The positivity felt by exhibitors across the Harrogate Home & Gift show floor has translated directly into bookings for the 2024 edition, confirm show organisers Clarion, with a record 66% of next year’s floor plan accounted for at the end of last week’s show.
Companies returning next year include Designworks Collective, Enesco, Forever England, Fountasia, Jellycat, Joe Davies, London Ornaments, Miss Shorthair, Miss Sparrow, Peace of Mind, Räder, Richard Lang & Son, Roka London, The Art File and Zelly UK.
According to Clarion, exhibitors saw significantly increased footfall compared to 2022, with an overallgrowth of 14%, and a 9% increase in the individual companies that attended.
The show also benefited from a 15% increase in buyers from garden centres, a 48% increase in museum and gallery buyers, and a 63% increase in buyers from department stores. Clarion predict the numbers indicate a strong Q3 and Q4 for the retail industry, and increased positivity for customer spending ahead of 2024.
Among the visitors to the show was gift retailer Janet Hartree, owner of Ewe and Me and Ewe Too in Grantown-on-Spey. “ It’s important for us to see products in the flesh, so Home & Gift was a good opportunity to meet up with our suppliers and see their new stock as well as to discover new companies too,” she told GiftsandHome.net.
Concurred Nigel Williamson, co-owner of House of Cards, which has seven card and gift stores in the Home Counties: “Home & Gift was a very good show. We picked up some potential new suppliers, such as Spice Kitchen and Talking Tables, and were also on the lookout for additional home fragrancing suppliers which is a strong category for us.”
Joe Davies’ managing director Paul Hooker added: “The quality of customer was excellent and we wrote some good orders. Even on the last day of the show we wrote a sizable order. We launched 2200 lines with customers wanting to see our products first hand as they are very tactile. The show also enabled us to get a feel for the most popular lines in the run up to Christmas, with our new line, the Bridgewater Pen Company – which feature pens with a lifetime mechanical guarantee, and which is exclusive to Joe Davies – proving very popular.”
Added Sophie Dunham of Tilley & Grace: “The show was really fantastic for us. It was great to see our regular customers as well as lots of new customers too Our silk scarves were among our best sellers, giving fresh, vibrant pops of colour which help to brighten up the shelves for retailers,” added Sophie.
“To see such a large increase in footfall – with all the subsequent connections made and orders taken – speaks volumes about the high regard in which this show is held within the industry,” stated show manager David Westbrooke. “The record-breaking re-book was the icing on the cake. Roll on 2024!”
Next year’s Harrogate Home & Gift will be taking place a week later on 21-24 July 2024.
Top: Visitors are shown taking a break during Harrogate Home & Gift last week.
