Percy The Park Keeper partners with the National Trust for nationwide winter trails

This winter, 121 National Trust gardens and parklands across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be inviting families to step into the wonderful world of Percy the Park Keeper, thanks to a new agreement signed by the brand’s licensing agent The Point.1888.

In partnership with the best-selling author and illustrator Nick Butterworth, the Percy the Park Keeper Winter Wander at National Trust sites will introduce children and their families to the busy park keeper and his animal friends.

Running from Saturday 4 December until Sunday 30 January* the self-led trail will invite families to join Percy’s team as he races to get the park and its animals ready for winter. After reading Percy’s handwritten note, families will help find Percy’s equipment and enjoy activities and games as they complete the trail. They’ll also be a prize to collect and a photo opportunity with Percy and his friends at the end.

This is a significant agreement for Nick Butterworth’s brand licensing programme with The Point.1888 to bring his portfolio of literary brands to life as consumer products and programmes. As well as Percy the Park Keeper series, the portfolio includes the hugely popular children’s books My Dad is BrilliantMy Mum is FantasticMy Grandma is WonderfulMy Grandpa is Amazing, and the Altogether Now series. Nick has sold over 20 million books in more than 35 languages, with Percy the Park Keeper selling more than nine million copies in partnership with HarperCollins.

Olivia Wiggett, Associate Commercial Manager at The Point.1888, says: “Nick’s books, with their ethos of caring for each other and the world around us, were of great support to so many people during lockdown and now that restrictions have eased and children and families can go out once more to explore, we’re delighted that Percy the Park Keeper will be right alongside them. This deal is incredibly important to the programme and there are many more exciting plans to come.”

Commenting on the appointment, Nick Butterworth said, “I am absolutely delighted that Percy and his animal friends are partnering with the National Trust this winter. The houses and gardens of the National Trust are inspirational places and good for the soul. As parents and grandparents we have found ourselves lost in a world of imagination in the wonderful grounds. So much so that sometimes we have actually been lost, but there aren’t many better places to be! The past 18 months have been very difficult for so many people and also the National Trust. To be part of something that supports the National Trust, that gets people outdoors and spreads some happiness this winter is terrific.”

Lucy Footer, Creative Programming Manager, National Trust, added: “We are thrilled to be bringing the magic of Percy’s world to National Trust places this winter. The Percy the Park Keeper winter wander will take place across 121 of our properties including parklands like Percy’s, gardens, landscapes, and coastal sites in our care, bringing delight to families across regions and countries.

“Since we announced the trail, it has become clear how well-loved Percy is particularly amongst our garden and ranger teams and of course our visitors. The Percy stories have even inspired one or two of our staff to become National Trust rangers themselves!

“The world of Percy is gentle and kind and through the stories we’re invited to help Percy solve problems, care for nature, notice what’s around and of course have fun, helped by his animal friends. It’s in this spirit that we will engage families and visitors of all ages through the winter wander experience, and we cannot wait to welcome them”.

*Dates may vary across National Trust properties

 

CoCoMelon comes to Riyadh Winter Wonderland

Spacetoon Event and Moonbug Entertainment have collaborated with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority to bring a CoComelon Town to Saudi Arabia for the first-time during Riyadh Season.

For three months, kids and parents will be able to visit the CoComelon Town while at the Riyadh Winter Wonderland. This new experience, inspired by the number-one most-watched brand on YouTube – with over 3.5 billion monthly views – has been created by the Spacetoon Event team.

“Our audience has always been at the core of our work and we’re really proud to present this first-of-a-kind experience for all kids and parents of the region to enjoy,” says Ahmad Weiss, the General Manager of Spacetoon. “The CoComelon Town takes us one step closer to achieving our goal of expanding the presence of the brand in MENA through our on-the-ground family-friendly experiences.”

