showUP, the leading trade exhibition for the BeNeLux region, will return for its first spring edition in 2 years from April 3-4 at the Expo Haarlemmermeer in the Amsterdam Area, near Schiphol Airport.
showUP focuses on buyers from home and gift stores, concept stores, webshops, department stores and museum stores. Stylists, press and bloggers also come along to get inspired. More than 350 exhibitors will participate in the show, from both its native Holland and surrounding countries, varying from small start-up labels and young designers to well-known brands from all over Europe. And that is what makes showUP so charming: big international brands stand side to side with upcoming labels and young designers.
Pictured Above: No More Plastic and below: House of Products, Sweet Palms Jewellery, Pluto Produkter, Pino Pets
Home & Giftware magazine has long been the sole UK media partner for showUP and we are thrilled to see leading British companies such as Denby, Caroline Gardner and Roger la Borde (all pictured below) joining the continental contingent in Amsterdam, keen to tap one of the most important export markets for the UK and a leader in design-led contemporary giftware. The Netherlands has long been a leader in the field of contemporary design-led gift and homeware – a natural complement to its world-renowned architecture – and is an exciting country for retailers keen to understand the trends that shape our industry.
The first edition of showUP took place in February 2013. Together with just 20 brands. Organiser Daan Trigt says: “We wanted to show that a trade show could be fun, inspiring and different. The existing exhibitions did not respond to changing market conditions and we saw opportunities for a new event. We picked an industrial venue Amsterdam North as the location to present our concept. The reactions were overwhelming. Visitors were excited about the new layout combined with the striking location. Participants were and are still positive about the turn-key concept. The three editions that followed were getting bigger and better, showUP attracted more public and big brands joined us”.
Pictured below: Daisy May Collingridge Illustrations, Liliputen, Koberg, Paveau, Modern Vintage Wooden Toys, Storytiles, The Watson Collection, Zuny
In 2015, showUP moved to the Expo Haarlemmermeer, which offered space to grow, has excellent parking facilities and has a great look and feel. By now, showUP has grown to be the leading Dutch trade show with more than 350 participants and 6,000 visitors.
It also goes without saying that Amsterdam is a great place to combine business with pleasure and easily accessible from the UK by either boat, plane or train. The city is teeming with fantastic restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes and shops for those who fancy a long weekend away whilst they’re sourcing new products and looking for inspiration.
All covid restrictions will be dropped in The Netherlands from March 23.
Above: Oh My Gum, Upper Canada
