Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2018 (Issue 110)

While retailers are gearing up for the busiest shopping season of the year, manufacturers and suppliers of giftware and Christmas ranges are focusing on the next big event: Harrogate Christmas & Gift. The show is staged in January – the optimum time of the year for Christmas buyers, as it’s straight after the celebrations while fashions and trends are still fresh in their minds. Exhibitors at the show, experts when it comes to what the consumer is going to want next Christmas, will give them an informed heads-up. For example, at the January 2018 event, exhibitors were predicting the trend for unicorns, and unicorn-themed toys and gifts are set to be the most sought-after products of Christmas 2018. So watch this space. Whether you are a retailer, buyer or manufacturer and supplier, Harrogate Christmas & Gift is fast becoming known as the not-to-be-missed trade show of the year. It is where the main orders are placed and put to bed for the following Christmas so that retailers can concentrate on their daily business, safe in the knowledge that they’ve got everything in hand. As well as the well-known companies that return to Harrogate year after year, such as Gisela Graham, Premier Decorations, Joe Davies, Widdop & Co and Heaven Sends, 2019’s show will once again attract a whole host of new companies displaying products for the first time. Art Nouvocative will present a beautiful selection of greetings cards by talented artists; Berni Parker offers original gifts and greetings card collections, such as the hugely popular Ladies Who Love Life; History & Heraldry is renowned for its fabulous range of impulse gifting, including the Urban Words collection; and House of Marbles and its diverse and entertaining selection of toys and games will also be exhibiting. Simon Anslow, show organiser, comments: “Harrogate Christmas & Gift has been growing steadily in recent years, with a year-on-year increase in not only exhibitors but in visitors and buyers too. The addition of Hall Q proved a popular decision, and we still have space available for new companies that would like to jump on board and experience this hugely successful show.” ’TIS THE SEASON Don’t miss the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show in January for all your Christmas and giftware needs IN BRIEF Show Harrogate Christmas & Gift Organiser HITF Ltd Where Harrogate Convention Centre When 13 th -16 th January, 2019 Website harrogatefair.com A full list of exhibitors, visitor registration, plus details of exhibiting and booking forms are available at harrogatefair. com. Alternatively, Simon Anslow can be contacted on +44 (0)1902 882 280 or simon@harrogatefair.com 86 giftfocus