Adam Steel, International Licensing at Moonbug Entertainment, adds: “Our beloved CoComelon is the most-watched kids’ show in the world right now and bringing the town to life was no easy task, but the team at Spacetoon have delivered above and beyond our expectations, it’s going to blow kids’ minds! We look forward to the continued expansion of both our live entertainment and licensed goods, giving our fans across the region more chances to interact with the brand.”

The CoComelon Town will feature five locations, including: a replica of CoComelon’s famous house; Melon Patch Academy, a place where kids can learn 
about art, careers, animals and the world around them; Melon Patch Academy Playground; JJ’s Grandparent’s Farm, featuring planting, playing with sand, camping and other activities, and the CoComelon Musical Bus.

Additionally, kids will have the chance to meet JJ and take photos capturing that special moment. A range of CoComelon toys will also be available to purchase on-site.

Spacetoon and Moonbug Entertainment’s partnership goes back to the beginning of 2021, when the two parties signed a deal that named Spacetoon the master licensee of the CoComelon franchise in MENA, which resulted in the content being distributed across multiple Spacetoon platforms. Last August, they held a successful on-ground event at the Mall of Emirates in Dubai.

Nickelodeon UK partners with The Luna Cinema for immersive kids’ event

Nickelodeon UK has partnered with the market’s leading producer of open-air cinema events, The Luna Cinema, for the launch of The Nickelodeon Experience. The brand-new fully immersive experience, which builds upon a successful five-year collaboration with Comedy Central for its award-winning FriendsFest, will launch in spring 2022, before subsequently touring the UK and Ireland.

With two distinct areas, the Nick Jr. Experience and the Nickelodeon Studio Tour, The Nickelodeon Experience will include multi-sensory interactive zones where guests can step into the world of their favourite Nickelodeon TV shows, taking immersive kids’ events to a whole new level.

The Nick Jr. Experience will cater to the under-sevens, transporting young PAW Patrol fans to Adventure Bay, where they will meet Chase and Marshall, before going on their own mission to discover a PAW Patrol soft play zone. The Nick Jr. Experience will also include an arts and crafts station, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles underground lair, complete with a tunnel maze as well as a water zone inspired by the world of Nick Jr.’s latest animation success Santiago of the Seas,where fans will be able to climb aboard a pirate ship and participate in water play including magnetic fishing and boat races.

For children aged seven and over, The Nickelodeon Studio Tour will be a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows. The tour will begin at The Thundermans’ ‘School for Superheroes’, where Nickelodeon star Kira Kosarin will provide lessons on how to acquire superpowers, before entering Henry Danger’s ‘Cave’ in which visitors will have to navigate through a maze full of hidden secrets. Afterwards, children will then have to work together as a team to crack the code and find the key to get out of the Hunter Street ‘Escape Room’. Finally, guests will experience for themselves the showbiz life of a Nickelodeon star by walking up the famous orange carpets before joining the after-party and enjoying Nickelodeon’s iconic ‘slime time’.

Alongside the Nick Jr. Experience and the Nickelodeon Studio Tour, children and their parents will be able to lounge at SpongeBob SquarePants’ ‘Bikini Bottom Beach’ while enjoying food and drinks from themed stalls and visiting the Nickelodeon store. Bespoke activation areas and sponsorship opportunities will be made available to brand partners, both directly and via VCNI’s UK Saleshouse Sky Media.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Luna Cinema to bring our hugely popular Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows to life through this uniquely immersive experience,” says Virginia Monaghan, VP, Events and Experiences, ViacomCBS UK. “This is a chance for children to make new memories with friends, in a safe and fun setting, and with their favourite characters.”

George Wood, Managing Director, The Luna Cinema adds: “For a number of years, we’ve wanted to develop a truly interactive experience that allowed kids to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite TV shows, just as we do with Friends’fans at FriendsFest and film lovers with our Luna Cinema screenings. To have such an iconic catalogue of shows, including global brands like PAW Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants, under the Nickelodeon umbrella is a treasure trove of content to explore and bring to life.”

Tickets for The Nickelodeon Experience will go on sale in November and fans can sign up to the presale here to secure their preferred time slot.

