Spring Fair Review

by Signature Balloons 28. February 2012 09:38

An enjoyable time was spent at the Spring Fair (UK’s largest retail exhibition) at the beginning of this month; meeting suppliers, watching demonstrations and hearing about the launch of some exciting new products which will be available on the website soon.

One of the most exciting developments is the new, smaller number range currently being produced by Oaktree. Measuring approximately 30” inflated, these balloons are big enough to make an impact but small enough to not use masses of helium. Designed and manufactured in the UK, these balloons ease your conscience and your pocket and are expected to be available in April.

Also coming from Oaktree will be 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th balloons to complete the whole blue and pink birthday age range from 1st -18th. Other new designs include Double Trouble It’s Twins, On Your Special Day and Girls Night Out balloons. Again these balloons are all designed and manufactured here in the UK.

Watching Chris Horne create a balloon dress suitable for a carnival using some of the new Amscan foil balloon shapes was both entertaining and informative! Amscan have launched a balloon so new, it didn’t even have a name!! It’s currently known as a ‘mattress’ balloon and looks a bit like a lilo! I can see it having a multitude of uses as these large foil ‘pillows‘ can be cut to almost any size and shape, heat-sealed and inflated. In fact, Amscan had created a wall display of 2D beach huts by cutting the balloons into rectangular and triangular shapes which I have to say looked uber cool!

As usual, Qualatex had a colourful stand which reportedly took 3 days to build and showed off some fabulous products and designs. I look forward to replicating some, such as the Olympic Balloon Person with a new union jack bubble balloon body, and sharing them with you via the Blog! I also picked up the new 2012 catalogue which we’ve fervently been flicking through to choose new stock. Decisions, decisions!