6 minute read
Review: Exclusively
Fact!
Will Jones (third from left) with the organising team
Bigger and better
With Exclusively 2022 wrapped up for another year, Will Jones – chair of Exclusively and chief operating officer of show owner BHETA, tells us how the event went. Hint… it was a success!
“Visitor numbers really exceeded expectations but that’s not the only huge positive to take out of this year’s Exclusively. Big show features – established and new – were very successful too. The trend showcase and trend tours were at their busiest ever with over 250 buyers attending a formal tour or talk. Trend forecasting agency Scarlet Opus set out three key trends – Homestead, Comfort and Escapism / Phygital – and the trends area was viewed by more visitors than ever before. It was also brilliant that so many exhibitors were using trend colours that had been forecasted in previous years by Scarlet Opus, showing that the industry is starting to coordinate and recognise the value of forecasting in practical terms. The outputs demonstrated that on-trend colours, textures and styles can be used to give complementary products a co-ordinated on-trend look, making buying decisions easier for retailers. They are also being used in support materials such as merchandising and point of sale, giving buyers real confidence in their decision-making.
Scarlet Opus predictions were also much in evidence in the styling of stands. Colours were cleverly used as backdrop to make products stand out in an on-trend display, even for products which by their nature aren’t especially colourful - pans being a good example.
Another established feature, the Brand Showcase was also massively busy with influencers and print / online / TV journalists from trade and consumer media. It is a perfect space for brands to get media exposure from really big-name national food and home magazines as well as hugely followed influencers who have real engagement with consumers.
A newer show feature which proved super-popular were the Exclusively wine tastings with celebrity wine pundit, Olly Smith. There were two sessions, and both were fully booked with great feedback.
Taking both numbers and content together, I’m not surprised that Exclusively had already had record re-bookings for 2023 before the show had even ended! In fact, well over a third of the hall is already rebooked, which is really gratifying. The Exclusively team puts a huge amount of effort behind all the initiatives, as do the exhibitors and visitors. It all just reinforces what the kitchenware industry does best which is engage with customers, meeting face to face and networking with peers.
In fact this is one of the big themes in exhibitor feedback. The real buzz in the hall, perfect in size and location and really easy to navigate over two days, and a space where no one exhibitor can dominate. As the trade association running the show, we want all our exhibitors, big or small, to have a good representation, and as equal a space as possible. Plus, the BDC has an innate design ethos of course and a superb atmosphere.
As the pandemic has proved, there is of course a really exciting future in retailing online which continues to grow but it is still only about 20 per cent of kitchenware transactions. If Exclusively proves anything it is the importance of face-to-face in developing supplier and retailer relationships. Products after all have considerable design-led attributes and are tactile – meaning being able to handle products is key to building a range. There is also the inevitable churn in industry roles over the last few years and this show is a great opportunity for new buyers and new account managers to get together.
From this practical sales point of view, all the key retailers came to Exclusively 2022, including great take up from independents and the best ever international results for the Show. International buyer visitors were 25 per cent up on the last show prior to the pandemic and were a truly global mix from Europe to South Africa and beyond.
As a result, the Exclusively team has had some really positive and insightful comment from many of the leading suppliers, confirming just how important Exclusively has become to the whole kitchenware industry.
With 130 exhibitors and 300 brands on show, Exclusively really is the perfect opportunity for buyers, journalists and influencers to find everything they need. The opportunities to see the latest product, talk to suppliers and gather all manner of excellent content and market intelligence is second to none. Exclusively is a real must for kitchenware buyers.” More information about Exclusively 2023 can be obtained from the BHETA Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or on the www. bheta.co.uk, or via the website www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk.
Did you know?
Party people!
Exclusively held a wellattended drinks event during the show. Here’s a snapshot of who was there…
Trade talk
Exclusively exhibitors reveal how the show went for them...
“For me, this was the best Exclusively show to date. There was a great breadth and quality of retailers - with many leading independents, department stores, supermarkets, garden centres, DIY chains & more. For EKO, this created a great opportunity to showcase both our existing range and new products like our lovely new sinkside products. The Brand Showcase was also once again a brilliant focal point for both traditional press and influencers. Well done to all the organisers involved!” EKO Home “This was our first time exhibiting at Exclusively Housewares and it turned out to be a great show for us with a lot of buyers showing interest across our products ranges. Our stand exceeded our expectations. Our new cookware range, Forest, featured in the Trend Showcase and this was a hit with visitors. Made from 100% recycled aluminium, it highlights the company’s ethos to reuse, recycle and to be eco-friendly”. Jomafe
“Exclusively Housewares is without doubt the best organised, relevant and successful UK show and it was simply great to be back. It was fantastic to welcome existing and new customers to the stand and with so much positive feedback we are truly excited at the prospects for our line-up of brands and products with our retail partners.” La Rochere from Tradestock
“This was the Pebbly brand’s first time on a standalone stand as part of the Tradestock stable and it really turned out to be a very successful show with a lot of interest. The Pebbly focus is to produce uniquely designed kitchen and lifestyle products offering sustainable solutions aimed at reducing food waste to zero, as well as using natural and healthy materials such as glass, steel, bamboo, and organic cotton. This ethos, along with a comprehensive choice of beautifully designed products, is something that more and more buyers are taking on board and buying into”. Pebbly
