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: Giving & Living.
Visitors to the exhibition, which will run from 14-16 January 2024 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.
Organiser, Hale Events, has now released the exhibitor list for the show, which is a must-visit event for anyone interested in coastal gifts and souvenirs, British handmade products, specialty 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 on the trails: 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.
Exhibitors in this sector include Dreya Glass, Kernowspa, By Jo Crafts, Nauticalia (celebrating 50 years in business at the 2024 show), Selah, The Sea Shed, Fat Giraffe, Proctor & Clark Coast & Country, JBA, Lugg Away and Weekend 365.
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, Jen Winnett Eco Artist, Latitude 50 Living, Moo Chuu UK, Purbeck Candles, The Eco Friendly Card Co.
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 trail 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, Annie with Alex, Berserks Glass Works, Bramble Foods, Fantasy Candles, Farrah’s of Harrogate, Humblewood (pictured), Ink and Snail, Ivy and Twine Candles, The Devon Seaweed Company and Oriele Bronze.
The managing director of Hale Events, 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”.
