At the heart of everything we do is a mission to make the Gift Industry more accessible—for buyers, for exhibitors, and especially for newcomers.

The Gift Fair was created to be an inclusive, welcoming space where everyone feels supported. In the tech world, they call these kinds of spaces “incubators”—places where young companies can grow and thrive. That’s exactly what we’re trying to be for the gift industry. We know how tough it can be for start-ups to get their foot in the door, and we want to help change that.

That’s why we created the Future Star Award.

Trade shows are one of the best ways to get in front of buyers—but let’s be honest, they can be expensive. We know because we’ve been there ourselves—at Spring Fair, Top Drawer, Atlanta, NYNOW... And for a new designer trying to get noticed for the first time, those costs can be a real barrier.

So, we wanted to do something about it.

The Future Star Award gives early-stage brands a chance to exhibit for free at an upcoming edition of The Gift Fair. It’s open to businesses under five years old, and it’s our way of helping fresh talent shine.

We see the gift industry as fast-moving and trend-driven—much like fashion. Creativity, innovation, and originality are key, and those are exactly the qualities we look for in our Future Star winner. We also consider the potential the brand has to really grow and make waves in the industry.

Our judge is Meera Santoro, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Santoro. Meera brings incredible insight and experience—not just in design, but in global philanthropy too. She’s a UK ambassador for the re-establishment of the KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Hospital in Durban, sits on the committee for Caudwell Children’s charity, and is involved with E2E Exchange, The Women’s Chapter, and The British Fashion Council Trust.

We got a bit excited for our first-ever award and ended up choosing two winners! In this blog, we’re shining a spotlight on one of them: Little Roglets.

One of the best things about trade shows in the gift industry is seeing what everyone’s been working on.

Even after 20+ years of attending shows, I’m still amazed by the sheer creativity on display. There’s always something fresh, clever, and completely unexpected—and that’s what makes this industry so exciting.

At The Gift Fair UK, we’re passionate about creating a community that lifts each other up. Our exhibitors are all incredibly talented, and we wanted to give them a fun challenge: use those creative skills not just in your products, but in your stand design too.

That’s how the Stand Design Award came to be.

The winner of this award gets a free stand at the next edition of the show—a little thank-you for going the extra mile.

Now, this year was a bit different for everyone. Our format meant exhibitors had to get used to a brand-new way of building their stands. And like with any change, even positive change, it can feel a bit daunting at first. But honestly? Most of our exhibitors had their stands ready in just one working day—and the results were incredible.

Visitors kept telling us how slick and cool the show looked. And that’s entirely down to our exhibitors. They brought their A-game with videos, animations, beautiful imagery, and creative layouts that made their brands shine.

Some standouts included Cheeky Legends, Rex London, Ayala Bar, and Feather Ink—but it was Sienna Glass who took home the top prize.

Hanna Walker, Director of Sienna Glass, put the entire stand together herself—months in advance! We were seriously impressed.

What really stood out was the storytelling. Her first slide didn’t just show how the products are made—it introduced the company and the people behind it. It was thoughtful, warm, and genuinely engaging.

But Hanna didn’t stop at storytelling. She balanced it beautifully with the practical side of things too—buyers had all the information they needed to place orders on the spot.

And perhaps our favourite touch? She made it personal. Photos of the whole team, their roles, and direct contact details were all included. That human connection goes a long way—and we encourage every exhibitor to follow her lead.

The first show attracted thousands of unique visitors, primarily small independent businesses. Encouragingly, over 65% of exhibitors have already signed up for the next show, reinforcing confidence in the event's potential for future success.

Following the success of the first event, Xpofairs is already planning two further editions in 2025:

• US Gift Fair: July 14th - August 28th, 2025
• UK Gift Fair (2nd Edition): September 8th - October 24th, 2025

With an emphasis on international expansion, Xpofairs is collaborating with US partners to pay special attention to the cultural differences between the two territories, there is meaningful support for UK brands entering the American market. Interested businesses are encouraged to sign up now to secure their participation.

Xpofairs have learnt a lot from the first show with the help of their wonderful exhibitors, curious retailers through feedback sessions, they have been making changes throughout to make it more successful for everyone. The main changes include:

·       Simplified Registration Process: A more streamlined sign-up, making attendance easier for busy buyers.

·       Instructional Videos: The new website will feature a comprehensive library of video guides to help attendees navigate the platform with ease.

·       Simplified navigation. If you are looking for a specific brand it is now easier to search them and see who is in each hall. If you need to leave the show when you return you will now enter right where you left off!

Another exciting announcement is Mobile App Launch: A dedicated app will be introduced for the next event, enabling seamless participation from anywhere. The plan is that these along with other adjustment will make for a more user-friendly experience to help visitors interact more with exhibitors.

Keep your eyes peeled for further updates 👀