Spring Fair is the largest gift show in the UK. Every February over 2500 exhibitors grace the NEC with their new wares, each hoping to meet new contacts and take orders for the year ahead.
Uberstar have been exhibiting at Spring Fair since 2013 and every year we have grown in terms of turnover and in terms of stand size. This year's stand was a whopping 26m2, over twice the size of last year. Which presented new challenges, in terms of stand design and manning. Of course it's not all about stand size, as even the smallest stands can have the biggest presence with the correct location, product and marketing.
In fact, Spring Fair are very generous to new exhibitors, especially those with new ideas and innovations that can take the fair by storm.
Uberstar have been located in Hall 6 for the last 2 years. This is where all Contemporary Gift exhibitors are located. Fashionable gifts that are always trend-setting.
We were promoting a number of new products along with our best sellers. New lines this year included: Cocktail Party Fountains, Unicorn Tea, Repour Wine Saver, Best Morning Ever Mug, Warren Black Cocktail Tools and an extension of our Blush Iridescent Cocktail Tools.
Around the show there was a strong unicorn trend, similar to flamingos last year (which are still proving strong in 2018). With a touch of lama products, for those bold enough. Will lamas be the animal of 2018?
With regards to colours, deep shades continue to take centre stage, but we've seen many of the dark greys being replaced with aubergine and mood indigos.
Of course, no one knows which products will actual be the biggest hits or the latest trends, however, visiting somewhere like Spring Fair certainly gives you a great helping hand.
We're now off to one of Europe's biggest product shows in Frankfurt, Ambiente. So for now tusse and auf wiedersehen.