Sweet Williams, a small business based in Pontardawe has been shortlisted for this year’s Theo Paphitis #SBS Small Business Sunday x Spring Fair 2027 Competition.
Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday network has teamed up with Spring Fair and Autumn Fair – Europe’s largest trade fair – to offer members of its community the chance to apply for a completely free stand at this year’s Autumn Fair, worth thousands of pounds.
Quote from Sweet Williams: Having such a huge opportunity presented to our small independent business is just incredible. We are completely over the moon to have been considered and shortlisted. The difference this could make to our business in terms of growth is a complete game changer. We are huge champions of shopping local and independent, helping our local towns and villages thrive. In fact, Sweet Williams celebrates 15 years in business this year and 10 years owning a bricks and mortar retail space in Pontardawe. This exciting opportunity will certainly allow us to continue putting Pontardawe on the map, supporting other independent retailers across the UK, to grow their own businesses, whilst growing our own.
Jess Littlewood, Chief Community Officer, #SBS Small Business Sunday: “Year after year, the #SBS x Spring Fair competition continues to deliver an incredible opportunity for our winners. In partnership with Spring Fair, we will have awarded over 100 stands to small businesses this year – many of whom leave with real, tangible results and new momentum behind their brands. It’s a truly business-boosting opportunity, and one we’re absolutely delighted to offer once again. Congratulations to Sweet Williams on making the shortlist!”
Fay Tranter, Event Director at Spring Fair said, “The response to this year’s #SBS competition has been phenomenal. We’ve seen around a 10% increase in application requests, and the standard of entries has been stronger than ever, which is incredibly exciting and a real testament to the creativity, ambition, and resilience of Britain’s small business community. Choosing a shortlist has been no easy task. Every year, we’re inspired by the passion and innovation that #SBS winners bring, and we’re thrilled to be expanding the #SBS Village from 12 to 18 stands for Spring Fair 2027, giving even more entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their brands to thousands of retail buyers. We know from previous winners that Spring Fair can be a genuine catalyst for growth, leading to new stockists, a new community, partnerships and life-changing opportunities, and we can’t wait to see what this year’s finalists achieve as they embark on the next stage of their business journey. We look forward to announcing the winners soon.”
This year’s opportunity is bigger than ever, with the #SBS Village growing from 12 to 18 stands, meaning even more small businesses have access to this game-changing opportunity to help them grow. All of the 18 finalists will also have TV Dragon and small business champion, Theo Paphitis, visit their stands at the show too.
The Spring Fair competition is always a highlight in the #SBS calendar. Previous winners have gone on to meet their dream stockists, secure US distribution deals, gain invaluable mentoring and forge lasting friendships. One previous winner even described the experience as life changing.
I’m incredibly proud to have reached this stage and excited about the opportunity this competition represents for my business.
The 18 lucky finalists will be announced by Spring Fair across their social media channels on Friday 10th July.