Autumn Fair, which runs from September 7 to September 10 at NEC Birmingham, is delighted to announce the hotly anticipated return of Pitch Live for 2025.
This dynamic event gives exhibitors the chance to take centre stage, pitching their most innovative and exciting products in a Dragons’ Den-style format. The competition spans four key sectors: Taste, Kids, Fashion, and Gift. The Gift Products Pitch is on Wednesday September 10 at 10:45am.
Finalists are shortlisted from sector entries and invited to pitch live on the newly created Retail Corner stage, engaging directly with an esteemed panel of judges including Judy Bendall, head of retail of Blenheim Palace; Shirley Tijou, director of Andersons at Number 8; Peter Allinson, owner of Whirligig Toys; Deborah Jakobsen, managing director of Roo & Little Boo; Priya Aurora-Crowe, co-owner/buyer of Lark London; and an audience of retail professionals.
“Sally Dear, founder and CEO of children’s brand Ducky Zebra, said: “Winning Pitch Live is a huge achievement and I’m really happy. I’ve opened up new accounts and got several new genuine connections and leads”
The winner of Pitch Live will receive a coveted 2sq m space off their stand at Autumn Fair 2026, plus two one-hour consultancy sessions with Sharon Good, CEO of Good Results PR, offering expert mentoring, press relations, and strategic advice to accelerate their business growth.
Previous winners have experienced remarkable success. Sally Dear, founder and CEO of children’s brand Ducky Zebra, said: “Winning Pitch Live is a huge achievement and I’m really happy. I’ve opened up new accounts and got several new genuine connections and leads, so I’m absolutely buzzing! These accounts range from children’s retailers experienced at buying childrenswear, to very successful gift shops which had never tried baby clothes but saw our range and loved it so much that they decided to introduce it as a product type, which is exciting.”
Autumn Fair event director Soraya Gadelrab commented: “For exhibitors, Pitch Live is more than a competition; it’s a powerful springboard to raise brand awareness, build valuable industry connections, and receive expert guidance. For buyers, it’s the leading destination to discover the newest, most innovative products across Autumn Fair’s diverse sectors, all in one place. We can’t wait to welcome our entrants to the stage and support their retail journey.”
Exhibitors interested in pitching must complete the entry form via their exhibitor zone portal by the deadline of August 1 2025. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to put your product and story in the spotlight at Autumn Fair 2025.
https://www.autumnfair.com/pitch-live