 

 

Nickelodeon UK partners with The Luna Cinema for immersive kids’ event

Nickelodeon UK has partnered with the market’s leading producer of open-air cinema events, The Luna Cinema, for the launch of The Nickelodeon Experience. The brand-new fully immersive experience, which builds upon a successful five-year collaboration with Comedy Central for its award-winning FriendsFest, will launch in spring 2022, before subsequently touring the UK and Ireland.

With two distinct areas, the Nick Jr. Experience and the Nickelodeon Studio Tour, The Nickelodeon Experience will include multi-sensory interactive zones where guests can step into the world of their favourite Nickelodeon TV shows, taking immersive kids’ events to a whole new level.

The Nick Jr. Experience will cater to the under-sevens, transporting young PAW Patrol fans to Adventure Bay, where they will meet Chase and Marshall, before going on their own mission to discover a PAW Patrol soft play zone. The Nick Jr. Experience will also include an arts and crafts station, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles underground lair, complete with a tunnel maze as well as a water zone inspired by the world of Nick Jr.’s latest animation success Santiago of the Seas,where fans will be able to climb aboard a pirate ship and participate in water play including magnetic fishing and boat races.

For children aged seven and over, The Nickelodeon Studio Tour will be a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of Nickelodeon’s most popular shows. The tour will begin at The Thundermans’ ‘School for Superheroes’, where Nickelodeon star Kira Kosarin will provide lessons on how to acquire superpowers, before entering Henry Danger’s ‘Cave’ in which visitors will have to navigate through a maze full of hidden secrets. Afterwards, children will then have to work together as a team to crack the code and find the key to get out of the Hunter Street ‘Escape Room’. Finally, guests will experience for themselves the showbiz life of a Nickelodeon star by walking up the famous orange carpets before joining the after-party and enjoying Nickelodeon’s iconic ‘slime time’.

Alongside the Nick Jr. Experience and the Nickelodeon Studio Tour, children and their parents will be able to lounge at SpongeBob SquarePants’ ‘Bikini Bottom Beach’ while enjoying food and drinks from themed stalls and visiting the Nickelodeon store. Bespoke activation areas and sponsorship opportunities will be made available to brand partners, both directly and via VCNI’s UK Saleshouse Sky Media.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Luna Cinema to bring our hugely popular Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows to life through this uniquely immersive experience,” says Virginia Monaghan, VP, Events and Experiences, ViacomCBS UK. “This is a chance for children to make new memories with friends, in a safe and fun setting, and with their favourite characters.”

George Wood, Managing Director, The Luna Cinema adds: “For a number of years, we’ve wanted to develop a truly interactive experience that allowed kids to immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite TV shows, just as we do with Friends’fans at FriendsFest and film lovers with our Luna Cinema screenings. To have such an iconic catalogue of shows, including global brands like PAW Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants, under the Nickelodeon umbrella is a treasure trove of content to explore and bring to life.”

Tickets for The Nickelodeon Experience will go on sale in November and fans can sign up to the presale here to secure their preferred time slot.

 

 

The Gruffalo’s Child plots new ‘enchanting trail’ through Kew Gardens this autumn

The Gruffalo’s Child is plotting a new and ‘enchanting trail’ through the gardens of the popular Sussex heritage site, Kew this autumn, through a new partnership between Magic Light Pictures and Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Adventurous visitors will encounter much-loved characters from author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s book, including, Fox, Owl, Snake, The Gruffalo, the Gruffalo’s Child and of course, the Big Bad Mouse. At Kew Gardens, intrepid explorers of all ages are invited to enjoy a trail across the Gardens, beginning at Brentford Gate, snaking through Kew’s Rhododendron Dell and concluding at the Children’s Garden.

Throughout their wild journey, visitors will collect clues to cultivate their curiosity in their search for The Gruffalo’s Child and other characters. As part of their adventure, young visitors will get the chance to play and explore in Kew Gardens’ striking natural landscapes – home to 14,000 trees – and become immersed in the world of The Gruffalo’s Child, brought to life with stunning planting which replicates the snow-covered landscape of the book.

