‘Great to be back’ at shows

Exhibitors and buyers have been expressing their delight at being back at face-to-face trade shows, following the well-attended AIS’ INDX Housewares Show last week (July 12-13, Cranmore Park, Solihull) and Home & Gift in Harrogate this week (July 18-21).

“It was great to be back meeting suppliers and colleagues and the INDX team created a safe environment and relaxed atmosphere for us to resume face-to-face meetings,” said Jim Carlisle, managing director of Reeds, Downham Market and Ely. Sandy Gibb Stuart of Gibb Stuart Home Hardware, Bridge of Weir proclaimed that “normality has returned,” when visiting the INDX show, dedicated to independent housewares stockists.

Above: Face-to-face business discussions at July’s INDX Housewares Show.

Among exhibitors at INDX Housewares, Tim Yeadon, key account manager for Captivate Brands said the show was “an amazing success.” He elaborated: “The opportunity to present products in a trade show environment on a face-to-face basis was reaffirming, inspiring and hugely enjoyable. The AIS members who came out and supported the show were upbeat and engaging and it was an absolute pleasure to see so many independent retailers over the two days.”

Ian Humm, head of business at Pure Tabletop commented: “It was a brave decision to be the first to market following Covid with a trade fair and from a Pure perspective it was engaging, upbeat and productive. I was really impressed with the forward-looking optimism of the visiting buyers and their commitment to building sustainable business. Our team enjoyed seeing our current customers and meeting new customers and the results were better than we expected.”

3 - pure tabletop INDX — Above: The Pure Tabletop stand at INDX Housewares.

Meanwhile at this week’s Home & Gift, Harrogate, ceramics designer and renowned potter Keith Brymer-Jones (Make International), a judge on BBC 2’s The Great Pottery Throw Down, chatted to visitors on the Forma House stand, and displaying his expert skills at the potter’s wheel.

“It’s been great to be at a physical show at last,” said Keith, who confirmed that a fifth series of The Great Pottery Throw Down will start filming again at the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke on Trent in September.

Enthusiastic buyers at Harrogate’s Home & Gift included Clare and Hannah Bishop, owners of housewares stockist Cornucopia Home & Gift in Worcester, who confirmed: “We’ve found some really good, new companies and placed several orders.”

Haus was among housewares visitors at Harrogate, with managing director Paul Shelley summing up the show experience as “amazing.” He enthused: “OH MY GOODNESS – that feeling of actually seeing a human! Interacting with retailers and of course catching up with the guys from other suppliers! The show was really well organised and felt as safe as we could have felt. Great to catch up with people and a nice start back to trade shows.” He added: “It was good to get a little outside of the usual housewares arena as well, and to see those housewares retailers and lifestyle/gift retailers who are adapting their businesses to new initiatives and ideas. Loved it.”