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The Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026 is New Zealand’s largest retail trade event, bringing together 250 exhibitors and approximately 3,000 visitors across three days in March. Held at the Auckland Showgrounds, this premier trade show connects gift and homeware retailers with wholesale brands, market innovators, and industry peers. For businesses serious about expanding product lines and strengthening supplier networks, this event is a key date on the calendar.
Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026 guide: 1–3 March at Auckland Showgrounds. Visitor entry, venue directions, 250 exhibitors. How Habsy business card scanner helps capture retail leads at Auckland's premier gift and homeware event.
Event: Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026
Dates: 1–3 March 2026
Venue: Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland, New Zealand
Organiser: XPO Exhibitions Limited
More Details: giftfairs.co.nz
The fair positions retailers at the center of product discovery and supplier relationships. Across three focused days, buyers gain access to:
250 wholesale exhibitors across gift, homeware, décor, furniture, and seasonal ranges
Curated zones such as Kick Starter, Māori Collective, and Furnished
Face-to-face conversations with brand owners and distributors
Trade-only pricing and pre-launch product access
For exhibitors, it is not just about exposure. It is about turning conversations into commercial outcomes.
Visitor Pass, Registration & Entry Details Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026
The Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair operates on a trade-only entry model. Visitor passes are restricted to retail professionals and verified industry stakeholders.
To register:
Visit the official registration page: https://www.giftfairs.co.nz/visitor-registration/
Complete online registration in advance
Bring proof of retail business credentials
Arrive early on Day 1 to maximize floor time
With approximately 250 exhibitors expected, the fair brings together leading wholesale brands across giftware, home décor, furniture, lifestyle products, seasonal collections, and emerging retail concepts.
Previewing exhibitors before attending helps you:
Identify priority suppliers
Schedule booth visits efficiently
Prepare pricing or partnership questions
Shortlist brands aligned with your retail category
You can browse the official exhibitor list here:
https://www.giftfairs.co.nz/autumn-exhibitors/
Reviewing the list in advance ensures your time on the floor is focused, strategic, and commercially productive.
Expo Venue: Auckland Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Greenlane, Epsom, Auckland 1051, New Zealand The Auckland Showgrounds is centrally located in Auckland’s inner eastern suburbs, making it accessible from multiple transport hubs and easy to navigate on foot once you arrive.
From Auckland Airport (AKL) Distance: Approximately 22 km south of the city centre Travel time: Taxi or rideshare takes 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.
Public transport (bus + train) takes 45–60 minutes. Route tips: From the airport, the quickest option is a pre-booked taxi or Uber to the Showgrounds address. Alternatively, catch the Skybus or local bus to the city center, transfer to a train heading south on the eastern line, or use Google Maps real-time directions to confirm your route on arrival day.
From Britomart Transport Centre (Central Train Station) Distance: Approximately 5 km north of the Showgrounds
Travel time: Local bus or taxi takes 10–15 minutes; walking is not practical Route tips: From Britomart, take a southbound train on the eastern line toward Botany (3–4 stops, ~10 minutes), then exit at Remuera or Greenlane station and catch a local taxi to the Showgrounds.
Alternatively, a direct taxi from Britomart costs NZD 15–20 and is the fastest option if you’re traveling with samples or materials.
By Road and Public Transport Bus routes: Several local Auckland bus routes service the Greenlane area; use AT Journey Planner (aucklandtransport.govt.nz) to find real-time routes and schedules
Self-drive: Use Google Maps to navigate to 217 Green Lane West. Parking is available on-site at the Showgrounds; arrive early to secure a spot, especially on Day 1. Street parking is also available in surrounding residential areas if the main lot fills.
On-site parking is available at the Auckland Showgrounds during the Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair. Spaces operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early on Day 1 is recommended.
Additional parking options include:
Overflow event parking areas when activated by organizers
Paid street parking in surrounding Greenlane and Epsom areas
Nearby commercial parking facilities within walking distance
If you are bringing product samples or booth materials, plan for extra time to park and unload. For the latest parking updates and rates, check the official venue website before traveling.
Last year, the Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair ended with strong momentum and promising conversations about pricing, minimum orders, exclusivity, and samples. But the next morning, I was staring at a stack of business cards, struggling to remember who needed what.
While buyers were reviewing suppliers and making decisions, I was trying to reconstruct conversations from memory and manually enter contacts into a spreadsheet. The opportunity was still there, but my follow-up lacked speed and precision.
This is where a smarter post-event workflow changes the outcome.
The Smarter Way to Capture Conversations at the Fair
Not all lead capture tools are designed for the pace and pressure of a busy trade show floor. Habsy is built specifically for high-volume exhibition environments where conversations move fast, context matters, and follow-up speed directly impacts revenue.
