Spring Fair returns to the NEC Birmingham from 2 – 5 February 2025 for its 75th anniversary, offering a packed programme of free educational content, workshops, and networking opportunities.
This year’s event promises hundreds of hours of inspiration, actionable advice and insights and trends delivered across three dedicated stages: the Inspiring Retail Stage, the Masterclass Studio, and the newly launched Licensing Lab.
Inspiring Retail Stage | Hall 2
A hub for innovation and forward-thinking ideas, the Inspiring Retail Stage offers daily catwalk shows, high-profile keynote speakers, and cutting-edge trend presentations in partnership with BDA London’s Trendhub. Buyers will gain valuable insights into the future of retail and actionable strategies to grow their businesses.
Masterclass Studio | Hall 3
Dive deep into today’s pressing retail challenges with hands-on panel discussions and workshops in the Masterclass Studio. Tailored for practical application, these sessions cover everything from digital trends to sustainability and AI, ensuring retailers leave equipped with skills and strategies to tackle real-world issues.
Licensing Lab | Hall 5
New for 2025, the Licensing Lab, developed in partnership with Fabacus and Licensing International, is dedicated to driving growth in the licensing industry. With networking opportunities and exclusive expert-led sessions, this space provides invaluable insights for licensors, licensees, and retailers looking to unlock new business opportunities.
Session highlights
Sunday, 2 February:
- Keynote – Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen on Unleashing Creativity: Licensing, Art, and Designing for Retail Success. 10.30am, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Tess Cope, Leadership Coach at The Transformation Agency. 10am, Masterclass Studio
- Instagram content creator Rachel Henderson offers actionable advice on The Art of Visual Selling: How to Create Eye-Catching Content That Converts on Instagram. 11.30am, Masterclass Studio
- Key Trends in Licensing for 2024 – Explore the emerging trends shaping the licensing industry in 2024 with Steve Manners, Licensing International. 11.30am, Licensing Lab
- Digital Trends For SME Retailers to Plan For in 2025 – Join leading digital experts Lucy Hall (Digital Woman), Lucia Dello (Dello Insights), and Niki Hutchison (Enjoy Marketing). 12.45pm, Masterclass Studio
- TikTok 2025: Leveraging Next-Gen Trends to Elevate Your Brand. 2pm, Licensing Lab
- Faire takes to the stage to deliver expert sessions for retailers, offering insights and guidance on industry trends. 2pm Masterclass Studio
Monday, 3 February:
- Keynote – Andrew Xeni, founder and ceo – Fabacas & Nobody’s Child on Scaling Sustainability: Growing an E-commerce Brand in a New Retail Era. 10.30am, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Exceptional Shopper Experiences: Delivering Short and Long-Term Impact. Through in-depth analysis and real-world examples, David Wall and Jauneen Tarin from Kantar. 10.30am, Masterclass Studio
- Join Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen for key insights into design and the Garden of Pattern. 10.30am, Licensing Lab
- Join Ron Sachs, shopping director at Deliveroo, for From Click to Customer: Deliveroo’s Cross-Sector Journey in Digital Retail Excellence. Inspiring Retail Stage
- The Future of Sustainable Retail – Strategies That Work with Steve Lister, Sustainability Consultancy to Global Brands, Retailers & Supply Chain Partners. 11.30am, Masterclass Studio
- Lunch and learn at the Licensing Lab. Expanding Horizons: Licensing Success and Diversification at Nobody’s Child with Andrew Xeni, chairman of Nobody’s Child, ceo Fabacus. 12pm, Licensing Lab
- Keynote – Jeff Banks on Licensing, Branding, and the Keys to Lasting Success. 12.15pm, Inspiring Retail Stage
- From Stage to Page: Licensing Insights from Theatrical Giants with the Really Useful Group and Royal Shakespeare Company. 1.15pm, Licensing Lab
- Andrew Xeni, founder and ceo – Fabacas & Nobody’s Child on Digital Product Passports: The Future of Connected Commerce. 2pm, Masterclass Studio
- AW25/26 Homeware & Festive Celebrations Trends: “From Modern Modular to Raw Minimal”. 2.15pm Inspiring Retail Stage
- End of The Line for Barcodes: Are You Ready for 2027? 3pm, Masterclass Studio
- Jeff Banks on Unlocking the Power of Licensing in Fashion and Beyond. 3pm, Licensing Lab
Tuesday, 4 February:
- SS26 Homeware and Outdoor Living Trends: “Evolving Households: Balancing acts and Waste-Nots” with Trendhub’s head of creative Terrie Isaacs. 10.30am, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Fiona Humberstone’s Brand Brilliance. 11am, Masterclass Studio
- Helena Mansell-Stopher of Products of Change leads a Sustainability Masterclass. 12pm, Masterclass Studio
- Join Faire for expert insights. 12.15pm, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Supercharge Your Creativity with Canva. 1pm, Masterclass Studio
- Keynote – Theo Paphitis shares his expertise in Small Businesses, Big Impact: Thriving in a World of Giants. 2.15pm, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Using Data to De-Risk Decisions and Maximise ROI in Retail Licensing with Tom Williams, ceo, Insights Family. 3pm, Licensing Lab
Wednesday, 5 February:
- A practical workshop by Anti Copying in Design (ACID) and McDaniels Law titled Taking on the Copycats. 10am, Masterclass Studio
- Keynote – Kate Hardcastle delivers The Science of Shopping – what consumers want next. 10.30am, Inspiring Retail Stage
- Join Elliott Webb, ceo of Urban Farm It. 12.30pm, Masterclass Studio
Driving Innovation in Retail
Spring Fair 2025 continues its mission to empower independent retailers by combining hands-on experience with visionary insights. The three stages will serve as a vital resource for buyers looking to navigate an ever-changing retail landscape, connect with industry experts and future-proof their businesses.
For the full schedule visit, https://www.springfair.com/stage-programme
