What do you love most about retail? For many indies, it’s the people and relationships. While for others, it’s discovering something completely new and watching it fly out the door.
To celebrate the industry, Spring Fair has announced the launch of its 2027 Love Letters to Retail campaign, which invites shop owners to share what they enjoy most about what they do.
The launch coincides with a new video featuring founders and bosses behind leading indies such as Morleys department store, Trotters and Barnbury, who each share their own perspectives on what makes life as a retailer so rewarding.
“Retail has been part of my life for over 40 years – and when you spend that long doing something you love, it becomes so much more than a career,” says Morleys CEO Ray Clacher. Barnbury founder Jonathan Sellwood adds: “The best part is when someone walks into the shop. The products, the displays and the personal service – it’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
In the run-up to Spring Fair’s February edition, organisers are inviting indie owners, brands, buyers and suppliers to share their own reasons for loving working in retail. “Whether it’s a letter to the shop where you got your first job, the buyer who gave you your first opportunity, the supplier who became a friend, the product that changed your business, the customer who keeps coming back, or simply the reason you still love what you do, Spring Fair wants to hear it,” says event director Fay Tranter.
The campaign will feature at Spring Fair in February 2027 through installations, submitted stories and experiences across the four-day show.