A new feature at Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring, taking place at the SEC in Glasgow from January 20-22, will be Nessie’s Den. Three prominent retailers – Nancy Smillie from The Nancy Smillie Shop in Glasgow, Yvonne Carr from Visit Scotland, and Helen Crawford from the Old School in Beauly – will evaluate selected exhibitors’ products on Monday January 20. Another session for food producers, judged by food retailers, will take place in the ‘Den’ on Tuesday January 22.
New exhibitors for 2019 include Blue Eyed Sun, Wrendale Designs, Galleon Jewellery, Channel Jumpers, Tartan Centre Wales, Susie Wright, The Highland Soap Company, James Galt, Sophie’s Wild Woollens, Pretty Pens and The BiGroup.
Elsewhere at the show, Launch Gallery will feature Cubby’s Salve, Blackwater Barn Designs, The Divine Hag, Clarabella Christie, Midge Solutions, Urban Caledonia and Bart’s Balms, while The Craft Gallery, in association with Craft Scotland, will include Kirsti Brown Ceramics, Helen Ruth Scarves, Tessuti Scotland and Vivienne Sillar Ceramics.
The Best In The Show awards will be presented on the opening morning (Sunday January 20). This year’s judging panel will feature Rhona Henderson from Gretna, Julie Pearson from Cloudberry Gifts in Edinburgh and Anne Boyd from Dornoch Jail. The winning products will be on display in the centre of the Show.
“As we enter the most important trading period, everyone is hoping the year will close on a high with strong festive season sales,” comments show director Mark Saunders. “This would be the perfect backdrop for the show in January as retailers can start the hunt for new ideas with confidence off the back of a successful 2018. Whatever happens we know that we are offering them a fantastic array of interesting and creative exhibitors.”
At least a third of all exhibitors who are new to the show and many others showcasing their 2019 stock for the first time.
Workshops and seminars include: social media to grow your business by Tuminds founder Rene Looper; Ian Retallick on how independents can take on the giants and win; harnessing the power of digital influencers by O Communications and visual merchandising by Lynda Murray.
Visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
Top: Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring takes places at SEC, Glasgow, from January 20-22.
