7 minute read
Home & Gift
As we look forward to Home & Gift, show manager David Westbrook tells us what’s in the pipeline for the four-day buyers’ festival, which kicks off in Harrogate on July 17
What makes Home & Gift different from other trade exhibitions in the buying calendar?
Home & Gift is a truly special event. In all my years of organising, visiting and exhibiting within the industry, I’ve never come across anything quite like it. Combined with the vast array of brands on offer, the unique, relaxed social atmosphere that we foster allows for both easy networking and (importantly!) successful buying. It’s just completely different to all the other events out there, making it a favourite for both exhibitors and retailers.
How will you make this the best Home & Gift yet?
The show is over 50% larger than it was in 2021, and importantly over 25% of our exhibitors are brand new this summer too, supplementing all the returning suppliers that our retailers know and love. So there really is something for everyone to discover this July.
In addition, for the first time ever, we’re giving exhibitors and buyers the chance to start connecting before they arrive in Harrogate on our networking platform Browse & Meet, where buyers are able to explore products and pre-book appointments with exhibitors at the show. This is an amazing opportunity to start the networking and sales process early, so that both sides can make the most of their time at Home & Gift.
If that wasn’t enough, as a result of the overwhelming feedback we received in 2021, this year we’re also delighted to be able to expand our home interiors offering by launching the Furniture Collection in Harrogate. This exclusive assembly of furniture and homeware brands will be showcasing beautifully crafted furniture pieces alongside stylish homewares.
With Home & Gift taking place in the heart of the British summer, our social events are always popular. And this year won’t disappoint, as we’re bringing back all the fun elements that we’re known for. We have regular Happy Hours planned throughout the festival for our exhibitors and buyers, along with the Sunday Sundowner drinks and much more besides.
Is there anything new this year that visitors should look out for?
Well over 100 new suppliers will be showcasing their brands in Harrogate for the first
time, including Aery, Little Concepts, Albetta, House of Disaster, Do Something David, The Northern Line, Klean Kanteen, Opinel, QUDO, Butterfly Fashion, Ohelo, Okiki Skincare, Heart and Soul Studio, Kind Bag, and Jekyll and Hide. Plus, we are welcoming back a whole host of top exhibitors that were unable to join us in recent years such as Enesco, Container Group Buying, Richard Lang & Son, Orange Tree Toys, Depesche, Belly Button Designs, Tilley & Grace, Kikkerland, Charles Farris, Santoro, Wrendale Designs and Oli Olsen. Alongside all these brands, buyers won’t want to miss our new Furniture Collection, where they can meet top furniture brands and source “A huge part of Home & Gift’s charm products to build their home interiors offering. We’ll be running a virtual Shop Talk seminar stream in the lead-up is its unique combination of social to the show as well, giving everyone the chance to gain and business atmosphere, which is important industry insights and knowledge from top experts in the field. why it’s the show our buyers and Will there be any changes to the layout of the exhibitors actually want to attend, show? This year we’ve introduced a new Design Point marquee rather than just have to” as we expand again, and have blended our products across our Design Points to help buyers shop multiple sectors with ease. Plus, the Furniture Collection will be taking over Hall Q and the Kings Suite in the Convention Centre. So there’s lots to see!
How many exhibitors and visitors are you expecting?
Following an incredibly successful 2021 edition, this year there will be over 450 brands to discover across our Halls and Design Points, and with our visitor pre-registration looking strong, we can expect a return to something approaching pre-Covid levels of footfall again.
What names - both returning and new - can you confirm will be exhibiting?
In addition to all the new brands we have with us for 2022, visitors can still expect to see all their old favourites including Gallery Direct, Joe Davies, Captivate Brands, Zelly, Inside Out Toys, By Molly&Izzie, The Art File, Forever England, Quail, Bomb Cosmetics, Steiff, LIGA, Heathcote & Ivory, CHALK, Lisa Angel, Talking Tables, Lagoon Group, Miss Shorthair, and DCUK, plus many, many more!
Home & Gift
What product sectors can visitors expect to find?
In addition to the new Furniture Collection, the Harrogate Convention Centre will play host to Jewellery & Fashion, Home & Interiors and Gift. Across our four Design Point marquees, retailers can explore Design-led Gift and the Food Emporium.
Sustainability is a key focus for a number of trade exhibitions in different industries - is this the case for Home & Gift?
At Home & Gift we’ve always championed sustainable brands and this year is no exception. One of our many suppliers working towards reducing its brand’s environmental impact is One Hundred Stars, which prides itself on manufacturing products in a sustainable and ethical way, using AZO free dyes for the bold prints featured on its beautiful collection of kimonos, loungewear and fashion accessories. Along with utilising recyclable packaging for online orders, it also repurposes fabric offcuts into headbands to reduce wastage, too!
Okiki Skincare is another example of our brands following a sustainable and ethical manufacturing method - in this case, for organic skincare products. Its soap bars have a smaller carbon footprint than liquid soap, making them a favourite with consumers, and the brand utilises organic ingredients rather than palm oil. Additionally, it doesn’t test its products on animals and uses recyclable packaging, which is a big plus for retailers.
For our audience, we know sustainability is increasingly important, so we want to encourage more brands to follow the lead of suppliers such as these and play their part in this sea change.
Home & Gift is known and loved for being a great place to meet friends and network. What are your plans for social events?
Buyers and exhibitors will be able to enjoy Happy Hours daily from 3pm, as well as the Sundowner party from 6pm on the Sunday. We will also soon be releasing our full calendar of events, with an increase in the number of buyer networking opportunities, so watch this space! The sociable atmosphere of Home & Gift is what makes it our buyers’ favourite trade show, with the relaxed summer setting ensuring networking remains easy and unpressured, allowing buyers and exhibitors alike to enjoy the sunshine and the bubbles!
Although the government has removed remaining domestic Covid restrictions in England, do you have any plans in place for visitors and exhibitors to still follow basic safety measures?
Last year Home & Gift took place as a government pilot event with no restrictions, and had no Covid outbreak reported, so we’re confident we’ll be able to run another successful show for 2022. We respect peoples’ choices to wear masks and use hand sanitiser if they wish, and the Harrogate Convention Centre will have these both available for everyone at the event.
Finally, what’s your fondest memory of Home & Gift?
Personally, in one guise or another, I’ve been at Home & Gift almost every year since 2006, and the show just keeps getting better and better! Having such a successful edition last year was a definite highlight for me, but it’s always great to see the industry unite like this in beautiful, sunny Harrogate. A huge part of Home & Gift’s charm is its unique combination of social and business atmosphere, which is why it’s the show our buyers and exhibitors actually want to attend, rather than just have to.
At A Glance
What: Home & Gift 2022 Where: Kings Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire When: Sunday July 17 9.30am-6pm Monday July 18 9.30am-6pm Tuesday July 19 9.30am-6pm Wednesday July 20 9.30am-4pm Call: 020 7384 7863 Email: marketing@homeandgift.co.uk Visit: www.homeandgift.co.uk/contact-us
