New platform to address key retail challenges and opportunities identified in the Voices of Retail 2026 report
Autumn Fair, the UK’s retail marketplace for home, gift, fashion and lifestyle, has revealed the first details of its 2026 content programme, including the launch of the new Counter Talks Stage, a dedicated platform focused on issues, trends and commercial developments affecting independent retailers.
The event will take place at the NEC Birmingham from 6–9 September 2026. The content programme has been developed in response to findings from the Voices of Retail 2026 report by Spring & Autumn Fair and Faire. The study surveyed 650 independent retailers and more than 2,000 UK consumers to identify factors influencing growth across Britain’s high streets.
According to the report, retailers continue to face challenges including retail crime, evolving consumer behaviour, margin pressures, the growing importance of experience-led retail, and the need for stronger storytelling, community engagement and digital presence.
Counter Talks Stage to Deliver Practical Retail Insights
The Counter Talks Stage will host a series of free-to-attend talks and workshops featuring professionals from retail, social media, visual merchandising, technology, licensing and business strategy. The sessions are designed to provide practical insights that retailers can apply within their businesses.
First Speakers Confirmed
John Abbate, Economic Growth Lead for High Streets at Westminster City Council and Online Visual Merchandising Tutor at SDEA, will discuss how visual merchandising and store design can help strengthen customer engagement and in-store experiences. Abbate has worked with brands including Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and Alfred Dunhill.
Alison Battisby, Founder of Avocado Social, will focus on strategies for independent retailers to use social media as a driver of customer engagement, footfall and sales. Battisby has worked with brands including John Lewis, Tesco, Etsy and Estée Lauder.
A joint session featuring Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), and Superintendent Lisa Maslen of the National Business Crime Centre, City of London Police, will address the impact of retail crime. The discussion will cover practical measures for tackling shoplifting and abuse against retail staff.
Steve Manners, UK Managing Director of Licensing International, will explore how licensing can help retailers connect with consumers and support business growth through brand partnerships and intellectual property opportunities.
Elyse McAvoy, Industry & Trends Expert at Faire, will present The Independent Signal: Growth Strategies & Trends Shaping the Season Ahead. Drawing on the Voices of Retail report and Faire’s wholesale platform data, the session will examine consumer behaviour, buying patterns and emerging opportunities for independent retailers.
Additional Sessions Planned
The programme will also include discussions on consumer trends, artificial intelligence, live shopping, retail data and brand storytelling. Google-led workshops will focus on digital tools available to businesses.
On Wednesday, Ami Rabheru, founder of Retail Huddle, will host two sessions featuring founders, retailers and industry specialists discussing challenges, experiences and practical business strategies.
Pitch Live Returns
Autumn Fair’s Pitch Live competition will return in 2026 with a new morning schedule. The competition will take place during the first three mornings of the event and will feature emerging brands across Home & Gift, Fashion, Accessories & Jewellery, and Kids, Toy, Play & Clothing categories.
The revised format is intended to give participating brands greater exposure and allow buyers additional time to engage with exhibitors throughout the day.
Event Director Comments
Matthew Mein, Event Director at Autumn Fair & Glee said:
“The conversations happening across retail right now are changing quickly, and independent retailers are under pressure to adapt across everything from consumer expectations and digital marketing to operational costs and retail crime. What we wanted to create with the Counter Talks Stage was something genuinely practical and commercially useful, a space where retailers can hear directly from experts tackling the challenges they’re facing every day and leave with ideas they can immediately apply to their business. The Voices of Retail report made it clear that the retailers succeeding today are those investing in experience, storytelling, community and adaptability. This year’s content programme has been built around exactly those themes.”
Glee 2026 Expands Content Programme
Co-located event Glee 2026, the UK’s garden and outdoor living trade show, will introduce an expanded programme focused on garden retail, hospitality and operational growth.
The programme will include the return of Centre Stage, featuring keynote presentations and discussions on garden retail performance, sustainability, productivity, talent challenges and retail data.
A new Feed Your Business Stage will focus on food, beverage and hospitality innovation, with sessions featuring industry leaders including David Robinson, Chief Executive of Dobbies Garden Centres, George Hillier, Chairman of Hillier Nurseries, and Sam Dickson, Managing Director of Squires Garden Centres.
Both Autumn Fair and Glee will also introduce The Clubhouse, dedicated spaces designed for networking, meetings and relaxation away from the exhibition floor.
Autumn Fair 2026: 6–9 September 2026, NEC Birmingham, UK
Glee 2026: 8–10 September 2026, NEC Birmingham, UK
