Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2017 (Issue 104)

not just for Christmas Harrogate Christmas & Gift – whilst predominantly festive focussed – now leans heavily towards home and gift ranges not just for Christmas, but for the entire year-round, and is definitely a trade show to watch The show, which takes place at the Harrogate Convention Centre from 14 th to 17 th January 2018, has experienced significant growth in recent years, not only in quantity and diversity of exhibitors; but also by visitor numbers with average growth of five per cent per year for the last five years. Whilst attracting Christmas buyers across the board from supermarkets and department stores, it has quickly grown to be a favourite with garden centres, tourist attractions, cathedral shops and independent retailers too. Favourite gift brands to watch out for include Joe Davies Ltd, distributor of quality giftware with products including the Shudehill Giftware Collection, Poo-Pourri, snoozies!, Rose & Co and the famous Leonardo Collection to name just a few; Heaven Sends, which has fast become one of the UK’s leading wholesalers of fabulously quirky gifts and stylish home accessories; and The Satchville Gift Company, which offers a wide range of rustic, vintage style and shabby chic gifts for the home and garden. Lots of new companies have also signed up for the 2018 show, so returning visitors are guaranteed something a bit different on the horizon. This includes Italian brand Peg Perego with its exciting range of toys; Transomnia with fabulous functional items and decorative accessories for the home, kitchen and garden as well as themed products for Christmas, weddings, babies and more; and Richard Lang with a collection of gifts, home décor and novelty items developed with customers in mind. Of course, many gift retailers will be actively on the lookout for something a little bit different to tempt their customers at Christmas too and they’ll certainly be spoilt for choice at this trade show. For example, Felt So Good has a range of gorgeous hand- made felt accessories including a stunning Christmas collection; whilst Amica and Felt Work will be launching hugely popular felt dog decorations, brooches and key rings. New for 2018 is also a Greetings Card Hall which is located in the beautiful Royal Hall of the Harrogate Convention Centre. Here companies will have a selection of greetings cards not only for Christmas, but the entire year-round – all making great, inexpensive add on ranges for gift retailers. Simon Anslow, show organiser, comments, “Harrogate Christmas & Gift has evolved quite dramatically over the last few years and whilst it still caters very much for anyone involved in the Christmas industry, there are also a lot of products on offer for the entire year- round. We have seen a steady increase in the number of exhibitors with ranges of food and drink as well as toys and novelty gifts. The fact that the show is attended by a large number of garden centre buyers – and garden centres stock almost every product imaginable these days – has certainly reflected on the type of exhibitors attracted to the show. We’ve once again experienced further growth for 2018 and are anticipating another bumper event.” Harrogate is a beautiful north Yorkshire town, easily accessible by road, rail (with trains from London’s Kings Cross), and air, with flights into Leeds Bradford airport. Simon adds, “Hotel accommodation is very competitively priced in Harrogate which is another great plus point for the show. Visitors can afford to stay for three or four days and make the most of networking opportunities as well as sourcing new products.” In brief Show Harrogate Christmas & Gift Organiser HITF Ltd Where Harrogate Convention Centre, King’s Road, Harrogate When 14 th - 17 th January, 2018 Website harrogatefair.com Visit the website at harrogatefair.com for more information and a full exhibitor list. Also, don’t forget to register early for free entry and to be kept up-to-date with the latest show offers. 84 giftfocus