Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2018 (Issue 105)

At the January 2018 edition of HOMI, thanks to a new major partnership with DOXA, the prestigious Italian market research and statistical survey agency, another addition to the schedule of training events will be the presentation of a survey on approaches to home living and consumption habits, which will become an important tool available for all professionals in the sector. A study that will certainly be rich in ideas and suggestions for understanding not only the market but above all the culture of living. This exploration of trends will continue with the contribution of WGSN – an international leader in market analyses and research on trends in the design and fashion sectors. As in previous editions, the conceptual categories emerging from the research will be given an exhibition space, selecting a number of objects exhibited in the fair that are seen as embodying the various style paradigms identified by the study. Rich in know-how and paying close attention to new trends, HOMI remains primarily a solid platform for fostering company business. The Lifestyle Trade Fair is ready to welcome an increasingly international audience of industry professionals: joining the visitors attending the event will be several high-profile professionals identified through the collaboration of ITA-ICE, the Italian Trade Agency. These are selected buyers representing, among others, the more ‘well-established’ participant countries at HOMI such as Singapore, Greece, Belgium, France, Iran, North Africa, Russia, China, and Spain. For further information visit the website homimilano.com WHAT TO EXPECT AT HOMI The new stationery trade show, which ran from 31 st October, 2017 in Old Trafford, Manchester, kicked off in style as exhibitors and visitors alike were introduced to a new venue, which was variously described as intimate, quirky, edgy and boutique. Show organiser Ocean Media Group, which also runs the London Stationery Show, was delighted that everyone involved embraced the industrial style of the Victoria Warehouse, with its concrete floors, huge red brick walls and exposed beams and pipes. With 40 exhibitors representing 70 leading stationery brands, the new show attracted buyers from as far afield as Penny Black Glasgow, Klondyke Garden Centre, Falkirk, Pencil Me In from Elgin and Scottish Trade Stationers from Alloa, to local leading craft retailer Fred Aldous and The Co-operative Group. “The stationery industry is a creative and fashion-led sector. We want to tap into this creativity and stage events that inspire and inform,” said the show’s Marketing Director Vanessa Fortnam. “We’re already planning how to encourage more suppliers to take advantage of this new industry event to network with customers and new contacts in 2018. “We will also address the issue of visitor parking for next year. Many visitors were frustrated and delayed on the first day of the show as the show clashed with a Manchester United Championship League home game. We hope our decision to pull the show forward to the beginning of October next year will help with this.” The 2018 Manchester Stationery Show will run on Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 nd - 3 rd October, at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. For further information, visit stationeryshow.co.uk NEW MANCHESTER STATIONERY SHOW KICKS OFF IN STYLE Readers’ poll What we’ve learnt from the latest reader poll at giftfocus.com We asked: What’s the most proactive/beneficial social media site for your business (not personal)? You said: Twitter – 30% Facebook – 10% Instagram – 50% Pinterest – 10% giftfocus 11 news & events

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