Posted by Kelly Andrews on 9 August 2023
Home & Gift Harrogate, UK retail’s premier summer trade show for the gift and home industry, has concluded the highly anticipated 2023 edition on a resounding note of success. Held in both the Harrogate Convention Centre and the grounds of the prestigious DoubleTree By Hilton, the event brought industry professionals, exhibitors and buyers together from around the world for an immersive and inspiring experience. Over the show’s 4 days, exhibitors saw significantly increased footfall vs. 2022, with an overall growth of 14% and a 9% increase in the individual companies that attended. Notably, the show also benefited from a 15% increase in buyers from garden centres, a 48% increase in museum and gallery buyers, and a 63% increase in those from department stores. These robust numbers indicate a strong Q3 and 4 ahead for the retail industry, and increased positivity for customer spending ahead of 2024.
Over 500 exhibitors took part in Home & Gift 2023 - with more than 150 of them making their show debut. From the established industry favourites through to emerging new talent, Home & Gift’s exhibitors offered a wide array of product categories including homewares, gifts, fashion accessories and more - providing an unparalleled platform for suppliers and retailers to connect and forge exciting new business partnerships.
With buyers seeking new products to help them stand out on the high street, they were treated to a wealth of new ideas and inspiration across all 7 of the event’s halls and marquees, and as a consequence, visitor feedback was exceptionally positive; Fran and Vickie Huxley of Simply Rye explained: “Home & Gift is always such a great summer event! We LOVE going to see lots of our fabulous suppliers (and meeting some new ones too!) and it’s always so exciting finding new products for the shop! We have come home feeling so energised and excited for everything to start arriving!”
Karyn McCabe of Webbs Garden Centres echoed this: ‘I always look forward to the Home & Gift show and it never disappoints… a fantastic event in a relaxed setting. I am able to catch up with current suppliers as well as looking out for newness of which there is plenty to see and I always leave feeling very inspired!’
Sarah Laker from Stationery Supplies vocalised the thoughts of many when she commented: “Harrogate is such a lovely setting for a trade fair and I love the relaxed feel of it. Being at the show is good for my soul as it is one of my favourite trade shows.”
Exhibitors certainly felt the benefit of such enthusiasm, especially those making their debut in the hopes of connecting with new potential stockists. Commenting on her first experience of exhibiting at Home & Gift, Zoe Scott of Zoe Scott Designs was full of praise: “I loved the show, and it's been a great experience. I picked up new stockists, rebooked for next year, and achieved everything I came here to do.”
Mark Sinclair-Williams from LSW London shared these sentiments, explaining “This has been our first ever trade show and we’ve had a brilliant time. We’ve loved speaking to buyers and shop owners from around the country and it’s been wonderful meeting lots of our current stockists.”
New exhibitors weren’t the only ones to report such success; Jo Clarke of Toasted Crumpet enjoyed a record-breaking few days: “Home and Gift Harrogate is a consistently good show for us [but] this year surpassed all our expectations…our best trade show to date.”
James Mace of The Art File concurred, reporting their “biggest Sunday ever!” at Home & Gift. “The show was extremely positive and buoyant, and we can’t wait to see you at the next one!”
The positivity felt by exhibitors across the show floor translated directly into bookings for the 2024 edition, with a record 66% of next year’s plan having already been accounted for by the show end, and the likes of Designworks Collective, Enesco, Forever England, Fountasia, Jellycat, Joe Davies, London Ornaments, Miss Shorthair, Miss Sparrow, Peace of Mind, Räder, Richard Lang & Son, Roka London, The Art File and Zelly UK all returning for 2024.
Home & Gift 2023’s visual identity was inspired by Trend Partner The Better Trends Company’s Modern Psychedelic trend, immersing visitors in the captivating, bold, and vibrant palette that has resonated strongly with consumers this year. The Better Trends Company Co-Founder Louise Healy Adonis commented, “To see our creative branding and identity for Home & Gift come to life across the entire show was a real "pinch me" moment. We loved how the key trend from our installation in Hall M echoed across all the touch-points, from signage to maps and social spaces. Our floral and swirl designs enhanced the summer festival feel that Home & Gift is known for and the positive feedback has been amazing.”
This year, Home & Gift held a range of networking events and special celebrations throughout the four days; the highly popular Sundowners drinks on Sunday was hosted in collaboration with Progressive Gifts & Home and saw hundreds of exhibitors and buyers gather in the afternoon sunshine to toast the opening day’s success.The Giftware Association also crowned card brand Fox Under The Moon the winners of their People’s Choice Award at the same event; Sarah Ward, CEO of The Giftware Association commented, “I am so thrilled for Stacey. Fox Under The Moon is a beautiful brand creating products with universal appeal. This is the third year we have run The People’s Choice Awards, and the number of votes from the public this year has been staggering. Each year, the awards recognise the remarkable talent and creativity of the members, which range from retailers to suppliers, high street brands to individual craftspeople and many others. I can’t wait to see the way in which this well-deserved win for Fox Under The Moon propels the brand forward in the coming year.”
Monday evening saw the return of the ever-popular Show Party, which this year was sponsored by www.retail-reveal.com - the digital destination for retail discovery, inspiration and connection; exhibitors and visitors connected and networked there, away from the show floor, and danced the night away as they unwound and relaxed after another busy day.
As the curtain fell on Home & Gift Harrogate 2023, Show Manager David Westbrooke was buoyed by the success seen across the show. “For over 60 years, suppliers and retailers alike have put their trust in Home & Gift to help grow their business, and this edition was no exception. To see such a large increase in footfall - with all the subsequent connections made and orders taken - speaks volumes about the high regard in which this show is held within the industry. The record-breaking rebook was the icing on the cake. Roll on 2024!”
Join the industry in Harrogate on 21-24th July 2024, for the next edition of Home & Gift!
