Giving & Living https://givingliving.co.uk Gift Coast Home - Trade Show Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:37:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://givingliving.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-GL2025icon-32x32.jpg Giving & Living https://givingliving.co.uk 32 32 The Gift of the Year 2024 Finalists have been announced! https://givingliving.co.uk/the-gift-of-the-year-2024-finalists-have-been-announced/ https://givingliving.co.uk/the-gift-of-the-year-2024-finalists-have-been-announced/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:36:53 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=8374 This year we were delighted to have the Giftware Association at the show, with a selected range of shortlisted and award-winning Gift of the Year products, and they’ve now announced the Finalists. After a hugely successful live Judging Event at Spring Fair, the news the home and gift industry has been waiting for is here. Discover who the finalists are here!

The Winners and Highly Commended products will be announced at The Gift Awards, to be held at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 16th May, continuing to bring together both sides of our amazing industry in one room to celebrate the best in retail and the best in product.

The Live Judging Event, held at Spring Fair for the third year running, was a resounding success with it being held for four days. It attracted attention throughout the shows from not just the judges but also the visitors who were using the area as a stop off point to find the best new exciting products on offer.

Chris Workman said of the live judging “It was great to be back at Spring Fair to live judge again and we could not have been happier with the area allowing the products to shine and also the attention they deserve. We also excitingly signed up a potential 80 new judges to the awards from across the retail spectrum, to judge in next years awards” he continues “What was also great to hear was the traffic that our shortlisted exhibitors got to their stand from being on display with us in the judging area, at an already bustling Spring Fair

Once again, The Gift of the Year awards will also be announcing the People’s Choice award which is judged by the general public, enabling everyone to vote for their favourite product across all of the Gift of the Year categories. This year, The Giftware Association has opened it up to all shortlisted products again and hopes to be its biggest year yet with over 3000 votes already counted, so there is still an opportunity for a shortlisted company to get through to become the third ever People’s Choice winner.

Tickets and tables for the awards event on May 16 can be booked via the Max Publishing digital box office event at Max-Tickets.net or by contacting event organiser Createvents by email at clare@createvents.co.uk or by calling 0118 334 0085.

To find out more about The Gift Awards and book tickets click here. For more details about the Giftware Association, visit www.giftwareassociation.org.

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/the-gift-of-the-year-2024-finalists-have-been-announced/feed/ 0
Giving & Living kick starts 2024 trading https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-kick-starts-2024-trading/ https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-kick-starts-2024-trading/#respond Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:54:21 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=8355 Another fantastic edition of Giving & Living is over! We had a very enjoyable three days at the show, which was declared a great success by exhibitors and visitors alike, who were undeterred by freezing weather as they showed support for what’s known as the friendliest event in the trade show calendar.

In a glowing verdict on this year’s show, regular exhibitor, Sue Morrish, founder and owner of The Eco Friendly Card Co., said: “Of all the trade fairs we go to this is by far my favourite. It is easy, close and free parking, delicious food that won’t cost you a fortune and lots of lovely independent makers, publishers, creators and designers showing a whole host of beautiful products you won’t find on the high street”.

Visitors were equally enthusiastic, with one saying that they enjoy “finding new suppliers in an easy environment” and another commenting that the show: “Helps us to find new suppliers and view new products. As we look for more local and small-scale producers this show works better for us than larger, more national/international shows”.

Retailers benefitted from being first in line to place orders with preferred suppliers, with the majority also finding new suppliers during their visit.

One retailer who completed the post-show survey agreed that it was “nice to find smaller businesses that don’t show in other places“, whilst another said they “enjoy catching up with the business owners and placing orders.

First Time Exhibitors
Tracey of Poppins Pottery said she had a “Great first time at the show, picked up good orders and learned a lot from networking as first time exhibitor. The introductory mini-pods offered great value for our first time at the show as British makers.”

Another first-time exhibitor, Holly Read, Director of Homemade Hollydays, said: “First trade show, first day took four confirmed orders, one of which was a very big fish. Some excellent leads to follow up afterwards; really happy and we felt this was a fantastic starting point for our trade show journey”.

