In just over a month’s time Giving & Living opens its doors, and will bring together up to 250 exhibitors and 3000+ retail buyers. At last count, 41 of these exhibitors are doing the show for the first time. Of these, 10 are brand new companies, who have never ever done a trade show, so you can’t have seen them anywhere else!
We have always been proud to play a part in introducing these Newcomers to the market. One of the biggest challenges new companies have is getting their products to market. The show offers special rates for them, giving them the opportunity to introduce their products to potential customers, and pick up important new contracts. It’s great to see them blossom, and to help them join the ranks of successful SW businesses. This year’s Newcomers cover a wide range of products – from handcrafted stone sculptures for the home & garden, sheepskin rugs, calendars, ceramics & cards, bold & beautiful home furnishings and printed souvenir slate coasters, to silver jewellery. Here’s a little taster of who they are and what they do:
Devonshire Stone.
Devonshire Stone create magical hand crafted stone creations for the Home & Garden. Each character & wall plaque is brimming with detail, thought & style. All their products are designed in house, & made from reconstituted stone. They’re working very hard on their stunning show stand & are looking forward to showcasing their fantastic product range – from their stunning Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland collection, to their Fairy Garden Houses, to moon gazing hares & more! (Stand A601).
Dollyhotdogs.
Artist & illustrator Dollyhotdogs designs bold and beautiful home furnishings, giftware and kitchen textiles. Now settled in Devon with her family, she has a passion for still life and food illustration and is inspired by the beautiful scenery and produce of the region. This has led her to develop a range of original contemporary watercolour illustrations, digitally printed onto greetings cards, prints, notebooks, bags, tea towels, aprons and cushions, which are all made in England. (Stand A711).
Claire Vaughan Designs.
Inspired by Britain’s countryside, gardens, wildlife, & coast, Claire’s original artwork can be found on a range of handmade &/or hand finished products, including cards, prints, bookmarks, bottles, glass coasters, and bone china mugs. A range of textiles is also in the pipeline. Based in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley, she designs and manufactures gifts and stationery, using materials sourced from across Britain. Quality, fair pricing and, wherever possible, environmental responsibility reside at the heart of all that she does. As well as her ‘off the shelf’ products, Claire accepts personal and corporate commissions, licenses work and offers copyright deals. (Stand A605).
That’s just three of our Newcomers – look out for the special Newcomer sign at the show and meet all the others too. It’s a great opportunity for you to spot emerging talent and products before your competitors!