As well as the Gruffalo’s Child trail, Kew Gardens’ stunning autumn landscape boasts canopies bursting with autumnal colours, and visitors can also learn more about seasonal produce in Kew’s Kitchen Garden, home to a harvest of beetroots, carrots and pumpkins.

Meanwhile, Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will also host its own trail, taking in Bethlehem Woods and a Tree Trunk Trek. Admission to the Gruffalo’s Child Trail is included with entry to the gardens, which can be pre-booked. Activities on offer at Wakehurst include ‘Make a Stick Buddy’ and a dedicated Gruffalo’s Child workshop trail, as well as a Creative Cookery Camp.

Both Kew Gardens and Wakehurst will be open early for members on selected dates between 16th to the 31st October, full details are available here.

Sandra Botterell, director of marketing and commercial enterprise at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew said: “We are delighted to be welcoming The Gruffalo’s Child to Kew this autumn, allowing intrepid visitors to immerse themselves in the magic of Donaldson and Scheffler’s beloved imaginative world.

“This new adventure for 2021 promises to be one for all of the family to enjoy, particularly against the stunning botanical backdrops of both Kew and Wakehurst in the autumn.”

Daryl Shute, brand director at Magic Light Pictures, added: “It is so wonderful to enter a second year of this partnership with Kew. Their site and ethos make the perfect home for The Gruffalo’s Child – a young, curious character who is discovering her environment, adventuring bravely and engaging with nature. Following the success of The Gruffalo Adventures they hosted last year, we know it will be a great activity.”

BLE 2021 brings Licensing International’s Licensing U to European audiences for the first time

Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, is launching Licensing U for Europe, a ‘one-stop-shop’ education programme about the $292bn licensing industry for newcomers and experienced professionals.

Licensing U will take on a fully virtual format with the content being available to view on demand for three months from 22 November 2021 allowing delegates to engage with and return to the content at a time that best suits them. Early bird discounts are available from now until 8 October.

The content, which has proved to be a popular staple of Licensing Expo’s programme over the past few years, will bring the same three tracks to its UK debut in November, offering insight into the topics and trends impacting the brand licensing universe.

Topics range from the ‘Basics of international licensing’ and ‘What you need to know about royalty rates’, to ‘Working with agents and consultants’.

The three content tracks are:

  1. Basics of Licensing: Designed for licensing newcomers and those interested in learning more about the industry, Licensing U’s ‘Basics’ track offers an introduction to how the licensing business works, contracts and other legal basics, royalty rates, style guides, retail development and more.
  2. Spotlights: Licensing professionals are invited to take a deeper dive into key industry segments with Licensing U’s ‘Spotlights’. The sessions will focus on specific areas such as art and design, corporate brands, celebrities and influencers, sports, entertainment, collaborations, and location-based entertainment.
  3. Tactics and Strategies: Aimed at the more seasoned licensing professionals, Licensing U’s ‘Tactics and Strategies’ track features more advanced sessions and will tackle some of the latest topics and trends impacting today’s licensing industry, including eSports, NFTs and more.

Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets, said: “It is always a pleasure to partner with Licensing International and we are thrilled to bring Licensing U to European delegates this November. It is such a distinctive time for our industry when continued education is paramount, providing much-needed refresher courses for practiced professionals and serving as a gateway into the exciting world of licensing for those starting their journey.”

Maura Regan, President, Licensing International, added: “Licensing U has been the content cornerstone of Licensing Expo and we are excited to bring this programming to BLE. Relevant, timely information sessions combined with recognised industry leaders offer resources to help licensing professionals at all levels of their careers. Licensing U is a trusted resource designed to serve the licensing industry.”

Attendees can take advantage of the early bird discount by booking before October 8. Licensing International members benefit from an additional 10 per cent discount.

