Spring Fair 2008: CP Productions celebrates 50th Spring Fair
CP Productions is celebrating its 50th Spring Fair this year. The company, which sells framed pictures and mirrors, has been exhibiting at the show since the event was run out of a multi-story car park in Blackpool half a century ago.
However, this will be the last show for one of the CP Productions team. Sales director Ronnie Taylor will retire this year, making this his last ever Spring Fair. Officially, that is. Although Taylor is set to retire in Easter, he said that he will more likely than not be making a few last trade show appearances.
Taylor started at the company more than 50 years ago as a message boy when he was just 14. He has stayed with the company throughout his professional life and said that his initials ART, which stand for Albert Ronnie Taylor, mean that he was born for the job.
Taylor said that while he is looking forward to a more leisured pace of life, he will miss all the people involved in the business.
"I enjoy selling and I enjoy people," he said. "I'll miss meeting people. They’re not just customers, they’re friends."
As testament to the impact that Taylor has made throughout his working life, one of his customers travelled all the way from Cardiff to Spring Fair to wish him happy retirement. "They weren't coming for any other reason, just to see me," he said.
CP Productions is based in Northern Ireland and has a range of more than 800 products.