Autumn Fair, the season’s number one marketplace for the retail industry, is welcoming entrepreneur and small business champion Theo Paphitis to host the Small Business Sunday (#SBS) Pavilion, a showcase dedicated to highlighting new and unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses.
The partnership sees companies in Theo’s #SBS community compete for one of 12 free exhibition spots at the Fair, with the process judged by a panel of Autumn and Spring Fair experts from event organisers, Ascential.
The winners will take centre stage at the Fair, which runs 2-5 September at Birmingham NEC, and will gain access to thousands of visitors and buyers ready to order products ahead of the busiest retail period of the year – the Golden Quarter.
#SBS began in 2010 and each week hundreds of small businesses tweet Theo to secure his endorsement. Every Monday, six of these businesses are then invited to become part of the now 2,300 strong #SBS community, benefiting from boosted publicity and attendance at a yearly conference with access to motivational speakers and workshops.
Theo Paphitis, founder of #SBS, says: “I am thrilled to be bringing #SBS to Autumn Fair, giving 12 small businesses a free platform to showcase their wares and access a brand new marketplace.
“#SBS was born due to the sheer number of business owners on Twitter who wanted to tell me about their new products and services. It exists so that these passionate entrepreneurs have a dedicated space to share their ideas and ‘pitch’ for endorsement. It’s therefore a natural match to bring our initiative to Autumn Fair, an event similarly dedicated to championing retailers, their energy and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Louise Young, managing director of Spring & Autumn Fair, comments: “Each year, Autumn Fair showcases the best and most innovative ideas and products to inspire buyers throughout the Golden Quarter and beyond.
“It is hugely exciting for us to be welcoming Theo and 12 new #SBS businesses to the Fair, with Theo providing these small businesses with a platform that allows them to really shine and boost their order books.”
As the gateway to the Golden Quarter, Autumn Fair enables visitors to buy products ‘here and now’ for this key selling period, as well as helping them get ahead of the competition by seeing the biggest range of 2019 product launches in the UK.
