NEWNESS TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT AUTUMN FAIR AS RETAILERS PREPARE FOR THE GOLDEN QUARTER

 

Autumn Fair is set to deliver its strongest showcase of new products, emerging brands and retail innovation yet, giving buyers the opportunity to source with confidence ahead of the most important trading period of the year.

The Golden Quarter remains the defining period in the retail calendar, accounting for a significant proportion of annual sales across gift, home, fashion, toys, beauty and seasonal categories. From Halloween and Christmas through to key Q1 moments such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter, retailers are increasingly looking for agile buying opportunities that allow them to discover newness, react to emerging trends and identify proven sellers without overcommitting too far in advance.

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 6–9 September, Autumn Fair arrives at a pivotal moment for retail buyers planning their final seasonal purchases and preparing for the opportunities of early 2027. This year, with garden event Glee co-locating alongside the show on 8–9 September, Autumn Fair becomes part of Europe's largest buying moment for home, gift, garden and fashion retail, bringing together more than 1,250 exhibitors, over 500,000 products and 20,000+ buyers under one roof.

With more than 25% of brands new to the show and over 30% exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair, buyers can expect an unrivalled mix of established suppliers, emerging talent and trend-led product launches across Gift, Home, Fashion, Greetings, Stationery, Beauty & Wellbeing, Kids, Toys & Play and lifestyle categories. The co-location with Glee will further expand opportunities for discovery, opening up access to complementary garden living, outdoor lifestyle and gifting products that increasingly influence consumer purchasing behaviour.

Exciting new talent will sit alongside returning industry favourites including Puckator, Chalk UK, CGB Giftware, Repeat Repeat, Bomb Cosmetics, Ancestors Group, Ampersand Fragrance, Fikkerts, Heaven Scent, The English Soap Company, Rockshop Wholesale, Pacific Lifestyle, Lows of Dundee, and many more.

At the heart of the show's commitment to innovation are the newly renamed Product Pavilions - previously New Business Pavilions - curated destinations designed to spotlight emerging brands, fresh product launches and retail-ready innovations. Buyers will discover a diverse range of new businesses reflecting some of retail's biggest growth trends, from sustainability and wellness to experiential gifting and purpose-led purchasing.

In the Gift Pavilion, buyers will discover TINIT, a design-led brand creating beautifully illustrated tins and practical gifts inspired by everyday living, and premium Korean beauty distributor Radiance B2B, alongside The Candle Carousel®, which is reimagining home fragrance through refillable, eco-conscious candles designed to evoke nostalgia and storytelling. Handmade soy candle specialist Gift Candle brings emotionally driven gifting products crafted around meaningful moments and experiences, while Celestial Irias Apothecary presents spiritual candles, oils, and readings for healing. Everyday Womtras™ offers a fresh take on contemporary gifting with hand-drawn, feminist-inspired products that combine humour, honesty and personality; and beautifully illustrated children’s books from Tawny Owl Wood are designed to celebrate diversity, inclusion, nature, and neurodiversity.

In the Fashion Pavilion, sustainability and conscious consumerism continue to influence buying decisions, reflected by brands such as Plántica, which creates contemporary accessories from innovative plant-based materials including mushroom leather, pineapple fibre and seaweed textiles. The brand combines ethical production with modern design, offering retailers a fresh approach to eco-luxury.

Buyers will also discover newness in Fashion from Wild Spirit Sportswear, a fast-growing activewear brand focused on confidence, movement and wellbeing, alongside Eighth Hour, which is addressing the growing demand for elevated, easy-to-wear wardrobe staples designed for busy professional women; and hair and fashion accessories for women and minis by Bloomed in Wild. Newcomers also include QC Fashion, House of Jamoti, Lovemark, Rangers Outdoor Wears, EX-IT, Jean Express, Flax Barn Jewellery, Costalia, and Oak & Willow Designs.

International fashion names such as APPARIS, known for its sustainable approach to luxury fashion, and heritage Scandinavian footwear brand Tretorn will also bring fresh inspiration to the show floor.

The Gift sector welcomes a host of new brands offering creativity and craftsmanship for buyers seeking standout products for the season ahead. Kunstsokken brings a fresh twist to wearable gifting with its sustainable, GOTS-certified organic cotton socks inspired by iconic works of art, transforming famous masterpieces into colourful, conversation-starting accessories. Plush toy phenomenon Squishable will present its collection of quirky, fan-inspired characters, combining collectability, creativity and irresistible appeal for gift and lifestyle retailers. British family business Artcuts will showcase its beautifully crafted UK-made Christmas decorations, gifts and souvenirs, renowned for their contemporary design and quality craftsmanship. Meanwhile, SONG Art & Craft offers a unique creative proposition, drawing on its Shoreditch-based craft studio expertise to celebrate handmade artistry across glassmaking, jewellery and traditional craft disciplines. Craftstone, Ancestors Group, The Gift Guys Group, Unique Home London, Parks London, Cue Logic, Pen Paper Gift, Inspire CNC, Jambo Jewellery, Crux Puzzle, Heritage Playing Cards, Xbrella, Repeat Repeat, and Little Moment Melts add to the inspiring line-up.

