Written by Alastair Owen
February 16, 2012

Flower Market wholesaler, C Best made a spectacular return to the Spring Fair last week with a highly professional stand, showcasing items from their extensive range of design-led products.

In just the first two days, C Best received more orders than had been placed with them at the entire show last year, and had a stack of business cards from new contacts planning to visit the Flower Market.

Spring Fair International is held at Birmingham's NEC, and is a mecca for buyers in the interior decoration, retail, event and floristry industries. Over 73,000 visitors descend on over a dozen halls containing 3,000 exhibitors.

So how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd?

C Best’s answer was to bring in friend and staging expert Jayne Copperwaite, whose designs have featured in some of the biggest parties, weddings and films of recent years.

Jayne created colour-blocked displays of vases, urns, containers and artificial flowers on island tables and pedestals, leaving plenty of space for visitors to wander in comfort whilst sipping on a glass of wine (C Best's hospitality) and view the stock with ease.

Clear glass vases held exquisite polished seashells, and acrylic metre-length beads cascaded from manzanita branches.

Two colossal, show-stopping trees of artificial blossom in vast fibreglass urns dominated the stand, and even became the subject of a bidding war between customers! Jayne had wired artificial stems to real branches, and the overall effect was sensational.

Shows are also a great catalyst for new ideas, and the Spring Fair was no exception. The response from visitors to their stock showcase was so positive, that Grant is considering holding a regular inspirational showcase within the Flower Market itself, where stock is otherwise housed on 3m high racking. Functional and impressive, but not as glamorous!

Demand at the Spring Fair also confirmed Grant's plan for nationwide representation.

C Best already have an established national delivery system for next-day delivery, sending glassware and larger items on pallets and artificial flowers by Business Post, but to date no representation outside the Flower Market. Not one to take an unconsidered risk (he had attended the Spring Fair for years as a visitor before deciding to take a stand), Grant has known his agent for 20 years!

Stay posted, all will be revealed soon......