CHSI STITCHES COLLABORATES WITH THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION The Giftware Association has announced it is working in collaboration with ICHF Events, the UK’s leading organiser of CHSI Stitches and a portfolio of lifestyle and hobby events, following its takeover of The Creative Industries Association in 2022. The GA has been learning more about the industry and getting to know creative craft businesses and members at Craft Shows organised by ICHF. ICHF Events has welcomed the association to the craft industry and the collaboration will see both businesses embarking on future events and projects. “It has been great to visit so many new shows across the UK and focus on the craft industry,” states Giftware and Creative Industry Association CEO, Sarah Ward. “I have learnt a lot about the industry and our new members from Simon Burns and the ICHF team, who have shared their knowledge and experience. We are excited to be working on some exciting new projects together that will further cement and grow our relationship for the benefit of the craft and creative industries.” Simon Burns, Managing Director, ICHF Events, “ICHF has been working to support the creative craft industry for decades and we are delighted to collaborate with the Giftware and Creative Industry Association on our common goal to help businesses thrive and grow. There is a great opportunity for a CHSI Stitches exhibitor to win a brand-new Gift of the Year Craft Award, created especially for the show this year.” Connect @ Autumn Fair transforms the future of trade shows Autumn Fair, the UK’s leading and most trusted marketplace for wholesale home, gift, and fashion taking place from the 3rd – 6th September 2023, sees the launch of Connect @ Autumn Fair. Endorsed by leading UK retailers such as John Lewis, WHSmith and Choice, Connect @ Autumn Fair is a transformational new approach to buying, designed to revolutionise the traditional trade show model by connecting retailers and brands on a scale never achieved before. As the definitive ‘shop for shops’, Autumn Fair organised by Hyve Group plc, has supported the retail industry for over 30 years. The home, gift and fashion markets are worth billions of pounds and Autumn Fair is where retail’s bestsellers are found, relationships are forged, products are launched, new ideas and the latest trends for bricks and mortar and e-commerce stores are discovered. From this September, Connect @ Autumn Fair will lead the way for the retail community and transform the buying experience by fuelling thousands of pre-arranged buying meetings before the show even opens. Viewed as the dawn of a new era for retailers, Connect @ Autumn Fair will connect thousands of the UK’s leading buyers and retailers with all 600+ Autumn Fair exhibitors before the show. Buyers will be able to discover the brands and products their businesses need, by selecting from hundreds of data points important to them. Exhibitors can create leads, orders, and opportunities with the buyers they want to meet most - all in an incredibly efficient and effective way - turning chance meetings into guaranteed connections. Ellen Bonsink, Buyer, WHSmith says; “I think Connect @ Autumn Fair will be really good. It’ll be really easy for us as buyers to be in the right hall at the right time so we’re not lost or missing suppliers. It sounds like it’ll be nice to have a curated programme so we can find the best products and find suppliers who are a good match for the business, rather than leave it to chance and miss suppliers.” Over 6,000 meetings are anticipated to take place at Autumn Fair. Each meeting is 15 minutes long and all meetings are double opt-in, meaning both parties have agreed to meet. Meetings take place on the stand, so buyers can explore the full product range. Buyers can participate in as many double opt-in 15-minute meetings as they’d like limited only by availability and mutual interest. If more than 15 minutes is required, a follow-up meeting can be arranged at or after the show. Nicola Meadows, Portfolio Director at Spring & Autumn Fair says, “Buyer’s time is precious, and justifying time away from the retailing space has never been harder. Connect @ Autumn Fair changes all this. Visiting a trade show should not be about chance; buyers can now source and plan their time at the show in advance, and know they are meeting suppliers that will meet their needs. With access to extensive information on every exhibitor and product category, from origin and sustainability credentials to pricing and minimum order values, retailers will be able to pre-select meetings with brands whose products most suit their needs. Exhibitors will, for the first time ever, be able to discover and connect with buyers, based on over 100 datapoints. Through this revolutionary meetings programme, powered by cutting-edge but easy to use technology, we connect the right people, at the right time, and deliver game-changing impact to our customers, their businesses and their industries. With Connect, we remove all the potential anxiety, and the element of the unknown, and allow buyers and exhibitors to be prepared and informed. This is the biggest investment we have ever made in Spring & Autumn Fair’s history. Connect @ Autumn Fair is ripping up the rule book on events and creating value our customers didn’t realise was possible.” www.autumnfair.com 19 NEWS & EVENTS
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