Bumper show issue - Gift Focus magazine

With Christmas looming and the New YearVAT increase on the horizon, this year’sAutumn Fair International (AFI) is beingbilled as the must-do trade show for retailerslooking to capitalise on the festive rush.With 1,500 exhibitors attending the 2010edition - 25 per cent more than last year – itwill be a platform for 50,000 new productlaunches and around 500,000 products in total.The show is geared to be more relevantthan ever as a crucial buying event not onlyfor Christmas but the seasons ahead.Organiser Emap Connect reports thatof those companies exhibiting, 900 will beshowing exclusively at AFI this season. Theyjoin 150 international suppliers from 31countries and 400 brand new exhibitorsacross eight product sectors.This year’s show will be buzzing with newand improved feature areas, including fullscalefashion accessories catwalk, expandedCook Live! demonstration zone, Gift of theYear Award 2010 showcase and new productdisplay areas.GiftsAFI boasts the largest showcase of marketleading and ethical gift brands to be found atany trade show in the UK outside Spring Fair.For those looking further ahead it alsooffers scope for spotting early spring previewranges from the industry’s biggest hitters andinnovative product development teams.The show will feature a comprehensiveselection of general giftware coveringcategories from candles, photo frames,ceramics, licensed ranges and collectables towellbeing, fashion accessories and plush.For retailers keen to expand their ecofriendly and fair trade product selections,the ethical product trail at this year’s showincludes over 80 different suppliers includingBoujies, Earth Squared, Heyland & Whittle,Jarapa, Lanka Kade, Namaste and Tilnar Art toname a few.Kitchen, Dining & HousewaresThere will be a host of designer kitchenwarespecialists in hall 2. The sector has grownsubstantially compared with last year’s show,attracting big brands as well as a host ofsmaller, niche companies.A highlight will be Cook Live! which madeits debut last year and also proved popularat this year’s Spring Fair International withdemonstrations from celebrity chefs.Ready Steady Cook starJames Martin will berepeating his star-turnwith a demonstrationfor licence holderDenby, while designerturned-chefJustin Cappwill be on hand to showoff his new range forCreative Tops.Akta Islam, who heads up award-winningIndian restaurant Lasan’s kitchen, will beappearing for the first time at Cook Live!AFI will once again host the Cookshop &Housewares Association (CHA) Village in hall2, which this year sees the CHA celebrating itssixteenth year on the Village.In addition to a packed hall 2, othercompanies in this category will be exhibitingthroughout the show.GreetingsA number of top card publishers will bereturning to the show after several years’absence as well as others who will beexhibiting for the first time.There will be a new Spotlight feature areafor new publishers, where up and comingdesigners will exhibit their latest lines to thetrade for the first time at Autumn Fair.New comers and returning exhibitorsjoin the ranks of over 100 publishers in thegreetings and stationery sector, which willonce again feature the Cardgains Village at theheart of hall 4.Toys and GadgetsToys and gadgets in hall 5 will feature ashowcase of traditional toys, plush gifts, ecofriendly,sustainable lines, new innovations anddress-up suppliers.Some of the companies visitors to AFIcan expect to discover in this sector includeDowman Imports, Brainstorm, Great Gizmosand more.Fashion accessories catwalkDedicated buyers of fashion accessories canlook forward to a restyled and revitalisedseasonal buying event at this year’s show.Emap Connect has announced majorinvestment and expansion plans to furthergrow this market segment following an“exceptional” AFI last year, which attractedover 10,500 buyers of fashion accessories.74 giftfocus