Gift Focus - Mar/Apr 2018 (Issue 106)

British Craft Trade Fair When: 8 th - 10 th April, 2018 Where: Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate Website: bctf.co.uk STYLE Fair When: 19 th - 23 rd April, 2018 Where: BITEC, Thailand Website: stylebangkokfair.com Jinhan Fair for Home & Gift When: 21 st - 27 th April, 2018 Where: Poly World Trade Center Expo, China Website: jinhanfair.com Giftionery When: 19 th – 22 nd April, 2018 Where: Taipei World Trade Centre, Taiwan Website: giftionery.net The London Stationery Show When: 24 th - 25 th April, 2018 Where: Business Design Centre Website: stationeryshow.co.uk Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair When: 27 th - 30 th April, 2018 Where: Hong Kong Website: hktdc.com Diary dates The 2018 show returns to the NEC from 16 th - 18 th April. The Farm Shop & Deli Live stage, which will see a host of industry experts cover the most topical issues on everyone’s minds – all designed to help visitors increase their businesses’ bottom lines. One session will cover the art of upselling, with retailers taught the best ways to encourage ancillary purchases at the point of sale, such as coffee, charcuterie, wine and cheese. This ties into a further session on ‘counter techniques’ whereby customers are inspired into additional purchases. The best way to learn is from those who have done it and Farm Shop & Deli Live will bring a host of trading deli owners who will share their secrets to success. Hot topics in the industry will be explored including food waste – an issue that has come to prominence in recent years. Visitors will learn tips to reduce waste, as well as prolonging shelf life. Provenance, a similarly important issue for consumers, will also be discussed with TV presenter Adam Henson. Participating in a live interview, he'll shed light on how speciality retailers can charge premium rates for quality produce. An undeniable visitor benefit of Farm Shop & Deli Live is the free business guidance it offers. Experts will offer advice on matters from diversification and becoming a multi-site operator to using technology to retain and engage customers and using PR and social media. Retailers will also learn how to establish a brand, launch a product and maximise shopper spend. Giving yourself a point of difference and standing out from the competition is key in retail and all that will be covered during the three days at the show. To register for free, visit the website farmshopanddelishow.co.uk An outstanding show in Harrogate Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2018 continued the momentum achieved over the last six years, with a great vibe throughout the halls of the Harrogate Convention Centre; and the majority of exhibitors and visitors spoken to having experienced another fantastic show. Hall Q, which was newly opened last year, proved to be one of the busiest areas of the show with 50 exhibitors – many of these attending for the first time. Troy of greetings card company Rossana Rossi commented, “The show was run fantastically, and staff were helpful and polite. It was refreshing to trade at a show with friendly staff and security – it makes for an enjoyable time. Also, we were happy with the amount of orders taken and the customers attending were serious buyers.” Playwrite Group is a long-standing exhibitor, but moved to a new location in Hall Q for the first time last year. James Cornelius of the company commented, “We had one of our best years ever at Harrogate Christmas & Gift. Orders were up nearly 50 per cent on last year and we have a large number of high quality enquiries to follow up on. We’re very much looking forward to next year.” Visitors attending Harrogate will have noticed the increased diversity in products on offer in 2018 with much more in terms of gift-led ranges. From aromatherapy products, candles, jewellery, personalised novelties to greetings cards and sweets, there was something to appeal to almost every retailer in the UK. Enquiries are already coming in about participating in the show next year – the dates will be 13 th to 16 th January, 2019. Bookings will open on 1 st March, 2018 – more information will be available on the website at harrogatefair.com in due course. (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 Farm Shop & Deli Show to offer three days of free business advice