Gift Focus - May/Jun 2018 (Issue 107)

Pulse When: 13 th - 15 th May, 2018 Where: Olympia, London Website: pulse-london.com Progressive Greetings Live When: 5 th - 6 th June, 2018 Where: Business Design Centre, Islington, London Website: progressivegreetingslive.com Exclusively Housewares When: 12 th - 13 th June, 2018 Where: Business Design Centre, Islington, London Website: exclusivelyhousewares.co.uk Tendence When: 30 th June - 3 rd July, 2018 Where: Messe Frankfurt, Germany Website: tendence.messefrankfurt.com Manchester Furniture Show When: 15 th - 17 th July, 2018 Where: Manchester Central, Manchester Website: manchesterfurnitureshow.com Home & Gift When: 15 th - 18 th July, 2018 Where: Harrogate International Centre, North Yorkshire Website: homeandgift.co.uk Diary dates It looks like this year’s Giving & Living trade show was a win, win for South West retail trade, with happy visitors placing orders, satisfied exhibitors finding new customers and leads, and one lucky visitor winning a Taste of the West hamper! The visitor survey carried out by Hale Events, the show’s organisers, showed that 90 per cent of those who attended said they’d recommend the show to a colleague or related business. Almost 70 per cent were very satisfied, or satisfied, with the variety of exhibitors and, best of all, more than 93 per cent of visitors said they’d be back next year! The show got the thumbs up from exhibitors too. The survey showed that 87 per cent of visitors placed orders at or shortly after the show, which would explain why nearly 100 companies are already booked in for the 2019 show. Donald Clark of Proctor & Clark, which offers imaginative gift and homeware ranges to the trade, commented, “It’s a good show for us, with a great atmosphere. We like it because it attracts buyers with a very specific interest in coastal themed products. This year we certainly generated some interest from a type of customer that we haven’t seen before, so that was good.” Next year Giving & Living takes place from Sunday 13 th to Wednesday 16 th January, 2019 – so put those dates in your diary now. For more information about the show, to book a stand, or register to attend, please telephone +44 (0)1934 733 433 , follow @giving_living, or visit givingliving.co.uk Brand Licensing Europe announces F&B theme for 2018 and calls on the industry to contribute & collaborate As Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) approaches its 20 th anniversary, organiser UBM has announced that this year’s theme will be food and beverage (F&B) and is calling upon the industry to contribute and collaborate with the team to create a truly vibrant celebration at Olympia this October. “F&B is one of the fastest-growing and most robust categories within licensing,” explained BLE Brand Director Anna Knight. “But it’s also incredibly innovative and dynamic, reinventing itself continuously in line with new trends and lifestyle choices. Health and fitness has been a huge influence over the sector since the ’80s, but most recently the whole wellbeing and clean-eating phenomenon has had a huge impact on the category with no signs of fading any time soon.” Brand Licensing Europe will take place in London from 9 th – 11 th October, 2018. (All dates are subject to change. Contact the organisers for more information before making arrangements). Trade show updates from home and abroad on with the show 10 giftfocus BIG THUMBS UP FOR GIVING & LIVING 2018