Autumn Fair launches its own app to help visitors ‘discover more’ at next month’s trade show

Sustainability and Made In Britain Product Trails are listed among the features of an official app being launched by Autumn Fair and the show’s organisers this year, as the Birmingham retail trade show prepares to get underway early next month.

The new app has been designed as an easy-to-use digital show guide to give visitors more information ahead of the show in order to help them get the most out of their visit and aid with on-site navigations. The app users AI technology to offer product recommendations based on unique interests.

It also enables searches for exhibitors to find out their stand number and location, while the built-in interactive floor plan map helps visitors navigate their way around the show and the featured Sustainability and Made in Britain Product Trails.

It can also bookmark and save exhibitors, products, and seminars from the theatre timetable to individual profiles. All registered visitors get instant access to the app, visit https://www.autumnfair.com/show-app-visitor.

Thousands of buyers have already pre-registered for Autumn Fair indicating the appetite for the exclusive product and content that the show is renowned for. Sought-after new brands to the Gift sector include Rex London who is celebrating its 40th anniversary, Allied Imports which is showcasing Orla Kiely for the first time, as well as Find Your Glow, Opticaid, Grange Street, Potter’s Crouch, Scentiment Gifts, Welsh Connection, Bispol Candles, Go La La, and The 3D Factory.

In a new direction for its global business, accessories brand Claire’s will showcase its latest trend collections within its concession space model which offers over 10,000 SKUs, as well as fixtures and staffing. Arts on Scarves launches its new scarf range and designs for the first time at Autumn Fair. The Seed Card Company launches a stunning new greeting card collection called Nature Always Wins and its new post-consumer waste Christmas wrapping paper designs which coordinate with the Christmas card collection, and Ceramic Design Heritage offers a first view of its bespoke heritage collection.

Autumn Fair continues its long-standing partnership with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday, supporting small independent businesses as they launch into the marketplace. Visitors will be treated to these 11 incredible up and coming designers and brands: Bring A Book to Life, Arcform, Alexia Claire, Kind2, Zac & Bella Fashion, Cushy Paws, Kate O’Brien Art, Lizzie Martell Illustration, Rose May, Canterbury Brewers, and Leo Charley & Me, as they make their first steps into business.

The Gift First areas will house more new and first time exhibitors in the form of Amaura London, Crafty You Crafty Me, Katherine Sheard Art, The Candle Brand, UK Telescopes, and Ibadah London. Amaura London’s eco home fragrances are luxurious, sustainably made, mood-boosting and lovingly hand-poured in the UK.

For those sourcing Sustainable and Made in Britain gifts, the app encourages visitors to use the Products Trails to discover brands including The Sugar Shed, Bumble Wrap, The Beeswax Wrap Company, The Giggle Gift Company, Pintail Candles, and St Eval Candle Co.

Meanwhile, for buyers looking for new toys and gadgets, a host of leading brands will be on show including Rainbow Designs, House of Marbles, Winning Moves, Keel Toys, TY UK, Cheatwell Games, Thames & Kosmos, Rachel Lowe, Grossman, Whitehouse Leisure, Kidicraft, Alphabet Jigsaw, Child’s Play International, Squelch, Bakedin, Craft Buddy, GetRetro, and Cartamundi UK.

Showing for the first time at Autumn Fair are Jigsaw Puzzles, Bachmann Europe, SES Creative, Click Europe, and Willsow. Within Toy First, an introductory new platform for up-and-coming designers, buyers will discover MAI clothing, Fabula Toys, Treasure Map Trails, and Colour Chronicles.

Oxford is ‘twinned’ with Island of Sodor from Thomas & Friends as it’s named UK’s Friendliest City

Oxford is to be ‘twinned’ with the Island of Sodor – the home of Thomas the Tank Engine – having been recognised as the UK’s friendliest city when it topped the newly created Thomas & Friends Friendship Index earlier this month.

Launched to mark International Friendship Day today (July 30th), the Thomas & Friends Friendship Index is the culmination of an in-depth study of 3,000 adults across the nations, to rank towns and cities according to the friendliness of their residents.

