Spring Fair International will once again present the largest showcase of Greetings & Stationery available to the UK market in 2013.
With its own dedicated Hall (4) at the heart of The NEC, this essential sector of Spring Fair will include all manner of paper products, from direct to retail and wholesale greetings cards, wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes, tags, bows, social stationery and luxurious gift stationery items from both British and international publishers.
The best of the UK’s world-leading card and wrap publishing industry will be present at the show, including key suppliers such as: Carte Blanche Group, Woodmansterne Publications (left), Hallmark Cards, Grass Roots International, Eurowrap, Nigel Quiney, Simon Elvin, Really Good, Santoro, Penny Kennedy and Rachel Ellen Design.
Commenting on the publishing giant’s return to Spring Fair, Hallmark’s Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes said: “Hallmark is delighted to be exhibiting at the Spring Fair again in 2013. The show acts as a great platform for us to launch our new product development to all key customers. We are especially excited about launching many new gifting products next year as well as new cards, and we think customers will be pleasantly surprised at seeing Hallmark like they’ve never seen us before. We certainly can’t wait to see the reaction on peoples’ faces when they visit Hallmark in Spring!”
Iconic British publisher Carte Blanche Greetings is also looking forward to the show. Sales director Martin Horner commented: “As we celebrate our 25 years in business, the NEC remains a key platform for us to showcase the latest innovations. We’ll be unveiling a whole host of exciting new ranges within our Me to You, Wishing Well, Hotchpotch and Lello portfolios, as well as some fresh new brands that we are certain will be a hit in 2013 and beyond”.
2013 also sees a real growth in new and smaller publishers exhibiting at the show, with more space dedicated to this crucial part of this vibrant and creative industry. Companies and designers you can expect to see in this area include: Church Mouse Press, Design Rocks, Doodlelove, Lothian Art, Obiko, Lucy Monkman, Madame Treacle, Louise Scott Art (left), Molly Mae, Wrendale Designs, Colorblind Cards, Octavius Hunt, Spice Studios, YTR Design, Blue Island Press (below), G Vermes Bv, Ilustris S.C. Katarzyna Majewska, Andrzej Tylkowski, Damiani s.a.s and Brightstream.
Once again holding court in the Greetings & Stationery hall will be the Cardgains Village, helping to create a strong focal point for this sector of the show. Around 25 Cardgains member suppliers will take out ‘pods’ on this group stand 4E20-F21.
Visitors in search of refreshments can head for the Greetings Bar for a drink and a bite to eat while they take stock of the fabulous products on display in Hall 4.
Event director Alison Graham commented: “We have already signed up 300 companies to Greetings & Stationery, a figure that will significantly increase by the time Spring Fair opens its doors on February 3. We are also proud to welcome around 60 new exhibitors – mainly smaller and niche publishers – to the show this year. Buyers will be able to source from a truly extensive showcase of beautiful products within this sector, more than you could expect to see at any other trade fair in the world.”
Regular Spring Fair attendee Terry Harvey, the managing director of M&P Cards Ltd, which operates from a number of specialist greetings outlets throughout the South of England said: “Spring Fair is always an essential date in our calendar and an amazing opportunity to review our card and gift offering across the group. It is always a great advantage to view products in this environment where gaining an overview of a range or comparing products between suppliers is much easier. We always come away with a great deal or an exciting new range”.
