Owner of the London Stationery Show, Ocean Media Exhibitions, has announced the launch of a new stationery trade show in Manchester.
The new Manchester Stationery Show will run for two days on Tuesday, 31 October and Wednesday, 1 November. It will be a specialist writing and paper products show, focused on design-led and fashion-forward product; run at the perfect time for buyers to select product for the New Year.
The show will take place in the heart of Manchester at the Cotton Sheds, part of the Victoria Warehouse venue in Old Trafford.
“The Cotton Sheds are a great piece of Manchester’s history, which have been developed into a modern, industrial space that we can make our own,” says Tim Willoughby, managing director of Ocean Media which owns the London Stationery Show.
The new show launch was decided upon as the London Stationery Show visitor data reveals a clear pattern of attracting a southern biased audience – with just over 65% of all visitors travelling to the show from London and the South East. This is reflected by national high street data which shows a 60/40 split in stationery and gift retailers based south and north of the Midlands.
The choice of Manchester as a location is based on its links not only to the north of England, but also the Midlands, making it well-placed to become a stationery magnet for the region. Easily accessible from both the North and South by car, train, tram and bus, the Cotton Sheds sit within a great transport network with a good choice of travel options for the show’s target audience.
Ocean Media already has access to the UK industry key players and to current retailer and buyer data.
The London Show attracts visitors from across the industry including booksellers, craft retailers, dealers and wholesalers, department and variety stores, gift and greeting card retailers, mail order and online business, visitor attractions, specialist print & copy shops and stationers and all the national supermarkets. Just under 50% of visitors to the London Stationery Show do not visit Top Drawer or the Spring Fair.
The Ocean Media organising team is aiming to attract more than 50 exhibitors showcasing around 150 brands. The specialist stationery trade show offer will be supported by key features; a seminar programme offering views from across the industry and insights into the latest trends and fashions, a Manchester LaunchPad to draw in new talent from the area, a Creative Hub to get visitors hands-on and engaged and a New Product Display area to showcase new developments.
“Stationery is on trend and in fashion. Research* has shown that growth will come from the trend of purchasing stationery as a gift, partly driven by increased personalisation, increased product ranges and design-led products and innovation. We want to share that message across the UK and support the growth of the stationery industry.