In perhaps the biggest seal of approval for this friendly event, 91% of visitors said they planned to return to Giving & Living in 2025. More than 80% of respondents said they had either placed orders at the show or intended to place orders shortly after.

Our MD, Mike Anderson: “We are delighted with the way this year’s show went, especially given the challenging economic conditions that are affecting the retail industry as a whole. The trend for independent retailers seeking locally-made British products is clearly still on the rise, as is the longer term shift towards products with a sustainable ethos. These products complement the superb wide-ranging gift ranges brought to Giving & Living by the wholesalers, who form the mainstay.”

The next edition of Giving & Living – the 60th! – will take place from Sunday 12th – Tuesday 14th January 2025 at Westpoint, Exeter.

For more information call 01934 733433 email mail@hale-events.com or take a look around the website.

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-kick-starts-2024-trading/feed/ 0
Giving & Living 2024 opens this weekend! https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-2024-opens-this-weekend/ https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-2024-opens-this-weekend/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2024 15:03:27 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=8297

It’s nearly here! Giving & Living opens on Sunday and we’re looking forward to welcoming hundreds of exhibitors, and thousands of visitors, to Westpoint, Exeter. For three days, from Sunday 14th – Tuesday 16th January, buyers will be able to discover a huge variety of products at a wide range of price points, all under one roof. With a range of show features, and exclusive show offers, if you’re looking to stock up for the year to come, it’s the only show you need to attend!

If you’ve haven’t registered for your free trade entry badge, then click on the button below. If you have, don’t forget to print your badge out to bring with you, and avoid the queues.

See you at the show!

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-2024-opens-this-weekend/feed/ 0
Giving & Living features the best! https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-features-the-best/ https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-features-the-best/#respond Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:27:05 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=8080 As we race towards Christmas at full speed and the air outside gets frostier, preparations are hotting up for one of the best-loved trade shows in the exhibition calendar: our Giving & Living trade show!

Visitors to the show, which will run from 14th-16th January at the excellent venue of Westpoint in Exeter, will be first in line when it comes to placing orders for the hottest new products of the season. They can also look forward to plenty of free onsite parking and a friendly and relaxed environment that makes buying a pleasure.

We’ve recently released the exhibitor list for the show, which is a must-visit event for anyone interested in coastal gifts and souvenirs, British handmade products, speciality gift food, plush toys, fairtrade clothing and homeware, greetings cards and stationery, home accessories and a fabulous selection of gifts for all occasions.

Show features at Giving & Living 2024 will include the Coastal Path, Naturally and Designed and Made in Britain. Here’s what you will discover at the show:

Coastal Path
Oh we do love to be beside the seaside! Which is just as well because nobody in the UK lives more than 70 miles away from a piece of our beautiful coastline. The tourist trade at home gets stronger ever year, representing a major opportunity for retailers to capitalise on the staycation boom.

Giving & Living brings together more coastal merchandise under one roof than any other trade show, a unique point of difference that sets it apart from all other events in the exhibition cycle. Follow the Coastal Path around the show to discover seasonal essentials, beautifully crafted gifts, unusual home accessories, and souvenirs, inspired by the sun, sand and sea, such as the stunning handcrafted fused glass from Berserks Glass Works, the practical, versatile fabric bags from Annie with Alex, and the eco friendly cards produced by animal watercolour artist Jen Winnett Eco Artist.

Naturally
Britain is also a country that loves nature and consumers are eager to choose products which reflect their sustainable values with eco-friendly manufacturing principles. Environmental consciousness is high in the largely rural environment of the South West of England, meaning that visitors can look forward to seeing plenty of exhibitors who put sustainability first. These include: Annie with Alex, Earth Squared, Latitude 50 Living, Moo Chuu UK, Purbeck Candles, and The Eco Friendly Card Co.

Designed & made in Britain
Last but definitely not least, we are a nation of independent shopkeepers, many of whom are keen to support other SME businesses which design and make their products here in Great Britain.  Consumers are also keen to support local businesses and to shop local wherever they possibly can. What better way to grow our own economy than buying British, be it delicious locally produced confectionary, beautiful handmade jewellery and fashion accessories, or hand crafted gifts and homewares.

