Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - March/April 2021

15 NEWS & EVENTS On with the show HARROGATE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES S/S2022 DATES Harrogate Fashion Week has announced the dates for the spring/summer 2022 edition. Dates of Sunday 1 st and Monday 2 nd August have been confirmed and the response so far from agents and manufacturers within clothing, footwear and accessory brands has been positive. According to a press release, “An overwhelming comment from the industry this season has been that a fashion trade show is needed to meet up with both new and current stockists on a good date line and in a central location.” Sarah Moody, director of HFW commented, “With Moda, Scoop and Pure moving later in the year we felt it was vital for the industry to have a show on dates that suited their production schedules, and enabled them to get stock to the retailers at the right time of year. And importantly keeping a calendar of seasonal stock, to support the retailers “HFW has shown an increase in brands since the first show held in Harrogate Convention Centre in 2019, and with the overwhelming response we have already received since this announcement we are confident this August edition will be our biggest show to date.” Wendy Adams, Director of HFW explained. “The Harrogate Convention Centre has confirmed that it will be back open for business from late April, so by August the site will be running as normal. Harrogate has always been a popular host town and ideal for networking after hours.” Harrogate Fashion Week will return for its fifth edition on 1 st and 2 nd August 2021. Exhibitor bookings are now being taken, please contact sarah@ harrogatefashionweek.com. Buyer registration will open in April when the participation brands will be listed on the website: www.harrogatefashionweek.com Trade show updates from home and abroad Furniture Show Birmingham postponed to 2022 In-line with ongoing restrictions implemented by the UK government, Clarion Events, the organiser of Furniture Show Birmingham, has announced that the April event will be rescheduled to 23- 26 January, 2022. Portfolio director Zoë Bonser said, “While this has of course been a difficult decision, the safety and success of our exhibitors, visitors and suppliers remains our number one priority. The uncertainty surrounding live events that comes with the current national lockdown, combined with the expected timeline of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, means that postponing the show to its traditional January slot in 2022 is the best decision at this stage.” Following in-depth client conversations and industry analysis over the past 12 months, the team has a holistic understanding of what the show’s community need and want in this climate. As a result, they are in the early stages of launching a market-leading offering, set to innovate the way furniture and interiors brands do business. Of this new journey, Zoë said, “Whilst we are all missing physical shows, opportunities to do great business are still abundant. We are thrilled to be in the testing stages of a brand-new offering that will meet the needs of our audience in the absence of live events and continue to complement them once they return.” She continued, “We know that both life and business have changed significantly in the past 12 months, and that is reflected in our research and feedback. Our customers are now more engaged with online solutions than ever before, with 92% of visitors discovering trends and inspiration online, and 89% sourcing new products online. They are also buying more frequently, with 44% buying new products 10+ times per year. We are excited to be working on creating opportunities that will enable our customers to do business in a new way, and continuing to play our part in helping them meet their objectives.”  London Stationery Show moves to October 2021 Ocean Media has announced that the London Stationery Show has moved to 5-6 October, 2021. With the UK’s vaccination programme well underway, and the Government having announced a roadmap out of lockdown, exhibitions are expected to resume over the summer. Alex Butler, event director, says, “We understand that it will take some time for retail to recover from the recent lockdown. We believe that the October dates will allow for a successful show for visitors and exhibitors alike. We’re very grateful for the support of the industry and are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Business Design Centre in October when we can finally meet and do business once again.” In the meantime, the team is working on an exciting new venture launching in the spring. Stationery365 is an online directory showcasing new products and collections, connecting suppliers with stationery and gift buyers all year round. Retailers will be able to browse brands and products all in one place, and message suppliers directly to place orders. More details will be released in the coming weeks. London Stationery Show will take place on Tuesday 5 th October and Wednesday 6 th October, 2021. For more information on getting involved in Stationery365 or exhibiting at the show contact the team atstationeryshow@oceanmedia.co.uk