Crammed with new suppliers wanting to take a stand, Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn is a Show that caters well for companies eager to explore opportunities in the Scottish market. The Launch Gallery has already been extended with some exciting first timers.
Taking place at the SEC, Glasgow from 21-22 Sept 2025, this boutique show offers exhibitors more time and space to meet and network with buyers. Solid relationships are forged here ahead of the busy Spring buying period in January.
For those retailers searching a dynamic mix of creativity and innovation head to the Launch Gallery with its rich mix of suppliers. These include Art by Annie, Curiously Charmed, Heatons, Laconic, Little White Candle, Lunabuloona, Middleshade Perfumes, Sara Willa Landscapes and The Modern Crafter.
Posted: 23 July 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's leading marketplace for home, gift and fashion, in partnership with Savethehighstreet.org, is delighted to announce the winners of the highly anticipated Retail Makeover Mission, a nationwide competition aimed at revitalising the independent retail sector.
After receiving hundreds of applications from across the UK, two exceptional businesses have been selected to receive a complete retail transformation, tailored to unlock their growth potential and future-proof their operations ahead of the crucial autumn/winter season - and for many years to come.
The 2025 Retail Makeover Mission Winners are the fabulous: OSO Fashion Boutique in Salisbury and Taba Naba in Felixstowe.
Posted: 15 July 2025
Momentum is building for London Packaging Week 2025. Taking place on 15 & 16 October at Excel London, this landmark 15th anniversary show is set to be the most forward-thinking and creatively charged in the show's history.
First launched in 2010 as Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London, the show has evolved into a leading platform for design, materials, technology, and sustainability.
In 2022, it rebranded as London Packaging Week and introduced four co-located events: Packaging Première, PCD, PLD, and Food & Consumer Pack, each tailored to the needs of a specific market.
Together, they form a curated ecosystem that serves the entire packaging value chain, ranging from luxury to lifestyle and FMCG.
Posted: 14 July 2025
Whether you're switching up your summer accessories, getting ahead for back-to-school, or looking for a dopamine boost for your daily bag, Warmies® has just delivered the drop of the season. These scented, soft, and stylish new accessories are more than just cute, they tap directly into the rise of comfort-core sensory gifting, and collectible fashion that's trending across social feeds, high-street, and playgrounds across the UK. From teens styling their backpacks to adults personalising their keys and totes, the demand for tactile, feel-good accessories is growing fast, and Warmies® is meeting it with a launch that's practical, playful, and seriously giftable.
Posted: 11 July 2025
The final day of Source Fashion at Olympia London drew to a close, marking the end of a dynamic and inspiring three-day event.
With record visitor numbers and a 51 percent year-on-year increase in total footfall, the show has firmly cemented its place as Europe's leading responsible sourcing event.
The show remained busy until the end, as buyers, designers, and sourcing professionals from leading fashion brands including LVMH, Harrods, Burberry, Victoria Beckham, Temperley, Bella Freud, Lyle & Scott, French Connection, John Lewis, AllSaints, ASOS, Joseph, Marks & Spencer, Next, New Look, Primark, River Island and Jermyn Street Design, made the most of the opportunities to connect with global manufacturers, explore sustainable innovations, and engage in critical industry conversations.
With a spotlight on transparency, innovation and collaboration, Source Fashion has once again proven to be more than a sourcing event, it's a platform for progress, collaboration, and long-term change across the fashion supply chain.
Posted: 10 July 2025
Buyers, retailers, and sourcing professionals from across the globe gathered at the highly anticipated event, with representatives from major industry players such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, All Saints, Next, Temperley London, River Island, Joules, Lucy & Yak, Bad Monday, Jaded London and Gigi & Olive.
United by a shared commitment to driving meaningful change in the fashion and retail sectors, attendees explored pioneering sustainable solutions and formed powerful new connections that will shape the future of the industry.
This year's show features an exceptional line-up of 250 responsible manufacturers from around the world, from over 22 key sourcing regions, including UK, Portugal, Morocco, India, Nepal, Italy, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Türkiye, France, China and more.
Posted: 9 July 2025
New research from Ventrica has revealed the revenue benefits for brands that invest in providing emotive customer experiences (CX) that consumers want.
The company surveyed over 2,000 UK consumers and found that over the last 12 months, only 4 per cent of positive experiences were delivered by AI and only 18 per cent were a combination of AI and human interaction. Furthermore, only just over half (53 percent) found chatbots to be a successful means of resolving enquiries, significantly lower than calls (87 percent).
This is leaving UK brands at risk of losing out on potential revenue opportunities, with the survey finding consumers would be willing to spend up to £100 more on a brand in the future, following a positive experience.
Posted: 8 July 2025
Mack Trucks, celebrating its 125th anniversary as one of the world's most iconic manufacturers, has announced a licensing agreement with Poetic Brands, a specialist apparel licensee.
The pan-European license grants Poetic Brands rights to design, manufacture and distribute adults' and children's apparel and accessories featuring the legendary Mack® brand.
The collaboration will leverage Mack's storied heritage and recognisable brand assets, including the famous Mack Bulldog, the special 125-year anniversary logo and the trucks themselves. The ethically sourced collection will be available at multiple retailers across Europe beginning autumn/winter 2025.
"For 125 years, Mack Trucks has built a global reputation for reliability, durability and authentic American grit," said Cam Creech, senior manager of partnerships and licensing at Mack Trucks.
Posted: 4 July 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's leading marketplace for home, gift, and fashion, has revealed its most ambitious and retailer-focused content programme to date. Practical, focused, and easy to consume, it's been thoughtfully designed to fit around buyers and deliver maximum value in minimal time.
Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, this year's show recognises the pressures facing independent retailers, from rising costs and evolving customer behaviours to the demands of digital transformation and responds with a powerful new programme of over 30 short, high-impact sessions.
Across the brand-new Retail Corner stage and Buyers Retreat, the agenda is packed with real-world strategies, future-facing trend intelligence, and expert-led workshops to help home, gift and fashion retailers buy smarter, sell better, and future-proof their businesses, while staying connected to the wider retail industry without missing a beat on the show floor.
Posted: 2 July 2025
German backpack brand Kapten & Son is excited to announce the opening of its first-ever UK retail store, launching in August, in the heart of London's vibrant Seven Dials/Covent Garden district.
This opening marks a major milestone in the brand's international expansion, bringing the beloved Kapten & Son experience to one of Europe's most influential fashion capitals. With a strong footprint across continental Europe – thanks to successful store launches in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna, and Amsterdam – London now represents the next step in connecting with a growing global community of urban adventurers.
The new flagship store will offer a series of interactive experience stations designed to help visitors find their ideal backpack.
Posted: 30 June 2025
