Spring Fair- NEC

Spring Fair on all this week but I went today as it's the only day I've got free as I've got more trade shows planned for Thursday, Friday and have a WA event on Saturday- it's going to be a very busy week.
I went to Spring Fair last year to meet up with a designer who had a stand in the homeware hall and didn't manage to get in to see the greetings and stationary hall- which wasn't surprising as there are so many halls (if anyone's ever been they'll understand). It's held at the NEC in Birmingham and the show literally fills all the halls the NEC has- it's that big.
With me doing my placement at Papersalad and hearing about some of the companies that would be exhibiting, I really wanted to have a look round the greetings & stationary hall-plus check out the PaperSalad stand :).


The show itself was really good and there were a lot of good exhibitors and publishers; one such was VIVID Wrap Ltd who designs gift wrap etc using handmade recycled cotton and screen prints the designs onto it- which look amazing, especially with the touch of glitter they add; it looks so much like handmade paper that as soon as you see it you can't help but be intrigued with a desire to touch the wrapping :p

The PaperSalad stand looked really good; it was all dressed up like a sweet shop with the cards displayed on cupboard-like boards. The sweet trolley finished it off nicely and looked great- you wouldn't have known it had been damaged (my painting paid off).
The PaperSalad gift wrap and bags were displayed on the Glick stand; who they're licenced to.
I was at the stand for a while with Karen and Claire and had the chance to speak to some of their agents; so all in all I'm getting good experience and knowledge of the industry.

It was good to Ella Doran Designs- I met up with her at her studio last April; her work was being exhibited by a licencing company.

PaperSalad stand

Karen & Claire speaking to visitors

New designs of the latest range "jelly pops"

Sweet trolley :)

Paper Salad Placement- week8

It's been really busy this week; getting everything ready for the Spring fair. I painted the furniture etc for the stand; including the sweet trolley which is now fixed. I also waxed everything to give added protection to the paint, I worked on a few orders and made up a few cards.
Karen and Claire showed me the new JP designs that they're adding to the range.
I made up a load more brochures for the Spring Fair as they were pretty much gone before the end of Top Drawer and that wasn't a five day show like the Spring Fair is.
I worked on a sample pack for Waitrose which was urgently needed as they had to be scanned before the cards could be sent to them.
There was a large palette delivery of cello bags so I helped Emma try and steer it into the studio- not an easy task would you believe.
I put the card spinner back together and filled it with cards to be displayed on the stand then helped Emma and Karen bubble wrap everything for the move/journey and went round placing FRAGILE stickers on all the items- I might have got a little bit carried away but hopefully the couriers will get the message :P
I rearranged the shop with all heart products and gifts to give it a Valentines feel.

Brochures

PaperSalad Placement- week 7

Starting to get things ready for Spring Fair in two weeks time. The furniture etc for the stand arrived back from London this week and not in very good condition; a few things were damaged including the sweet trolley which was a lot worse for wear. As you can imagine Karen and Claire weren't very pleased; the wheels had been chipped and were pratically falling off and the body of the trolley was all marked. To make matters worse, there was an accident on Wednesday and the whole thing fell off the cart it'd been brought on; making the damage even worse. 
I was working with the gift wrap in the shop, picking orders and hand-finishing cards as well as making up price labels for the Waitrose orders.
I've seen some of the card designs Karen & Claire have been working on- they're looking good and will be launched at the Spring Fair.

Paper Salad Placement- week6

Karen and Claire were at Top Drawer until Wednesday and they said the show went really well; as was shown when they got back by the amount of orders and brochures needed.
I was working on another order for Paperchase; twice this week and would you believe same "New home" card as before- they must really like it; as it's at least three sets of 50 packs they've had :)
I rearranged the shop; taking all the Christmas cards and decorations down and replacing them with Valentine's stuff. I made up a load more brochures for clients made at Top Drawer as well as having some ready for Karen and Claire to take to the Spring Fair with them. I also made up more sample packs of the new ranges- "Sherbet Lemons" and "Jelly Pops" for agents. 
PaperSalad are now supplying to Waitrose- that means more large orders.

Paper Salad placement- week5

Thursday was really hectic in the studio as we were getting the final things sorted for Top Drawer. The furniture for the stand had to be packed up and wrapped ready to be collected that afternoon. New card range arrived so a selection had to be sorted for the show. I was then building up more brochures and making up press packs with a newspaper and sample card. After all this of course waste bits of wrapping and board etc had to be cleared away and binned; a large task in itself.
We managed to get through Friday 13th without mishap, it was much calmer in the studio, with everything out of the way for Top Drawer but it was no less busier. Karen & Claire were'n't in as they were off to London so that left Emma in charged to get everything done for when they return next week. We were making up sample packs of the new card ranges to be sent to a number of clients and buyers- that included hand-finishing them and packing them in cello bags with the correct coloured envelope.

The Studio

Paper Salad placement- week4

This week has been a definate rush of activity as the Top Drawer trade show starts on Sunday in London for three days and Karen and Claire will be heading down on Friday. I've continued working on the wedding invites for both the day and evening events, cutting out over twenty five of each. As the final invates are to be cards; I had to cut out all the pieces for each one- by hand too. (I think I'm starting to get a blister from using that scalpel lol) I then had to make up the card; folding and glueing together then building it up with the invites inside a protective pocket.
I re-labelled card numbers need for the show so that each one was the latest and most up to date copy. The new brochures for 2012 arrived on Wednesday; I've since been making them up for Top Drawer- as they show all of Paper Salad's card ranges including some new ranges too.

Look at all this which I cut out by hand- maybe I should suggest they invest in a gilliteen

Paper Salad Placement- week3

Started back at Paper Salad, and it's much busier as they've got a trade show coming up so everything has to be prepared pronto. I was working on some of the old boards for the stand, taking shelving off which will then go onto the new boards. I was working on a presentation portfolio for the card ranges; cutting them down ready to be stuck in the book for display on the stand. I also starting working on a wedding range customized for the client; by cutting out the invites and R.S.V.P's by hand.