It’s a scary thought that we are already 20 years into this century, so perhaps it is a poignant time to reflect onhow the gifts trade has changed in those two decades.
Perhaps the ideal barometer is Spring Fair. It was, and still is, the largest of its kind in the UK. Yet the show is by no means the size it was at the beginning of the century. For those who weren’t around then – by that I mean in the trade, not necessarily born – the show was much bigger and busier. Cars would be queuing to get off the M42 every morning to get in before the 9am start, but trying to get out of the car parks at the end of each day would sometimes take an hour and a half! Twenty years on, there are no queues. So what has caused these changes?
Of course, we are all only too aware of how the high street is dying. It’s a very sad state of affairs which is, perhaps, more of a political argument rather than a social debate. Local councils need to consider that empty units bring in no revenue whatsoever, so is it not time to reduce business rates to make shops more affordable and viable? There are also fewer exhibitors at Spring Fair. Is this downturn due to the fall in the number of suppliers, the affordability of exhibiting, or, more crucially, suppliers who don’t feel the show is meeting their needs?
Spring Fair needs to attract more suppliers, as this will in turn attract more visitors. Twenty years ago, there was also a large number of overseas visitors to the show, but now there seems to be a very small number. So what’s preventing them from coming to the NEC? This is something only the organisers can investigate.
Of course, the biggest change over the past 20 years can be summed up in one word – Amazon. In 2000, Amazon was only six years old and was unknown in the UK. Today one company has taken over the world!
As an industry, it is essential that we all pull together, to listen to one another, to appreciate one another. If we don’t, will I be writing an article in 20 years time? Will there be trade magazines? Will there be trade shows?
Spring Fair has always been the largest exhibition in the UK within any industry. It is therefore funny to consider that the show consists of thousands of exhibitors selling millions of items that no-one actually needs. None of what is there is essential for our everyday lives. Therefore we need to educate the next generation to go shopping to real shops as well as online and to make the experience of shopping enjoyable. We’re not selling experiences, we’re selling ‘stuff’, but in so many of our towns and cities, it seems to be the same ‘stuff’.
However, we are so fortunate to be in a wonderfully creative trade which offers millions of possibilities, so let’s all embrace what we have to benefit us all for many years to come.
Top: David Gee, managing director, The Music Gifts Company.