The Designed & Made in Britain area is another reason why Giving & Living should be your first port of call for new season sourcing. Exhibitors already confirmed include: Angie’s Folk Art, Bramble Foods, Fantasy Candles, Farrah’s of Harrogate, Humblewood, Ink and Snail, Ivy and Twine Candles, The Devon Seaweed Company and Oriele Bronze.

Our MD Mike Anderson, said: “This year has absolutely flown by and thanks to another strong tourist season we’re now looking forward to a brilliant edition of Giving & Living this January.

Our show stands out in the exhibition calendar for the unique focus on coastal gifts and souvenirs, including specialty foods and plenty of fabulous, locally made gifts and accessories. Whether it’s beach balls, flip flops or sticks of rock, seashell jewellery, puffin prints or artisan ice-cream, we’ve got it all! We’ve also been delighted to see our Designed & Made in Britain sector grow as the consumer appetite for locally made products gets stronger by the day.

Retailers and other trade buyers are warmly invited to register for free and visit Giving & Living when the doors of Westpoint open on 14th January.

For more information about Giving & Living call 01934 733433, email mail@hale-events.com or take a look around the rest of the website.

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-features-the-best/feed/ 0
Giving & Living that little bit more! https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-that-little-bit-more/ https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-that-little-bit-more/#respond Mon, 16 Oct 2023 10:00:14 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=7984 2024 is fast approaching, which means that the first gift trade show of the year is just around the corner! Giving & Living takes place from 14th-16th January at Westpoint in Exeter. Our well-established trade show serves thousands of fantastic indie businesses through a unique mix of exhibitors and product categories.

As the earliest show in the exhibition calendar, Giving & Living takes pole position and gives you an advantage over competitors when it comes to ordering from favoured suppliers. This means that if you’re keen to get ahead of the hottest trends for 2024, there’s no better place than this to stake your claim on must-have merchandise.

Features at next year’s show will include the Coastal Path, Designed & Made in Britain and Naturally, reflecting the significant growth areas for retail, and the locally made, sustainable ethos that drives the independent trade.

Recent additions to the exhibitor list include Artisania, Charlie Bears, Widdop and Co, Ivy & Twine Candles, By Jo Crafts, White Goose Collections, Neils Designs, Bramble Foods, and MOO CHUU UK, who have joined others such as Berber Leather, Instant Gifts International, SH Sales, Richard Lang & Son, Coastal Accessories, Pineapple Island and Wilton Bradley.

Retailers can look forward to seeing Westpoint filled with exceptional suppliers who cross the board from souvenirs, toys, homeware, gifts, and greetings cards to handmade crafts, fairtrade gems, fashion accessories, confectionary, crystals, and ice-cream.

For more information about the show call 01934 733433, email mail@hale-events.com, or carry on looking around this website. Registration is now open – so why not register for your free trade entry badge now.

 

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/giving-living-that-little-bit-more/feed/ 0
A fresh pair of eyes! https://givingliving.co.uk/a-fresh-pair-of-eyes/ https://givingliving.co.uk/a-fresh-pair-of-eyes/#comments Tue, 03 Oct 2023 11:34:58 +0000 https://givingliving.co.uk/?p=7957 It’s that time of year again – everyone’s back from their holidays, and all eyes in the office are firmly focused on Giving & Living 2024! If you’re not familiar with the show, we thought we’d show it to you through a fresh pair of eyes. This year our digital marketing apprentice Joe attended the show for the first time, so we asked him what he thought…over to him!

Introduce us to Giving & Living!

The Giving & Living trade show is unique to the South West, bringing suppliers together who are proud of the products they design, produce, import, and supply. Exhibitors have three whole days dedicated to showcasing their gift, coast, and home products to local visitors and those who have travelled hundreds of miles to visit the show, and those visitors can discover new products and ideas. It’s also great starting position for anyone thinking about starting their own business or wants to see what’s happening in the market right now.

