Already a huge success for over five years at its partner show in Las Vegas, Autumn Fair is bringing the Curated Meetings service to the UK. Putting a focus on gifts, it will introduce pre-qualified, vetted premium buyers, who are actively sourcing, to relevant, quality suppliers.
“All meetings are double opt-in, so both buyers and vendors must accept, ensuring maximum relevance and engagement,” explains Maleha Khan, product manager of Autumn Fair Curated Meetings. “Spaces are limited and in-demand,” she stressed.
Maleha emphasises that Curated Meetings is a game-changing proposition for the future of buying and sourcing in retail. “Already celebrated as a lead sourcing programme in the USA, delivering thousands of meetings per event, the Curated Meetings’ UK debut beta trial will focus on gifts, with the full-scale programme launching across multiple sectors at Spring Fair 2022.”
She continued: “Buyers have a limited amount of time to source new brands and product collections and Curated Meetings enables them to line up a series of time efficient, hassle-free appointments to discover and see brands quickly and easily when they are onsite.”
Over 500 meetings are planned across two days, bringing together buyers from leading national and independent retailers keen to handpick next season’s bestsellers. They include a host of major multiples, such as John Lewis and Oliver Bonas, as well as independent gift stores Lark London and Mooch.
Using the Curated Meetings online platform, buyers can filter for products that suit their desired aesthetic, product type, price range and beyond.
Buyers and vendors must meet criteria and be approved to take part in Curated Meetings. Once meetings have been requested, onsite appointments are scheduled during dedicated time slots on the Monday and Tuesday of the show to be held in a dedicated Curated Meetings space.
Applications can be submitted at www.autumnfair.com/curated-meetings.
A Curated Meetings webinar will be taking place on Wednesday July 7 at 4pm for insight into what buyers are looking for – their priorities, how they search for new products and what they look for in a supplier.
Autumn Fair takes place from September 5-8 at the NEC, Birmingham.
Above: Curated Meetings will be a focus at Autumn Fair.
