When Giving & Living opens its doors from January 13-16 at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre near Exeter, it will be bringing together some 200 exhibitors ranging from big importer wholesalers such as KandyToys of Exeter and Wilton Bradley, to jewellery and accessory companies that include Alchemy England, Superbia, F&J Collection, Nordic London Jewellery, S H Sales, Radford Supplies, Sea Gems, Talbot Fashions and Berber Leather.
“We’ve also seen growth in the clothing sector with companies such as Nomads Clothing and Pachamama returning to the show,” Mike Anderson, managing director of organisers Hale Events, told GiftsandHome.net Other exhibitors include Stonewashed Clothing, Urban Beach and Bohemia.
This year the show has a new area – Speakers’ Corner – hosting a range of free workshops and drop in sessions created around the theme of helping the independents compete effectively in today’s challenging marketplace. Sponsored by Grow Exeter (B2B marketing and communication), it will provide a platform for speakers that include Sarah Ward, chief executive of The Giftware Association, Ian Retallick, author and speaker from Specialist Retailers, Barbara Khattri from Elements, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), cybercrime specialists from Avon & Somerset Constabulary, and Andy Copp from Business Mentors SW.
Once again, the show will have a strongly themed ‘Designed & Made in Britain’ area, where regional and national makers will be showcasing one-off and batch produced items, with a wealth of Cornish makers. There will also be a dedicated Newcomers area. Elsewhere, Coastal Path will be leading buyers around the show, while the Coastal Product Revealed area will be showcasing a selection of merchandise from companies on the Coastal Path for buyers to browse.
“Giving & Living is definitely the show to discover beautifully crafted gifts and unusual home accessories inspired by sun, sand and sea,” highlights Mike. “We are seeing coastal themes in everything from jewellery to home accessories to pocket money gifts and toys. Trending will be products that can be personalised, or tailored for, retailers and tourist attractions.”
This year, the show will be single plastic free, with a badging system for exhibitors and visitors removing the need for plastic wallets.
Top: Writing orders at last year’s show.
