Spring Fair welcomes retail's biggest names

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Spring Fair will welcome some of the biggest names in retail including Jeff Banks, Theo Paphitis, Andrew Xeni, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen at its 75th anniversary show taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at the NEC Birmingham.

Banks, Llewelyn-Bowen and Paphitis all have a long history of attending Spring Fair and collaborating with exhibitors. Leading licensor across multiple product categories, Laurence Llewelyn-Bown’s design company, Llewelyn-Bowen Design will design the new Licensing Lab lounge area with their bespoke wallpaper and furnishings. Visitors will discover a stylish and comfortable Networking Lounge for informal discussions, refreshment breaks, and collaborative meetings. The flamboyant interior designer will open the Inspiring Retail Stage on Sunday 2nd February with a fascinating talk on licensing, art and design.

On Monday, visionary technology and retail entrepreneur Andrew Xeni, devotes his day to delivering insights and giving buyers the opportunity to pose questions on everything from scaling sustainability, licensing success and diversification, and the future of digital product passports.

After building a successful fashion manufacturing business supplying leading UK high street brands, Xeni went on to create eco-conscious brand Nobody’s Child. Merging both retail and technology, Xeni also founded award-winning retail tech companies Fabacus and Soreto. Join him at 10.30am at the Inspiring Retail Stage, for a lunch and learning session at 12pm at the Licensing Lab, followed at 2pm by a keynote and Q&A session.

Jeff Banks takes to the Inspiring Retail Stage on Monday at 12.15pm for a Q&A session on his 60+ years history in licensing sharing his dos and don’ts. Banks said, “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.”

Since 2018, the TV dragon and #SBS Small Business Sunday creator Theo Paphitis has attended the show, joining forces with Spring and Autumn Fair to support start-up businesses. Together they have worked with over 60 SMEs, playing a vital role in their future success.

Paphitis says, “This partnership goes from strength to strength. Over 60 SMEs, and #SBS Small Business Sunday, winners will have been able to showcase their businesses and find new routes for business growth through this gem of an opportunity, including 2025. I always encourage our 4,000+ small businesses to take advantage of this one and I know that it will deliver even more for them next year, in Spring Fair’s 75th anniversary year. I look forward to seeing those rewards and the avenues of opportunity it brings for the winners in 2025 and beyond.”

Paphitis takes to the Inspiring Retail Stage on Tuesday 4th February at 2.15pm for a talk on Small Businesses, Big Impact: How Independent Retailers Compete with Giants.

The full seminar agenda will be announced soon at https://www.springfair.com/stage-programme.

Spring Fair 2025 promises to be one to remember with over 1,200 exhibitors across 12 unmissable buying destinations dedicated to Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday categories. Buyers will discover more than 1 million inspirational and innovative products, over 400 new brands and many exclusive only to Spring Fair, and more than 100 international brands.

For more information about Spring Fair and the 75th-anniversary celebrations, visit www.springfair.com.