Gift Focus - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 112)

giftfocus 71 Stationery Show London The Trends Hub The show’s regular Trends Hub has been moved to centre stage on the mezzanine level. The New Product Showcase will still be sited at the entrance to the show and feature all the products entered for the Awards for visitors to view, with finalists identified. The new Designer Area will be next to the New Product Showcase. The high level of interest in the Trends Hub, curated by trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus has led the organisers to allocate more space to the section. “Visitors will see the New Product Showcase, featuring ‘what’s available now’ products as they enter, and then find the Trends Hub, which is focused on ‘what’s coming next’ as they move further into the show,” said Hazel. “The Trend Hub is designed to help our visitors recognise not only which trends will be most relevant to their customers but also which they could use to attract new customers. Sharing and explaining the impact of global trends and their effect on our sector is vital information for our exhibitors and visitors – it means they can make key commercial decisions about new product development and purchases with confidence.” The Trends Hub will feature four key global consumer and Scarlet Opus-chosen design trends. The team will select product from exhibitors that illustrate these trends. Trend Tours will also return, giving visitors a 30-minute tour of eight to 10 products around the show that Scarlet Opus feels sum up the key consumer trends that will be playing out in the stationery market in the coming months. These can be booked for groups up to six in advance, or individual places can be booked on a timed tour. Live Talks and Workshops This year’s show will also include a series of quick-fire presentations covering “The State of Stationery” from Rebecca Saunders, an independent retail and ecommerce consultant who was previously the Stationery, Weddings and Christmas buyer for notonthehighstreet.com . Michael Weedon of EXP 2 , head of retail policy for the Federation of Small Business will also offer his take on what’s happening on the UK’s high streets. Scarlet Opus’ trend translator Phil Pond will also present the company’s thoughts on the four key trends – The Traveller, The Gamechanger, Satori and Fellowship – they are working on for the show. Each day will see retailer workshops. These must be pre-booked and will be targeted at specific participants. Finally, the Creative Stationery Workshops are back. There, exhibitors let visitors get hands-on with their products to discover simple workshop ideas that they, in turn, can run for their customers. Calligraphy, fun gift- wrapping ideas and chances to test the latest inks and pens will be available. A full programme listing of talks, workshops and tours will be available on the website in advance of the show. g For more information or to book tickets, visit the stationeryshowlondon.co.uk