Autumn Fair 2025 reveals powerful content agenda designed to equip independent retailers for a changing market

Autumn Fair, the UK’s leading marketplace for home, gift, and fashion, has revealed its most ambitious and retailer-focused content programme to date. Practical, focused, and easy to consume, it’s been thoughtfully designed to fit around buyers and deliver maximum value in minimal time.

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, this year’s show recognises the pressures facing independent retailers, from rising costs and evolving customer behaviours to the demands of digital transformation and responds with a powerful new programme of over 30 short, high-impact sessions.

Across the brand-new Retail Corner stage and Buyers Retreat, the agenda is packed with real-world strategies, future-facing trend intelligence, and expert-led workshops to help home, gift and fashion retailers buy smarter, sell better, and future-proof their businesses, while staying connected to the wider retail industry without missing a beat on the show floor.

The agenda focuses on profit-driving insight, trend intelligence, and practical transformation, all curated with the realities of independent retail in mind. From social commerce and sustainability to licensing, merchandising and consumer psychology, the sessions offer buyers and brands a holistic view of where retail is headed, and how to stay ahead of it. This year’s line-up is a masterclass in next-gen retail.

Why Autumn Fair Is Introducing Content in 2025: Equipping Retailers for What’s Next

Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director at Autumn Fair says, “We know your time at Autumn Fair is precious, and for most of you, buying comes first. But we also know that in today’s fast-moving retail landscape, it’s harder than ever to stay ahead while juggling rising costs, shifting consumer behaviours, and constant digital change. That’s why for Autumn Fair 2025, we’re introducing a powerful new content agenda that’s practical, focused, and easy to consume, designed to fit around your buying and deliver maximum value in minimal time.

“We’re not adding content for content’s sake. This is about giving you real-world strategies and actionable insights that can make a genuine difference to your business, from marketing on a shoestring, to making your store unmissable, to understanding the trends your customers will care about next. These are short, impactful sessions that respect your time and focus on what matters: helping you buy smarter, sell better, and future-proof your business, all while staying connected to the wider retail community facing the same challenges.”

Highlights from the Autumn Fair 2025 Agenda include:

Inspirational Keynotes & Conversations

• Harriet Hastings, CEO and Creative Director from The Biscuiteers shares her journey from kitchen table to luxury gifting empire. From launching online in 2007 to creating bespoke treats for luxury brands like Dior and Burberry, Harriet reveals the ingredients that have made her business a true retail phenomenon (9 Sept, Retail Corner)
• Bruce Langlands, CEO of Trotters – join for an inspiring conversation about Bruce’s remarkable retail journey from executive roles at Harrods and Selfridges to leading one of Britain’s most beloved children’s brands. As Trotters celebrates its 35th anniversary, Bruce shares insights on revitalising heritage brands, creating meaningful customer experiences and the art of strategic partnerships (9 Sept, Retail Corner).
• Priya Aurora-Crowe, owner of Lark London – an uncompromisingly honest conversation about building a 19-store empire in today’s challenging retail landscape (10 Sept, Retail Corner).

Retail Transformation in Action

• Retail Makeover Mission (7 Sept, Retail Corner) – Join for an inspiring behind-the-scenes look at The Retail Makeover Mission – the groundbreaking competition that’s changing lives for independent retailers across the UK in partnership with SaveTheHighStreet.org.
• Future-Proofing Your Retail Business (10 Sept, Buyers Retreat) – From AI to employee engagement, this is your radar for what’s next. You’ll explore future-facing trends, trade tips on adapting to change and dive into real-life strategies for staying nimble, relevant and resilient.

Retail Experience & Merchandising

• Making Your Store Unmissable (8 Sept, Buyers Retreat) – Retail is theatre now. Step into a design-thinking sandbox to reimagine your in-store experience. From selfie-worthy moments to local events that drive traffic, you’ll co-create strategies that turn footfall into fandom. With Alex Schlagman, Founder – SaveTheHighStreet.org
• Transform your seasonal displays with proven Visual Merchandising principles(8 Sept, Retail Corner) – Join Visual Merchandising specialist, Sarah Manning, with over 25 years of experience at London’s most prestigious retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Marks & Spencer, for an unmissable masterclass in creating Christmas displays that truly sell.