The study asked questions around kindness, encouragement, and looking after others. Wrexham was narrowly pipped to the top spot by the Oxfordshire city, while Aberdeen and Gloucester also scored highly to take the third and fourth positions.

Having taken the first place on the Index, Oxford will now house a new sign post, twinning the city with the Island of Sodor – a pivotal setting for the stories about Thomas the Tank Engine, all of which are rooted in friendship and teamwork over the past 75 years.

The twinning sign was unveiled during a special ceremony held at Oxford train station attended by Sir Topham Hatt from the show, and Councillor Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor of Oxford.

To help it land the top spot, Oxford scored consistently high across all categories including most likely place for a friend to put in a good word to get you a job and giving others advice. Findings also show that Aberystwyth and Wrexham are home to those who will go out of their way for others, with locals scoring highest for such behaviour.

North Wales was also the place to be if you’re looking for a compliment, with 55 per cent frequently handing out praise.

Residents of Belfast were most committed to travelling the furthest to helping a friend in need, willing to travel over 61 miles to help with a flat tyre – eight miles further than the average. While the Friendship Index also revealed those from Aberdeen are the most likely to step in to help their friends avoid an embarrassing situation.

Claudia Caron, UK marketing manager for Thomas & Friends, said: “The gift of friendship is truly wonderful and something we have proudly celebrated in Thomas & Friends for over 75 years, so we would like to offer a huge congratulations to Oxford for being the friendliest city in our very first Thomas & Friends Friendship Index.

“We are delighted to officially twin the city with the Island of Sodor, home of Thomas the Tank engine, in recognition of its incredible friendly status.” 

The Friendship Index research has been carried out globally and has today also named friendliest cities of Australia (Sydney), New Zealand (Auckland), Italy (Naples), Greece (Irakleion), Turkey (Izmir) and Poland (Kielce). Oxford joins these six other friendliest places to have topped the Thomas & Friends Friendship Index from around the world, to be given the honour of being twinned with the Island of Sodor. 

 Councillor Mark Lygo, Lord Mayor of Oxford, said: “It’s great news that Oxford has been voted the friendliest city in the UK and I want to thank Thomas & Friends for confirming something that I think our residents have known for a long time.

“Oxford is made up from many diverse communities all of which have benefitted from and added to the city’s long traditions of friendliness and inclusivity, which have proved so important, especially over the last 18 months. Indeed, Oxford has friends all over the world and we are proud of our international links, including twinning with Bonn, Grenoble, Leiden, Padua, Wroclaw, Perm, León, and Ramallah.

“Now, as we come out of lockdown, I want to encourage visitors to come and visit our vibrant, friendly city and experience all that it has to offer. A warm welcome awaits you.”

 THE UK’S MOST FRIENDLY CITIES ACCORDING TO THE FRIENDSHIP INDEX

1. Oxford – 21.8

2. Wrexham – 21.5

3. Gloucester – 20.8

4. Aberdeen – 20.7

5. Worcester – 20.5

6. Aberystwyth – 20.4

7. Portsmouth – 19.7

8. London – 18.8

9. Coventry – 18.5

10. Swansea – 18.3

11. Brighton and Hove – 17.9

12. Edinburgh – 17.2

13. Belfast – 16.7

14. Manchester – 16.6

15. Wolverhampton – 16.5

16. Cardiff – 16.3

17. Southampton – 15.9

18. Sheffield – 15.9

19. Plymouth – 15.8

20. Bristol – 15.5

Covid status checks will be in place at Autumn Fair as the show readies to open its doors in September

Autumn Fair has introduced Covid-19 status checks for all attendees on arrival at the show this year, as it prepares to open its doors for the first time in 18 months since the pandemic hit, this September 5th to 8th.

The show’s organiser has also updated its Safe & Secure Guidelines to deliver new health and safety measures to put the show community at ease this year. September’s Autumn Fair will ask all attendees, including visitors, exhibitors, contractors, venue and organiser staff to verify their Covid-19 status on arrival.

