Walking the floor at Spring Fair in Birmingham these past few days, I’ve watched as small, independent retailers the hunt for the unique. There is a collective drive to find products that provide genuine differentiation, a sentiment I know is shared by many of us back home in Australia.
My goal here has been to look beyond our own backyard. Often, the best way to find something different is to search where competitors aren’t looking.
However, the shift in the trade show landscape is hard to ignore. Like our local events in Australia, Spring Fair feels smaller. Trade shows no longer hold the singular importance they once did. Suppliers are feeling it too, often lamenting lower attendance numbers while facing the high costs of exhibiting.
Just as the way we sell to our customers has evolved, the way we buy as retailers has fundamentally changed.
One of the most notable shifts is the decline of the traditional sales representative. While some suppliers still believe that having people on the road is the most effective way to pitch to retailers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. Smart suppliers are now leveraging technology to help us manage our buying more efficiently, accurately and quickly, allowing us to transact smarter.
Despite these industry shifts, I am grateful for the opportunity to be here. It has been a productive trip, and I’m looking forward to bringing some terrific new suppliers and unique products back to our side of the world.
Here are some photos, not of products as I am keeping those insights close for now.
Even though this trade show is smaller than it once was, it is bigger than trade shows in Australia, and there is a difference in the mix of products available, and that’s what I visit for.