Capture
AI-powered business card scanning with high OCR accuracy
QR badge scanning for fast lead capture from event-issued badges without manual entry
Professional QR profiles for instantly sharing your personal contact details during networking
Business QR profiles that let visitors access brochures, company details, products, and links directly from booth banners or displays
NFC-enabled digital business card sharing and two-way contact exchange
Phone-to-phone NFC sharing with no app required on the recipient’s side
Offline capture support that syncs automatically once internet connectivity returns
Batch scanning for processing stacks of business cards quickly after events
Qualify & Add Context
Intent signals captured during conversations to prioritize leads by buying stage or interest level
Categories for organizing contacts by buyer type, product line, campaign, or priority
Quick notes and voice notes with transcription to preserve important conversation details
One-tap reminders for scheduling timely follow-ups before leads go cold
AI enrichment for adding professional and company context to captured contacts
Act & Follow Up
AI-generated email follow-up templates personalized using captured contact context
AI-powered WhatsApp follow-up templates for faster outreach after meetings and events
Advanced search and saved filters for building targeted outreach lists instantly
Team visibility and platform workflows for managing leads across events and campaigns
Clean & Export
Duplicate detection after sync to identify repeated contacts before CRM export
Review workflows for validating and organizing captured data
CRM integrations through the Habsy Platform for workflows connected with HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and more
CRM-ready CSV exports compatible with virtually any sales or workflow system
Instead of leaving an event with scattered business cards and incomplete spreadsheets, teams leave with clean, organized, context-rich, revenue-ready lead data prepared for immediate follow-up.
Why Habsy Is Built for Trade Show Lead Capture
Not all lead capture tools are designed for the pace and pressure of a busy trade show floor. Habsy is built specifically for high-volume exhibition environments where conversations move fast, context matters, and follow-up speed directly impacts revenue.
Capture
AI-powered business card scanning with high OCR accuracy
QR badge scanning for fast lead capture from event-issued badges without manual entry
Professional QR profiles for instantly sharing personal contact details during networking
Business QR profiles that let visitors access brochures, company details, products, and links directly from booth banners or displays
NFC-enabled digital business card sharing and two-way contact exchange
Phone-to-phone NFC sharing with no app required on the recipient’s side
Offline capture support that syncs automatically once internet connectivity returns
Batch scanning for processing stacks of business cards quickly after events
Qualify & Add Context
Intent signals captured during conversations to prioritize leads by buying stage or interest level
Categories for organizing contacts by buyer type, product line, campaign, or priority
Quick notes and voice notes with transcription to preserve important conversation details
One-tap reminders for scheduling timely follow-ups before leads go cold
AI enrichment for adding professional and company context to captured contacts
Act & Follow Up
AI-generated email follow-up templates personalized using captured contact context
AI-powered WhatsApp follow-up templates for faster outreach after meetings and events
Advanced filters for building targeted outreach lists instantly
Team visibility and platform workflows for managing leads across events and campaigns
Clean & Export
Duplicate detection after sync to identify repeated contacts before CRM export
Review workflows for validating and organizing captured data
Direct CRM integrations through the Habsy Platform with HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and more
Option to either push leads directly to CRM or first qualify and organize them before syncing
CRM-ready CSV exports compatible with virtually any sales or workflow system
Instead of leaving an event with scattered business cards and incomplete spreadsheets, teams leave with clean, organized, context-rich, revenue-ready lead data prepared for immediate follow-up.
The fair happens once a year.
The follow-up window lasts days.
Make it count
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. When and where is the Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026?
The Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair 2026 takes place from March 1 to 3, 2026, at the Auckland Showgrounds, located at 217 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand. This three day event is New Zealand’s largest retail trade show and features approximately 250 exhibitors.
2. Who is eligible to attend the Autumn Gift & Homeware Fair?
The fair is a trade only event, which means entry is restricted to retail professionals, wholesale buyers, and verified industry stakeholders. General public entry is not permitted. Visitors must register in advance at the official website and may be required to provide proof of retail business credentials.
3. What are the best transport and parking options for the Auckland Showgrounds?
By Car: On-site parking is available at the Auckland Showgrounds on a first-come, first-served basis.
Public Transport: From Britomart (Auckland CBD), take a southbound train to Greenlane Station, which is a short taxi or bus ride from the venue.
From the Airport: A taxi or rideshare from Auckland Airport (AKL) typically takes 25 to 35 minutes.
4. How can I access the 2026 exhibitor list and floor plan?
The official list of approximately 250 exhibitors including categories like home décor, furniture, and the Māori Collective is available on the XPO Exhibitions website at giftfairs.co.nz/autumn-exhibitors/. Reviewing this list in advance is recommended to identify priority suppliers and schedule booth visits efficiently.
5. What is the most efficient way to capture leads at the Gift & Homeware Fair?
To avoid the manual entry of paper business cards, exhibitors use digital lead capture tools like Habsy. These tools allow you to:
Scan business cards or QR badges instantly.
Add Context via voice notes or custom fields like MOQ and pricing tiers.
Export CRM-ready data (CSV) for immediate follow-up within the critical 24-hour post-event window.