Of course, it’s a serious day out, for everyone involved, but it’s also been made to be an enjoyable day out and one you can look forward to. It’s definitely one for the diary for anyone in the industry, that’s for sure.

What was it like preparing for your first trade show?

As a first-year apprentice with the organisers at Hale Events, I was surprised by the high level of planning that is done to create and run this show. Upon my first visit I was impressed by the sheer scale of the place and how much effort and preparation that exhibitors put into the buildup of the event.

Walking through the empty halls, soon to be filled with people, I recognised well-known businesses such as TY and their cuddly toys, as well as British Fossils who are known for their colourful range of rocks, and minerals. It became clear to see that each exhibitor’s stand had been set up super well, and these businesses really do take their time investing in the setup of their stands, before the doors open to the public.

I was a part of the team responsible for setting up the Coastal Product Revealed area, the place where selected products from the Coastal Path are showcased. I put together the white shelves for items to sit on and tagged them with the company names and stand numbers. It seemed like everyone had a specific job during buildup and they did it well.

What’s the show like?

The show’s opening day was fantastic. Witnessing everything come together was even more rewarding since I’d played a part in it. The halls were buzzing with trading. My main role at the show is to ensure everyone stays well-informed and up to date with what’s happening at the event, posting live updates across our social media platform pages, like FacebookInstagram, and X.

I walked the hall regularly during the event, discovering new products that exhibitors were presenting, and posting about their cool and interesting displays. I even posted updates about the live artists presenting their work. One of my favourite parts about my apprenticeship is getting to chat with the exhibitors and having the chance to glance at their new ranges of products, it’s like a glimpse into the future!

Exploring the world of gift and coast
I got to meet some cool people, and we had some great conversations about their products. It opened my eyes a lot to all the unique and creative minds in the South West, and I got a sense of understanding how businesses operate at trade shows. Businesses can network with potential customers and strengthen existing relationships and even have the opportunity to launch new products.

The owner of Time and Tide Aerial, who is a landscape drone photographer, has turned her hobby into a thriving business. What stood out to me was how she’s transformed her passion into a success story. That takes determination.

Another exhibitor, Bennett Gifts had crafted normal mugs to represent coastal animals. I thought a mug was a mug, but I was wrong, this mug had a handle crafted to replicate a crab arm! I thought it was just genius! A question for any seaside lover out there; how cool would it be to drink your morning coffee with that? Not only does it represent sea life, but it showed how creative some of the minds who exhibit at the show are. The Giving & Living experience isn’t one you forget!

Trends and innovation
If you’re in the South West and looking for coastal products or just seeking the latest gifts and trends, this is the place to be. I don’t think you can find this focus anywhere else, especially not all under one roof. The great thing about Giving & Living is that there are fresh and exciting products every year, making the event one not to miss.

Challenges and learning
One tough thing was how fast the days flew by. It was quite a challenge making sure the live show updates were staggered but being posted at the right time and providing our audience with up-to-date information. I learned to think quickly on my feet as the show is a busy environment, and visitors and exhibitors can need assistance, at any time, with anything!

I also got a great firsthand insight into how businesses set up their booths and attract customers, I met many people in the gift industry, and improved my social media skills for keeping the show’s audience in the loop.

If you’re reading this, I do recommend checking out the show, it’s a fun day out and there are always new things to discover there. You’d be surprised how many creative minds are in the South West, that’s for sure!

What are the team like?
Hale Events are a great team of organisers, they love working together, not only with the team but with the exhibitors too! Having years of experience, they know what they’re doing, and have created and maintained long-standing relationships with clients, as well as being really good at looking after new clients, so the show felt really friendly.

Working as part of the team at Hale Events I’ve had a great insight into the behind-the-scenes of planning and executing a successful event, all from one office. I’m looking forward to seeing the event second time around and having a chance to see all the latest ranges of products again!

And there you have it – a new view of Giving & Living for you! Take a look around the website for more details if you’d like, or why not just register to attend now? Now you’ve ‘met’ Joe, say hi if you see him at the show in January!

]]>
https://givingliving.co.uk/a-fresh-pair-of-eyes/feed/ 1