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Spring Fair: A Fabulous Four Days

By Jakki Brown
10 February 2022

Business was done and relationships strengthened at NEC show

 

Spring Fair was back with a bang as retailers were out in force lapping up all the newness from greeting card publishers, gift and partyware suppliers – and placing orders!

“It’s been a truly extraordinary four days at Spring Fair, we’re so pleased to be able to report on such overwhelming success stories and hear the brilliant feedback from our visitors and exhibitors,” summed up Julie Driscoll, divisional managing director, Spring Fair & Moda.

Buyers from John Lewis, Paperchase, Scribbler, Funky Pigeon, Tesco, Waterstones, Dobbies, Blue Diamond, Morleys, Fortnum & Mason, Sainsbury’s and Oliver Bonas were among the leading multiple names to be found striding the aisles of the NEC show, which finished yesterday (Wednesday, 9 February) alongside many leading indies.

Here PG Buzz helps everyone relive some of the joys…

Above: After 44 years in the greeting card industry, the once met, never forgotten popular stalwart Riou Baxter enjoyed a great send off into retirement thanks to the Museums & Galleries team
Above: After 44 years in the greeting card industry, the once met, never forgotten popular stalwart Riou Baxter enjoyed a great send off into retirement thanks to the Museums & Galleries team
Above: Riou with his retirement gift from M&G
Above: Riou with his retirement gift from M&G
Above: Cardmore christened the launch of its licensed stationery ranges with Sarah Kelleher and Stephanie Dyment at the show. Greeting card publisher Sarah (right) was delighted to see her bold floral imagery be translated on to a range of notebooks and journals
Above: Cardmore christened the launch of its licensed stationery ranges with Sarah Kelleher and Stephanie Dyment at the show. Greeting card publisher Sarah (right) was delighted to see her bold floral imagery be translated on to a range of notebooks and journals
Above: The icing on the cake of a great show for The Art File’s James Mace was being presented with a surprise cake to mark the company’s 25th anniversary by Alison Graham, key account director of Hyve Group, with responsibility for the greeting card sector
Above: The icing on the cake of a great show for The Art File’s James Mace was being presented with a surprise cake to mark the company’s 25th anniversary by Alison Graham, key account director of Hyve Group, with responsibility for the greeting card sector
Above: (left) Robert and Caroline Petrie of Kairds in Orkney were among those to be presented with their Cardgains Millionaire trophy by the buying group’s Jim Girvan, awarded to buying group members who have placed £1million worth of orders with Cardgains suppliers over the years
Above: (left) Robert and Caroline Petrie of Kairds in Orkney were among those to be presented with their Cardgains Millionaire trophy by the buying group’s Jim Girvan, awarded to buying group members who have placed £1million worth of orders with Cardgains suppliers over the years
Above: PG’s Tracey Arnaud (second left) made sure she visited the Holy Mackerel stand to wish them a very happy 20th birthday!
Above: PG’s Tracey Arnaud (second left) made sure she visited the Holy Mackerel stand to wish them a very happy 20th birthday!
Above: Exhibitors were keen to be in with a chance to win £500 worth of free envelopes or notebooks from Enveco in its Spring Fair Prize draw
Above: Exhibitors were keen to be in with a chance to win £500 worth of free envelopes or notebooks from Enveco in its Spring Fair Prize draw
Above: Louise Tiler, founder of Louise Tiler Designs, won first prize in Enveco’s draw of £300 worth of envelopes or notebooks (seen here with sales director John Jones), the two runners-up, who each received £100 worth of envelopes or notebooks, were Middlemouse Group and From Jude
Above: Louise Tiler, founder of Louise Tiler Designs, won first prize in Enveco’s draw of £300 worth of envelopes or notebooks (seen here with sales director John Jones), the two runners-up, who each received £100 worth of envelopes or notebooks, were Middlemouse Group and From Jude
Above: Pango Production’s Cindy Pang and David Wigley had a great reaction to the company’s diversification into a coordinated gifts, stationery and homewares collection
Above: Pango Production’s Cindy Pang and David Wigley had a great reaction to the company’s diversification into a coordinated gifts, stationery and homewares collection
Above: Members of the GCA council at the Thinking of You Week feature wall, which showcased many members supportive card designs
Above: Members of the GCA council at the Thinking of You Week feature wall, which showcased many members’ supportive card designs
Above: There were miles of smiles at the show! Industry besties (left-right) Bex Hassett (Bexy Boo), Rosie Harrison (Rosie Made a Thing) and Marina Brooks (Marina B) has a great show both businesswise and personally
Above: There were miles of smiles at the show! Industry besties (left-right) Bex Hassett (Bexy Boo), Rosie Harrison (Rosie Made a Thing) and Marina Brooks (Marina B) has a great show both businesswise and personally
Above: After being used for two days for Curated Meetings, the same area of the show was used for the judging of the GA’s Gift of the Year awards, which saw buyers and industry experts, such as Maxine Lister of Natural History Museum (right) and Tabi Marsh of Papilio at Heritage in Thornbury vote for their favourites. The finalists are being announced on Valentine’s Day
Above: After being used for two days for Curated Meetings, the same area of the show was used for the judging of the GA’s Gift of the Year awards, which saw buyers and industry experts, such as Maxine Lister of Natural History Museum (right) and Tabi Marsh of Papilio at Heritage in Thornbury vote for their favourites. The finalists are being announced on Valentine’s Day
Above: A rainbow moment! Rachel Ellen Designs’ Rachel Church and Paul Roberts on their stunning stand
Above: A rainbow moment! Rachel Ellen Designs’ Rachel Church and Paul Roberts on their stunning stand
Above: It was a cheers from the Emma Ball team, (from left) Katie McNulty, Emma, and Lucy Howard
Above: It was a cheers from the Emma Ball team, (from left) Katie McNulty, Emma, and Lucy Howard
Above: The buzz of the show continued into the evenings too!
Above: The buzz of the show continued into the evenings too!

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