary, had a prime site at the front of the hall.
Above: Belly Button Designs, which was celebrating its 25th anniversary, had a prime site at the front of the hall.
Above: There was a fresh new ‘minty’ flavour on Mint Publishing’s stand as it unveiled its new branding and anewed focus on humour ranges. Company co-owner Debbie Williams (second right) with colleagues (right-left) Anita Dragicevic, Karen Kane and Sophie Bylina.
Above: There was a fresh new ‘minty’ flavour on Mint Publishing’s stand as it unveiled its new branding and anewed focus on humour ranges. Company co-owner Debbie Williams (second right) with colleagues (right-left) Anita Dragicevic, Karen Kane and Sophie Bylina.
Above: Sue Ryder’s Liv Moffat (front) was delighted to accept a cheque for £16,000 for the charity as a result of Cardgains’ charity activities last year. Members of the buying team were joined by many of the publishers and retailers who participated in the Almscliffe Anniversary Amble.
Above: Sue Ryder’s Liv Moffat (front) was delighted to accept a cheque for £16,000 for the charity as a result of Cardgains’ charity activities last year. Members of the buying team were joined by many of the publishers and retailers who participated in the Almscliffe Anniversary Amble.
Above: Cardgains’ member Aaron Roberts of Gifted Retail with agent Stephen Farrow ordering some personalised Toblerone products from new Cardgains’ supplier, Emagination Store.
Above: Cardgains’ member Aaron Roberts of Gifted Retail with agent Stephen Farrow ordering some personalised Toblerone products from new Cardgains’ supplier, Emagination Store.
Above: Enveco made the most of the ‘blank canvas’ next to its stand, encouraging publisher’s to be creative. (Left-right) Enveco’s owner Piyush Shah, office manager Stacey Lee and sales director John Jones.
Above: Enveco made the most of the ‘blank canvas’ next to its stand, encouraging publisher’s to be creative. (Left-right) Enveco’s owner Piyush Shah, office manager Stacey Lee and sales director John Jones.
Above: 1 Tree Cards and From You to Me were among the winners of the GA’s Gift of the Year awards while Wraptious, James Ellis and Wrendale were among those to receive Highly Commended trophies.
Above: 1 Tree Cards and From You to Me were among the winners of the GA’s Gift of the Year awards while Wraptious, James Ellis and Wrendale were among those to receive Highly Commended trophies.
Above: There were cakes galore (as modelled beautifully by owner Jackie Collins), a bonanza of voucher giveaways and loads of new products on the Cherry Orchard stand as part of the publisher’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Above: There were cakes galore (as modelled beautifully by owner Jackie Collins), a bonanza of voucher giveaways and loads of new products on the Cherry Orchard stand as part of the publisher’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Above: Sophie Timmermans of Timmermans Garden Centre was the Wednesday winner of the Abacus Golden Ticket prize draw, which saw managing director Nick Carey present her with a bottle of champagne.
Above: Sophie Timmermans of Timmermans Garden Centre was the Wednesday winner of the Abacus Golden Ticket prize draw, which saw managing director Nick Carey present her with a bottle of champagne.
Above: Cardology’s co-owners David Falkner and Dipa Shah worked their ‘magic’, officially launching its Harry Potter 3D card range.
Above: Cardology’s co-owners David Falkner and Dipa Shah worked their ‘magic’, officially launching its Harry Potter 3D card range.
Above: Feast for the eyes. Amanda and Frank Mountain, co-owners of Lola Design in the Greetings Café in Hall 2 which featured some of its imagery.
Above: Feast for the eyes. Amanda and Frank Mountain, co-owners of Lola Design in the Greetings Café in Hall 2 which featured some of its imagery.

Top: The Greetings & Stationery section christened its new home in Hall 2 of the NEC.

 

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