Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Harrogate Convention Centre opened its doors on Sunday for Home & Gift 2022. Within minutes the show’s halls began filling with eager buyers ready to shop the latest product launches from the best brands across the UK and beyond!
The 2022 edition is 60% larger than 2021, and with over 30% of the exhibitors being brand new to the show this year, there’s a huge amount for retailers to see and discover at Home & Gift. The warm weather hasn’t deterred buyers, with crowds gathering across the 10 air-conditioned halls and marquees. The unique buzz that the show is so well known for is palpable when exploring the event; orders are being placed, connections made, and the industry is uniting once more.
40% of the show’s buyers are attending for the first time, resulting in thousands of introductions and new accounts being opened. The event has also seen a 60% increase in retailers with a buying power of over £1m, including from top quality stores such as; NEXT, Hallmark, Haskins Garden Centre, John Lewis, Fenwicks, Squires Garden Centre, British Garden Centres, Sterling Home Store, Hoopers, Dorset Retail and Lark London. This has generated a combined VIP purchasing power of over £50k onsite. In addition, international buyers joined us from across the globe, including from The Netherlands, India, United States, Lithuania, Malaysia, Spain, Malta, Hong Kong, Ireland and Canada.
The show’s opening day proved a huge success for suppliers, with Designed In Colour taking 10 orders by lunchtime, showing how eager retailers were to find – and more importantly spend – on the latest products.
Once the show had closed, exhibitors and retailers were able to celebrate a successful first day at the festival’s popular Sundowners drinks, allowing them to continue networking over a gin and tonic on the lawn and watch the announcement of the Gift of the Year’s People’s Choice Awards. The Giftware Association’s CEO Sarah Ward presented the coveted award to Cardology’s Founder & Trade Director David Falkner. The great turnout was fitting to help celebrate the triumph of the show’s opening day.
For independent retailers, being able to learn from experts is a key reason they flock back to Home & Gift year after year; as well as sourcing new products for their shelves, visitors have been able to gain vital business advice from the likes of Olivia Brabbs from Olivia Brabbs Photo, who guided them through best practise for styling and shooting product images. Highlights from Shop Talk Live on Tuesday included Your AJency’s Anne Jones, who taught retailers tricks to help bring their brand to life using Instagram’s eye-catching reels, and gave them useful tools to help build their online presence.
David Westbrooke the Show Manager for Home & Gift says, ‘It’s been such a fabulous first 3 days – the fact that so much business has been done already speaks volumes for this key event and the importance of the event for the industry, the area, and the economy. It’s amazing to continue the legacy of the show’s 62-year history, as well as celebrating the 122-year birthday of The Majestic Hotel. With the final day still to come, our retailers have plenty of time to source, buy and network.’