The move is in adherence to the latest government guidance, working in consultation with the Association of Event Organisers and means that all attendees will need to demonstrate proof of Covid-19 status for entry to the event.

This can be in the form of a  proof of completion of a full course of vaccination two weeks prior to arrival, proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test taken within 48 hours of arrival, or proof of natural immunity show by a positive PCR test result for Covid-19, lasting for 180 days from the date of the positive test.

Further details on how to prove your COVID-19 status and FAQs can be found at https://www.autumnfair.com/contact-us/visit-faqs and further information for international exhibitors and visitors will be provided very soon.

Ian Solomon, operations director, Hyve Group plc, said: “The health and safety of our customers and community have been, and continues to be, a top priority as we return to delivering events and facilitating trade again. As such, it was imperative for Autumn Fair and Moda to verify attendees’ COVID-19 status on arrival.

“We have made the decision to implement COVID-19 status checks, even though this is not currently mandated within government guidelines, as the evidence suggests that this is the best way for us to reduce the risk of transmission within the event itself. Putting these checks in place adds an additional layer of reassurance for all attendees once they are inside the event.

“Furthermore, our risk assessment is substantial, and the updated Safe & Secure guidelines are designed to deliver industry-leading health and safety standards and procedures that will help put the minds of our community at ease.”

Other key features of the updated guidelines include a reduced contact registration system, a Code of Conduct, and exhibitors have been given advice on exhibition stands, including on stand layout, data capture, staffing and displaying product effectively.

While it is no longer mandatory to wear masks, the show’s organisers will be encouraging all attendees to consider wearing them, especially when in enclosed or crowded spaces.

Julie Driscoll, managing director, Retail and Fashion, Hyve Group plc, said: “Autumn Fair is a curated show for a new era of retail, designed to reinvigorate the industry and provide the essential networking and product inspiration that the industry has missed during the pandemic.

“All the measures being put in place are to help exhibitors and visitors feel confident about attending events once again. There is huge pent-up interest, but quite rightly we need to provide clear information and the correct procedures. The new guidelines enable exhibitors and visitors to understand what to expect on site. With our long-standing heritage and experience, we can confidently deliver a trusted platform and marketplace for physical business to take place again and give buyers the chance to discover a whole host of inspirational products and collections from returning favourites, as well as new, sustainable, made in Britain, and a huge number of ‘exclusive to the Autumn Fair’ brands.”

The full updated Safe and Secure Guidelines can be viewed at https://www.autumnfair.com/safe-secure with a dedicated section for exhibitors at https://www.autumnfair.com/safe-secure/guidelines-for-exhibitors.

 

Acamar Films partners with ZSL London for Bing family activities this autumn

Acamar Films’ flagship preschool property, Bing is heading to ZSL London Zoo this autumn to bring a host of family activities to visitors and fans. The new partnership is the latest expansion of Bing’s live events and experiential licensing portfolio.

Under the new partnership, ZSL London Zoo will host a variety of themed activities, free to its visitors, from September 20th to October 31st. These will include storytime sessions throughout the day for children to join Bing and Flop in learning about animals.

There will also be a themed self-led Activity Trail around the zoo which features a series of clues and interactive activities at each station. At the end of the trail, families can celebrate their visit with a photo opportunity alongside Bing and his friends.

Kirsty Southgate, director of promotions and partnerships at Acamar Films, said: “It’s an exciting time for Bing and we are thrilled to welcome ZSL to the programme. We hope our Bing experience at London Zoo will encourage young children to build a lasting connection to animals and the natural world.”

ZSL London Zoo chief operating officer, Kathryn England, added: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Bing and Flop to ZSL London Zoo this autumn, supporting our mission to engage the next generation of young animal lovers with the importance of wildlife.

“Bing fans will be invited to go on a journey of discovery, exploring the value of nature, surrounded by more than 20,000 animals – while making lasting memories during a fun-filled family day out.”