Hyve Group has appointed two new leaders to the team, Jackson Szabo as portfolio director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair, and Soraya Gadelrab as the new event director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair.
“Jackson and Soraya are brimming with exciting ideas that will inspire,” says Nicola Meadows, divisional managing director for the Retail, Manufacturing and Engineering Division. “Bringing together years of experience with a track record of innovation and success, they will propel the team forward setting new standards within our industry. Their vision and creativity will shape our future endeavours, fostering growth and excellence. With their arrival, we’re embarking on an exciting chapter together, driving positive change and achieving remarkable results,” she enthuses.
“Spring Fair is coming up to 75 years old and was the first show to call the NEC home, as well as being the largest show in Europe,” points out Jackson. “I very much look forward to working with this incredible community to ensure that the shows do everything they can to drive value to retailers and suppliers alike, while serving and supporting both exciting, new businesses and institutional incumbents,”
Adds Soraya: “I look forward to working with this passionate team to drive forward these heritage events, ensuring we evolve them to reflect the ever-changing retail sector which we serve.”
Spring Fair has also created a community team as a valuable resource for exhibitors and buyers. The team’s role includes attracting the new buyers they want to target and supporting existing customers to better understand their needs at the show.
The aim is to create a more personalised experience onsite and identify new business opportunities by leveraging insights from the show’s existing customer base and feedback areas, as well as to pinpoint developing trends, product needs and new client bases.
The team is headed up by Laura Rae, head of community at Spring and Autumn Fair, who says: “we’re committed to understanding our exhibitor’s businesses and the businesses of their buyers more intimately. We’re actively building focus groups, scheduling research calls, and visiting establishments across the country to identify the triumphs and challenges affecting the retail sector both locally and internationally. These insights will help us identify new buyers to bring into the show and create a more fulfilling experience for those buyers who’ve attended the show for many years.”
Spring Fair takes place at the NEC on 4-7 February 2024, and Autumn Fair from 1-4 September 2024.
Top: Jackson Szabo, portfolio director for Spring Fair and Autumn Fair, with new event director Soraya Gadelrab.
