Harrogate Christmas & Gift

Where Christmas Comes Together

There’s never a dull moment at the Harrogate Christmas & Gift show according to exhibition organiser Simon Anslow. But that’s what he loves about it, as Sarah Welsh discovered when they caught up…

For Simon Anslow 13 is most definitely a lucky number. In fact as he prepares to open the doors at his thirteenth Harrogate Christmas & Gift show, the veteran show organiser is predicting this will be the best festive fair to date.

It comes on the heels of a challenging couple of years for the trade sector, after the 2021 edition of the show couldn’t go ahead, and a fair amount of anxiety leading up to last year’s event.

“Christmas & Gift 2022 was interesting because it was touch and go as to whether it would go ahead,” Simon explains. “Even three days before we weren’t sure what was going to happen and I was fielding constant calls from people on tenterhooks who kept hearing different Chinese whispers.

“In the end of course it was a huge success and the exhibitors who came had some of their best ever years at Harrogate with record sales. This year we’ll be building on that and although you hear all this doom and gloom on the news about the economic climate the show team is hugely positive in outlook. Yes the cost-of-living crisis may have an impact but this sector always battles its way through.

“We put on the show, but it’s the exhibitors who come here selling the festive dream and people love it.”

Simon, 53, who hails from the Black Country and still lives in Wolverhampton, has worked in the trade show field for 35 years and it’s in his blood. His father Robert is a director of Christmas & Gift and the Harrogate International Nursery Fair, which Simon himself ran for many years. He may have had a stint

working for a brick manufacturing company in his youth, but all the extravaganza of exhibitions is firmly where Simon belongs. “Christmas & Gift has a small, committed team and it’s just an amazing show to work on,” he says. “We have fantastic exhibitors and retailers and it is hugely enjoyable each and “So much every year. There’s never a dull moment that’s for sure. work goes into “The team is up in Harrogate very early so the transforming contractors can come in, Harrogate and from 3 January names like Premier Decorations, Convention Centre Gisela Graham, Heaven Sends and Floralsilk start into a Christmas erecting their show stands. wonderland and it’s Then products start arriving at the start of the following just fantastic to see.” week and slowly the show comes together until the Exhibition Halls is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. “So much work goes into it, dressing the stands and numerous festive trees, using innovative ways to showcase new product, it’s just fantastic to see.

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“It’s the ambience of the show that really makes it I think. It’s more relaxed than other shows and Harrogate is a brilliant location because everything is right there on the doorstep. It’s a beautiful town with wonderful hotels, restaurants and bars, so it’s great for business but also from a social point of view.

“Also the timing of the show is key because seasonal buyers need to get their orders in by February. It sets the tone for the year.”

As Simon says Harrogate is ‘predominantly Christmas’ as a show, but you’ll also find gift, celebration and Halloween ranges on a smaller scale. The buyers the show attracts include garden centres – which make up more than 50% of those attending, most supermarket brands, independent retailers, heritage brands, museums and theme parks and even local authorities who may come to look for festive street lighting.

“It’s very much a networking show,” Simon explains. “Buyers tend to spend two-and-a-half days with us and they really make the most of it. People love coming together and to touch and see the festive “Buyers tend to spend two-and-a-half days with us and they really make the most of it. People love coming together and to touch and see the festive product and that is something that will never change with Christmas & Gift.”

product and that is something that will never change with Christmas & Gift.”

This year there is a number of new exhibitors travelling to the show, including German decorations brand Boltze, gift wrapping experts Partisan Products and contemporary, Scandi-inspired brand We Love Seasons.

Festive veterans Kaemingk are back to their pre-Covid show stand size for 2023 and Simon says that don’t-miss stands include Premier Decorations because of the sheer size, Gisela Graham where the overall impact of the visual merchandising is always incredible, Heaven Sends for its beautiful product and Festive Productions with its clever, impactful themes.

“I just love Christmas,” Simon says. “At home I love to spend it with my family, and I always cook. At the show the sociable side of the event is always brilliant and the whole experience is never less that utterly joyous.”

What: The 72nd edition of Christmas & Gift | When: 15 to 18 January, 2023 Where: Harrogate Convention Centre | Web: www.harrogatefair.com