New for 2026, the launch of the Food & Drink destination further broadens the show's appeal, reflecting the continued blending of gifting, hospitality and lifestyle retail. Buyers will be able to source gourmet gifting products, artisan food brands and premium treats including personalised gifting specialist Norfolk Jar Kitchen and internationally recognised confectionery brand Lakrids by Bülow, while also benefiting from onsite sampling opportunities that create a more interactive buying experience and enable retailers to purchase with confidence ahead of the festive season.

The Beauty & Wellbeing destination continues to expand, reflecting consumers' growing focus on self-care and wellness. New exhibitors include organic skincare specialist Highland Soap Company, handcrafted home fragrance brand Ritual Spirit, and Nougat London, a lifestyle brand offering natural bath, body and home fragrance collections. Arthur Betsy, Cosy Cosmetics, Little Moments Melts, Good Ventures, K Co Cosmetic, Edit Five, Good Ventures, The Woodpile Provisions also showcase for the first time.

These sit alongside established names including Bomb Cosmetics, which will unveil more than 80 new products at the show, and The English Soap Company, celebrating 26 years of British soap making. Heritage English brand, Fikkerts return with their natural bath, body and wellness products inspired by traditional apothecary and the beauty of the British botanical gardens and countryside. Ivy & Twine, Best Kept Secrets, Heaven Scent Incense, and Sense Aroma also return to the show.

Buyers looking for originality in Kids, Toys & Play can discover JigglyBitz, creators of colourful eco-friendly 3D-printed sensory fidget toys, and British childrenswear brand Blade & Rose, renowned for its trend-led clothing collections, as well as 3D Gift, Cryptic Killers, and Reydon Sports. 

The Greetings, Stationery & Wrapping sector welcomes brands including Jellow Cards, whose interactive cards and gifts are designed to spark meaningful connections, and illustrator-led brand Lydia Mae, who’s sustainably produced greeting cards and gifts are inspired by nature and family life. Bladen Box, Raspberry Blossom, and Collins Debden also return.

In Everyday, don’t miss newcomers Clearance Giant, suppliers of a vast range of FMCG products, helping retailers source quality products at competitive prices.

The Home destination continues to showcase the most stylish and on-trend occasional furniture, textiles and interior accessories with the desirable handpicked and curated edit in The Summer House. Many new, returning and current exhibitors all forged together offering buyers better return on time and investment. Pacific Lifestyle returns, with bang on trends and exciting, ever-expanding ranges covering all corners across interiors to outdoor living. Hug Rug / Phoenix Textiles, Lows of Dundee, and McGowan & Rutherford join newcomers Roura Candles, Lotus Imports, Lyn Mason Atelier, Home Edit, Ambiente Europe and Sparta Décor.

Buyers will also discover the new collections from established favourites Hill Interiors, Malini, Bronte by Moon, Inis, The Otters Brook Collection, Culinary Concepts, Satchville, Wilde Java, Terrace & Garden, Casa Verde, Nordic Style, Walton & Co, DM Brands and many more.

New to Retail Solutions, discover Squashed Pixel, a leading e-commerce (Shopify) agency; Barclays Business Banking offering support, financial guidance and resources for small and medium-sized businesses; and National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG), a strategic collaboration between the police, government, private sector, and academia, dedicated to strengthening cyber resilience across the UK's SME community in support of the Government’s National Cyber Strategy.

As retailers continue to seek products that create excitement, encourage repeat visits and differentiate them from competitors, Autumn Fair's focus on discovery has never been more relevant. From sustainable fashion and artisan beauty brands to innovative toys, contemporary homeware, handcrafted gifts and gourmet food products, the show offers buyers a unique opportunity to uncover the next bestsellers while building ranges that will drive sales throughout the Golden Quarter and beyond.

Matthew Mein, Event Director at Autumn Fair and Glee said;

 

“Retailers know that success during the Golden Quarter starts long before the festive season arrives. Buyers are looking for fresh ideas, exciting new products and trusted suppliers that can help them create compelling ranges and stand out from the competition. With more than a quarter of our exhibitors new to the show, over 30% exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair, and Glee joining us on 8–9 September, we're creating an unrivalled buying opportunity where retailers can discover newness, spot emerging trends and source across multiple categories all under one roof. The breadth of product, inspiration and expertise available this year makes Autumn Fair an essential destination for buyers preparing for their busiest trading period.”

Autumn Fair 2026 takes place 6–9 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.

Glee 2026 takes place 8–10 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham.