Retailers attending Spring Fair this year reported a renewed sense of energy, scale and confidence across the show floor, with many highlighting the buzz, atmosphere and overall experience as clear signs of positive change.

As Spring Fair drew to a close on 4^th February, the message from those on the show floor was consistent. From the moment doors opened, retailers have spoken about the experience, the look and feel of the show, and the sense that Spring Fair has regained its momentum.

Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director Spring Fair, said, “The buzz at Spring Fair this year has been incredible. Welcoming 40,000 visitors from 124 countries, the feedback on the refreshed look and feel, new destinations and immersive experiences has been overwhelmingly positive. With 86 percent of visitors holding purchasing power and 81 percent of buyers placing or planning to place orders, it’s clear that Spring Fair is where retail comes to do business, spark creativity and shape what’s next. Providing the ideas, partnerships and momentum retailers need to move their businesses forward with confidence, the show brought together a global retail community. If you weren’t here, you really missed something special.”

Collectively, the sentiment across Spring Fair 2026 reflects a show that feels energised, busy and firmly forward-looking, with retailers repeatedly referencing the transformation they are seeing and experiencing across the event. This year, Spring Fair welcomed thousands of buyers from leading retailers including B&M Retail, Hamleys, Associated Independent Stores, Baldwins, British Garden Centres, Frasers Group, Deichmann UK, Dobbies Garden Centres, Hoopers, Costco, Currys, Morrisons, HMV, B&Q, Sainsbury, Argos, Habitat, Fenwick, Englih Heritage, F Hinds, WHSmith, ALDI, Jarrolds, DeGruchys, Kew Gardens, Meaghers Pharmacy Group, TJX Europe, Anthropologie, Blue Diamond, Hillier, Card Factory, DFS, Tesco, Waterstones, Peacocks, NEXT, Hobbycraft, Scribbler, Robert Dyas, TK Maxx, The National Trust, World Duty Free, Haskins Garden Centre, and more, alongside thousands of independent retailers, interior designers, architects and garden centres, as well as buying groups from across Europe.

The scale and momentum of the show were reinforced by a 30 percent growth in new brands, an 8 percent rise in new exhibitors, 20 percent more international brands and a 10 percent increase in small businesses taking part. With over 1 million products on display – 38 percent of them exclusive to the show – and more than 100 expert speakers delivering insight and inspiration, Spring Fair 2026 has firmly positioned itself as the definitive retail destination for discovery, connection and growth.

These figures support the positive response that has been reflected on the floor throughout the show, that Spring Fair feels bigger, busier and more vibrant, with strong engagement across categories. The story of Spring Fair this year is best told by the retailers themselves, those who have spent time buying, discovering new brands and reconnecting with the industry in person.

Ray Clacher, Chief Executive, Morleys Department Stores spoke at The Hidden Forum and said, “It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Spring Fair, and it’s been far too long. Just walking through the show, it’s everything retail is about. The show is curated and there’s something for everybody which is unbelievably good. I encourage anybody who wants to be entrepreneurial to come. The jewellery brands here are fantastic. It’s all here, come and have a look yourself – if you don’t you are missing out because there’s beautiful products. Our buying teams are here, we’re seeing some great things across the Halls, and we’re excited to order here at the show and afterwards.”

Andrew Xeni, Founder and CEO/Founder and Chairman, Fabacus, Nobody’s Child and Soreto spoke on a variety of subjects including sustainability, diversification, data, digital passports and licensing. “It was a pleasure to support Spring Fair again this year and the energy at the show was fantastic. As both a technology vendor and retailer, it’s a great opportunity to see the emerging trends across so many categories from such an incredibly diverse group of innovative suppliers, and a way to stay close to the community, to better understand their challenges.”

For Samantha Gibbons of Nest, Spring Fair 2026 was about sourcing new products, making connections, learning and supporting the wider retail community. Reflecting on her time at the show, Samantha described the experience as “a real joy and a privilege”, particularly through her involvement in the mentoring programme alongside Steven Spencer & Associates. “The response was incredible, we were fully booked, with people leaving inspired, energised and ready to take action,” she said. Many of the conversations she had were with new and early-stage businesses, often feeling overwhelmed by the realities of building a brand.

This highlights the evolving role of Spring Fair beyond traditional buying. “Spring Fair is not just about buying; it plays an important role in education, confidence-building and helping businesses, new and established, find clarity and direction. The breadth of businesses here is staggering, and the way Spring Fair brings knowledge, experience and community together genuinely supports the future of retail.” Alongside mentoring, buying remains a core part of Samantha’s show experience. “Buying at Spring Fair is absolutely fundamental to how I plan and grow my business,” she explained. “You never see everything, even after years of attending, but the value is in spending the time, looking closely, talking to people and uncovering the stories behind the products.” The impact of the show is clear: “Trade shows like this are far more than inspirational; they’re essential. They bring people, products and ideas together in a way that simply isn’t possible digitally.”

For Michael Apter, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based retailer Paper Tiger, Spring Fair remains the most important buying event in the calendar, and a critical moment for shaping the year ahead. Trading for 45 years with four physical stores and a growing online business, Paper Tiger uses Spring Fair as its main platform for sourcing across cards, stationery and gifts. “Spring Fair is probably our biggest show of the year in terms of buying,” Michael explained. This year alone, Michael spent four days at the show alongside a dedicated buyer for three days, investing a full week into sourcing and relationship-building. “It’s a significant amount of time, money and effort for a small business to put into this fair, but we feel it’s worth it because we see so many of the people that we work with. It’s setting the agenda for the rest of the year.”

For Paper Tiger, Spring Fair is also where Christmas begins. “On the final day of the show, it’s Christmas at Paper Tiger. We spend two or three days doing research and placing some orders. It’s a real opportunity for us to set our stall out for what we want Christmas to look like and what the important final quarter of the year might look like.” Reflecting on Spring Fair 2026, Michael described the mood as overwhelmingly positive. “The show this year has been really engaging. The feedback has been universally positive; virtually all of the exhibitors I’ve spoken to have had a good fair.” He also noted a renewed confidence across the industry. “It feels really buoyant. You can feel it in the buzz and the noise levels in the hall. People are engaged in doing business. There’s a real quality of exhibitor here, and quality in the buyers too.”

For Michael, trade shows remain essential in a competitive and mature retail market. “There is a lot of choice, so it’s important for exhibitors to be here so that we can make those choices. If you’re not prepared to show at a show, you ought to be questioning why – because that’s where buyers are to see product.” While new brands are always welcome, he believes Spring Fair is where true differentiation happens. “You’ve got to come to a fair like Spring Fair to find the differences. Sometimes that’s new people, but the well-established suppliers with knowledge and experience are really knocking it out of the park.” And for those who didn’t attend? Michael’s message was simple: “I hope that you’ve got FOMO, because if you weren’t here, you have missed out.”

Philippa Cass, Head of Merchandising UK, Tesco Stores attended and delivered a talk on Tuesday 3^rd on Tesco’s fashion success story, said, “Participating in the Style Atelier at the Spring Fair has been a fabulous experience. The enthusiasm and energy of the visitors was inspiring and it was a privilege to witness such a dynamic community come together to celebrate innovation and creativity within the retail industry. Meeting esteemed professionals like Caryn Franklin and Lauretta Roberts was a standout moment, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share insights and connect with fellow industry leaders.”

Holly Walford, Assistant Buyer, Anthropologie, said, “The team recommended Spring Fair and they were right, it’s a great show. It’s a good size with a good variety. I see familiar faces and brands, but I also discover new ones. I feel there’s a lot more going on at Spring Fair than people realise. I would absolutely recommend it.”

Kate Aslangul, Founder, O...

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