INDX FURNITURE RECORDS WELL-ATTENDED EVENT In its tenth anniversary edition, INDX Furniture was able to record one of its most-well attended shows to date, despite a backdrop of market challenges. Curated by buying group, Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the show achieved a 60 percent increase in visitor numbers since its previous edition, and welcomed 35 suppliers across two showrooms at Cranmore Park. This figure includes 9 first-time exhibitors and 11 major furniture brands. Following the appointment of leading trend agency Scarlet Opus in 2022, member day visitors were also able to engage with specialists Phil Pond and Shelley Bou Chrouch for one-toone sessions throughout the show, offering insight on the retail landscape for 2023, consumer buying trends and more. Emma Rackley, Director of Furniture & Home at AIS, said: “Despite forecasts of a difficult year, the furniture industry is already proving to be incredibly resilient, with a real buzz around the show from Friday through till Monday. “Across the event, various exhibitors and visitors remarked on the high-quality nature of this year’s offering, which is testament to our ongoing efforts to create the most focused order-writing environment possible.” The February 2023 edition also marked the debut of a number of major brands, including the sustainably-sourced Bell & Stocchero, Italian upholstery manufacturer Cala Italia, and luxury Swedish bed company Mattsons. Charlie Bell, Director at Bell & Stocchero, said: “We joined AIS as a member just a week before the show and are already beginning to reap the benefits. The intimate showroom environment was really welcoming, and meant that we were able to put the USPs of our products front and centre, alongside allowing us to get face-to-face with buyers who are serious about doing business.” Oscar Mattson, Vice President at Mattsons Beds, said: “INDX was our first time bringing our products to market in the UK and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Everyone at the show was really friendly, making it the perfect place to strike up new business opportunities, which allowed us to exceed our initial targets as a result.” Scotland Trade Spring Fair saw returning confidence Scotland’s Trade Spring Fair saw returning confidence in the market with exhibitors and buyers in an upbeat, positive frame of mind at this key buying show for the gift market. After three days of orders being made, new contacts being established and networks being re-connected, the Show was deemed a success by exhibitors and buyers alike. Off the back of a successful retail season in 2022 in Scotland, buyers are feeling very positive about the year ahead and the leads and orders generated reflected this. Tourism is one of the key drivers of the gift market in Scotland and the early indicators for this year are very positive once again. Richard Wallace from new exhibitor Glen Ogal said: “This has been a fantastic few days for us, with many orders written, new stockists secured and new leads established. It is a great start to the year.” One highlight of the Show was the Best Product awards judged by retail experts Sarah Gordon from Luss General Store, Charmaine Fox from Caulders Garden Centres and Amy McCusker from Wee Box. They were impressed by the standard of the entrants as well as the pricepoints, design and creativity, making choosing winners very difficult. Amy McCusker said: “From innovative design to stylish gifts, the entrants and winners of the awards alike should be proud. It is inspiring to see the industry pushing the envelope and emerging from 2 years of the pandemic with renewed determination.” The Talking Shop Seminar Theatre hosted a series of wellattended informative and relevant talks on all aspects of retailing, including masterclasses on social media and online content, panel discussions with leading influencers and the ever- favourite Nessie’s Den, where new young companies pitch to retailers in a light-hearted session. The Show was also delighted to welcome a visit from Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism & Enterprise, who toured the Show and spoke about support for Scottish businesses. Fiona Fabian from Papyrus said of the Show: “This was a superb Show. I came for a few hours on the Sunday and ended up coming back for all three days! With so much to see and people to talk to, this was the best Scottish Show I’ve ever attended.” Show Director Mark Saunders added: “Whilst there are clearly big challenges still for all businesses, it will be considerably easier to navigate these as footfall in shops continues to build. The last three years have not been easy ones for exhibitions and in that time, new routes to market and subtle changes in buying patterns have emerged. However, over and over again, the overriding benefits of trade shows were evident. Face to face communication will not go away and the ability to see, feel, touch, taste and smell are a vitally important part of the buying process.” www.scotlandstradefairs.com 18
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