The UK tourism sector has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the Coronavirus crisis. So the leading specialist gift trade show in the South West is aiming to give the region’s businesses a much-needed bounce back for 2021.
The Giving & Living trade show takes place from Sunday 17th – Tuesday 19th January, at Westpoint, Exeter, and will showcase the latest gift ideas and products for buyers to stock their shelves, get set up for the year ahead, and boost their profits. The event has been carefully redesigned to take on board the “new normal” – including putting safety measures in place as well as running it over a shorter period to help reduce costs for exhibitors.
The show’s new owners, Hale Events (which recently purchased this event from Hyve Group, having run it for them for many years), believe they have set the scene for 2021, by making this early season event more accessible to participants. The show also has a new look, with an updated identity and refreshed website.
“After the setbacks this year, we believe that 2021 will be a bumper year for ‘staycations’ in the UK,” says Hale Events’ MD Mike Anderson. “There’s a real pent-up demand for holidays that won’t be fully met in 2020 because of the ongoing restrictions. All the signs for 2021 are that the public will be taking record numbers of family holidays in the peak weeks as well as short breaks throughout the year.”
“The South West is the UK’s tourism hotspot – and so set to benefit the most. Everyone in the tourism sector will be looking for the new ideas that will pull in customers and get the tills ringing – and this show brings all those ideas together in one place. There really is no need to look further than Giving & Living.”
So what will exhibitors find different about this year’s Giving & Living? “We’ve spoken to exhibitors and asked them just how we can help them at a difficult time,” says Mike, “and many of them have been looking to trim their costs as they strive to get back into profit. We’ve responded by reducing the show to three days as well as cutting exhibiting costs across the board. We have also extended the really popular ‘Designed and Made in Britain’ area, by allowing new businesses who qualify access to this trade show for just £525, for one year only, and also reducing rates for returning exhibitors. We know from our post-show research that many buyers value this area highly, as it allows them to meet producers that they might not see anywhere else, and cater for the ever-increasing customer trend for sourcing products that both support local businesses and also reflect the area they’re visiting.”
Concludes Mike: “We’re aware that this year has been challenging for many businesses, and reducing the costs will allow more exhibitors to be at the show and meet the customers their businesses will need going forward. We’re looking forward to welcoming a host of new exhibitors – as well as visitors keen to see what will be setting the trend in the year ahead. If you’re looking to get next year off to a flying start, Giving & Living is the trade show that will inspire and provide the gifts that your customers want to take home with them – for friends, family, or as souvenirs of the holidays they’re finally able to enjoy.”