Trend Forecasts by BDA London’s Trendhub, Retail Corner

• Future Trends in Homeware & Festive (7 Sept) – Join Trendhub’s creatives to explore how the homeware market is evolving for season AW26/27 through the abundance of layered patterns, fringing & flouncing and statement festive table tops.
• Kids Trends: Future Nostalgia & The Perfect Parent Paradox (8 Sept) – Trendhub’s Kids team continue to explore Future Nostalgia for season AW26/27 through the Lost Art of slowing down and added complexities of Perfect Parent Paradox.
• Womenswear & Accessories: Elevated Classics (9 Sept) – The journey through Trendhub’s WW AW26/27 trends takes us from heritage classic styles to new inter-generational design relevance with 80’s inspired, yet elevated classics.

Workshops for Real-World Impact at the Buyers Retreat

• Indie Strategies: Small Budget, Big Impact (7 Sept) – Big ideas don’t need big budgets. This interactive session brings together independent retailers to share smart marketing hacks, creative pop-up formats, and collective buying power tips. Expect fast-paced idea swaps and real talk on indie retail challenges, with solutions you can use tomorrow.
• Supply Chain Solutions for the Little Guys (7 Sept) – Think big while staying small. Join a fast-moving networking session with suppliers and fellow retailers to brainstorm smarter logistics, discuss shared warehousing and group buying options and uncover practical supply chain strategies tailored for indie-scale operations.
• Sustainability That Sells (10 Sept) – Turn eco values into revenue with co-created circular concepts.

Topics That Matter: Diversity, Licensing, Community & Culture at the Retail Corner

• Representation Sells panel on inclusive product strategy (9 Sept) – The conversation around diversity and inclusion hasn’t disappeared – it’s evolved into a business imperative. This dynamic panel reveals why inclusive product ranges aren’t just the right thing to do, they’re the smart thing to do.
• Licensing Masterclass – Retail-ready brand partnerships (10 Sept) – Ready to explore the world of licensing with iconic brands? This essential masterclass is designed for retailers and suppliers looking to break into licensing or expand their brand partnerships. Learn the fundamentals of licensing deals, common pitfalls to avoid and proven marketing strategies that maximise the potential of licensed products.
• Spaces to Places: Transforming Spaces into Retail Destinations (8 Sept) – Someday Studios, a placemaking consultancy with a focus on small businesses, explores innovative approaches to physical retail spaces, including flexible leasing models, multi-brand collaborations and community-focused retail concepts that are successfully driving foot traffic back to high streets across the UK.
• More Than a Store – Reframing the Role of Shops in the Age of Community, Culture and Constant High Street Change (9 Sept)

 Digital Deep-Dives & Social Commerce

• The Truth About Social Commerce (From Someone Who Helped Build It) – Small Brands, Big Wins with TikTok Shop alum Shahriyar Hassan (7 Sept, Retail Corner)
• Powering Digital Growth for Small Businesses: How eBay Helps Independents Scale Online (8 Sept, Buyers Retreat)
• More Than Likes – Alison Battisby of Avocado Social shares how to turn social connection into conversion (8 Sept, Retail Corner)

Gadelrab adds, “We’ve designed the Autumn Fair content programme to reflect the urgent conversations happening on Britain’s high streets and the need for retailers to think differently and act decisively. This year, our inspiring speakers are not just experts, they’re entrepreneurs, activists and innovators who understand the challenges independents face and bring tangible, real-world solutions. The programme will focus on peer-driven insight, strategy-rich workshops, and stories of real transformation. So, whether you’re scaling, surviving, or starting fresh, Autumn Fair will help equip you with the insight and energy to move forward.”

Visit https://www.autumnfair.com/agenda for the full schedule and https://www.autumnfair.com/retail-corner-agenda to discover the Retail Corner.

Register now at www.autumnfair.com

Autumn Fair, 7^th – 10^th September 2025, NEC Birmingham