5th September 10:00 - 17:00*
6th - 8th September 09:00 - 18:00
9th September 09:00 - 16:00
*Volume hall only
AFI 09 Press Release - Kitchen & DiningKitchen & Dining cooks up great
There were 28,757* buyers at this year’s Autumn Fair – more than at last year’s show – and the number of international visitors also rose by 2%*. Said Heath McCabe managing director John McCabe: “By 10am this morning (Monday) we wrote as much business as we did at the whole of Autumn Fair last year. It was totally unexpected to have a bumper day on Sunday. We sold to five different countries – it was superb. And we saw a lot of independents who had taken the day off.
Multiples including John Lewis, Debenhams, Fenwick, Asda, Cargo, TK Maxx, Poundland, Lakeland, House Of Fraser, Tesco, Next, Sainsbury’s, B&Q and Marks & Spencer joined independent retailers in the busy halls The big stores were back to buy, with product-hungry retailers seeing the show as their last opportunity to source exciting home and gift ranges for Christmas and spring 2010.
T &G Woodware managing director Patrick Gardner said: “On Sunday and Monday we surpassed last year’s Autumn Fair sales total. It’s been very good. Everything from now is a bonus.” His view was endorsed by Mo B’ham, managing director of Imperial: “Autumn Fair has been a good show because of the quality of customers. Yesterday (Sunday) the volume of orders – taken in monetary terms – was 24% up on the same day last year. I’m really happy!” Ethos managing director Paul Westwood was equally enthusiastic: “Footfall was excellent all day on Sunday. I don’t think we got away until 8pm and security had to kick us out. Everyone was writing orders and we even had a girl on the stand – who was there to do some cleaning – and she was serving customers!”
Cook Live! – hailed as one of the most exciting introductions to the home and gift calendar in recent years – won praise from buyers and suppliers and will be developed further for Spring Fair. A large, working kitchen in hall 2 showcased new products and equipment being offered by exhibitors, with live demonstrations of their uses and benefits. The sector was filled with the smells, sounds and vibrancy of food and cooking.
Said International Cookware Designs managing director Derek Griffiths: “It’s nice to see something innovative. People enjoyed our presentation. Our cast iron tagine is a nice product and I think the chef did a cracking job. Using some fresh fish, he cooked a lovely meal here in 20 minutes.”
Cookshop retailers also judged the CHA@Autumn Fair Awards, which were presented at the show, as were the Home Decoration Retailers Association (HDRA) Awards. *Subject to ABC audit: Emap Connect Home & Gift is the only UK home and gift trade show organiser to issue audited figures. Autumn Fair International www.autumnfair.com is the season’s largest home and gift show. Contact Details Alan Monahan Stuart Thomas 15 September 09 There are 130 photos uploaded that you can download. This can be found at Password Autumn09 |
The renowned showcase for housewares, glassware and tabletop product, Kitchen & Dining (hall 2), also included outdoor living and dining décor and the new Cook Live! feature.
“Today (Monday) has been fantastic. All the stands around us in Kitchen & Dining are pretty much in the same situation. I can’t believe it. Crossover buying is working and the place is buzzing. It’s been brilliant.”
Kitchen & Dining – the season’s largest collection of its kind in the UK – brought together some of the biggest names in the industry.
Commented Grunwerg managing director David Grunwerg: “Footfall has been surprisingly good for the first day of the show and today (Monday) has been excellent. We have taken lots of orders – which is why we are here. The timing of the show has always been good.”
Companies which demonstrated products were Forma House, Burton McCall, Gilberts Food Equipment, Falcon Products, International Cookware Designs, Proven Products, Imperial, Mastrad, WMF, Ethos, Garlic Twist, Nordicware Bunot®, La Cafetiere and T&G Woodware.
Launched at Autumn Fair in 1994, the Cookshop and Housewares Association (CHA), which represents more than 680 shops across the UK, marked its fifteenth birthday with a party and ‘CHA birthday bonus’ – an exclusive 15% discount on a variety of ranges and products from CHA Village suppliers. This was available to all members at the show. A birthday cake was also presented to the CHA by the show organiser.
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