Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Spring Fair 2012 review with photographs...

Sue Bowler
2012 is a big year for celebration!
 
This years Spring Fair took place from the 5th-9th February at The NEC, Birmingham, England.

Against a backdrop of economic pressure and inclement weather (snow) it still attracted over 63,500 buyer visitors. The Spring Fair is divided into 13 main categories, 



Contemporary Gift & Home


Gift & Home


Volume Gift & Home


Greetings & Stationery


Kitchen, Dining & Housewares


The Summerhouse


Toys, Games & Kids Gifts


The Party Show


Festive & Floral


Art & Framing


Body, Bath & Home Fragrance


Fashion Jewellery & Accessories


The Jewellery Show

Balloons, costume and party goods were represented within the new 'Party Show' sector in Hall 3.
New 2012 Catalog


The Spring Fair for Pioneer Europe (Qualatex) is the perfect opportunity to launch the 2012 Everday Catalogue, to showcase the amazing range of Qualatex balloon products to new and existing customers.

With both the 'Education Centre' and 'The Stage' daily demonstrations, visitors were 'wowed' with the endless ideas and profitable designs being shown to them, the demo teams was made up by myself, Dee White, Dom Cassidy & Keith Stirman.

Me in one of the Education centre's... before the show had officially opened!


To give you an idea of the size of the entire show, 17 miles... yes miles of carpet was used to cover the endless walkways between the aisles and halls!

I have been part of the Qualatex Spring Fair team for many years. I have had the privilege and honor of designing and creating the stand/ booth window displays, showing a host of new products and design ideas. Working along side Jodie Norris & Dee White, who each year create the most incredible stand/booth decor, which I can honestly say makes the Qualatex stand probably one of the most colourful and professional looking stands in the entire show!
Spring Fair is very much a team effort, with a number of the Qualatex Sales team (Michelle, Mark, Debbie, Linda. Jag, Michelle) being an integral part of the stand/decor build as well as being on the stand once the show opens talking to customers and of course taking order!


Preparation starts earlier in the week prior to the show with stand builders building the stand.





Dee White adding graphics to an 8' Giant Cloudbuster- Chloroprene balloon



View of the completed stand/booth - Stand designers Jodie Norris & Dee White
                           
                           Retail display... Microfoils, Bubbles and Qualatex Retail Latex
New Microfoils & Bubble balloons

Beautiful new Special Shapes balloons
The Qualatex Hot Air balloons with Dee's fantastic Smiley Face men

New holographic balloons... they are lovely!

The Animal head shape balloons worked so well, especially with Dee's added touch for the 'ladies'!

View from the other end of the stand.



Sue Bowler
Window displays using the beautiful new holographic balloons!

Sue Bowler
Birthday Display!

Sue Bowler
Numbers Display!


If you would like to see a little more, I have put together a short DVD that gives you a great look at the stand, the fantastic new balloons and some inspirational design ideas!


Spring Fair 2013 will be 3rd-7th Feb 2013... mark the date in your diary!

If you attended the show please add your comments to this blog, we would love to hear what you thought of the stand decor, new balloons... anything really!

I walked around the show after I had finished my stint on the stand, I only actually managed to visit a few of the other halls. I saw some great new products that will work very well for balloon artists... watch this space as I hope to try out and review some of these soon!

Sue :)

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