Up and down the country, independent retailers play a key role in supporting local communities, each with an individual story to tell. Based in the small town of Marple in Greater Manchester, community is key to Marple Stationery Supplies' identity and this is embodied by self-proclaimed “stationery addict” and owner Sarah Laker.

The global ceramics market is expected to reach $286 billion by 2022 and The Staffordshire Potteries hopes to contribute significantly to this, reasserting itself as a global centre for ceramics, based around design-led production. The Spring Fair team spoke with Alex Allday, Ceramic and Surface Pattern Designer who works in the heart of this industry. 

Google's goal is to replicate the offline process that we all go through when deciding who to trust in various situations. For example, I trust my greengrocer to tell me all about fruit and veg, but probably don't trust him to tell me how to fit my new dishwasher.

Google works in a very similar way and has developed a series of ranking signals to determine how useful your content is for a variety of different searches.

Meet Dan Dicker, a former Dyson designer and inventor who in 2003 went on a journey to design and bring meaningful products to the market, made from recycled or ‘waste' materials. All who have had the pleasure of speaking with Dan know that to him, there is no such thing as waste material.

“The bare essence of what we are selling is based on stylish travel and adventure. Everything we sell has a story. Moving people is something as a company we have defined as a value which we carry with us. Moving people is what it is all about”.

With more parents from the millennial generation, toy trends are being shaped in new and exciting ways.