23 SHOWS & EVENTS This season’s most unmissable events Scotland’s Trade Fair news Scotland’s Trade Spring Fair saw returning confidence in the market with exhibitors and buyers in an upbeat, positive frame of mind at this key buying show for the gift market. Off the back of a successful retail season in 2022 in Scotland, buyers were feeling very positive about the year ahead and the leads and orders generated reflected this. Tourism is one of the key drivers of the gift market in Scotland and the early indicators for this year are very positive once again. One highlight of the show was the Best Product awards judged by retail experts Sarah Gordon from Luss General Store, Charmaine Fox from Caulders Garden Centres and Amy McCusker from Wee Box. They were impressed by the standard of the entrants as well as the pricepoints, design and creativity, making choosing winners very difficult. Amy McCusker said: “From innovative design to stylish gifts, the entrants and winners of the awards alike should be proud. It is inspiring to see the industry pushing the envelope and emerging from two years of the pandemic with renewed determination.” The winners are listed below. The Talking Shop Seminar Theatre hosted a series of wellattended informative and relevant talks on all aspects of retailing, including masterclasses on social media and online content, panel discussions with leading influencers and the ever- favourite Nessie’s Den, where new young companies pitch to retailers in a light-hearted session. The Show also welcomed a visit from Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism & Enterprise, who toured the show and spoke about support for Scottish businesses. Best Product Award Winners Cards and stationery Gold – The Wee Book Company – children’s book Silver – Pop Up Designs – light up birthday card Bronze – Pink Pig – cards Home & Gift Gold – Fiona Matheson Studio – Block in a Box Silver – Love Scottish Candles – natural wax candle Bronze – D&C Supplies – Highland cow hot water bottle Textiles, Jewellery & Fashion Accessories Gold – Amy Britton – Harris tweed and recycled plastic laptop case Silver – Glen Ogal – Bamboo sunglasses Bronze – Nixey -Sporran handbag Launch Gallery Gold – Lin Pin Crafts – needle felting starter kit Silver – The Ink Balm – nature’s butter for tattooed skin Bronze – Victoria Gordon Art – stag tea towel The 2024 Show is from 21st –23rd January 2024, while the Autumn Show is on the earlier date of 20th –21st August 2023. For more information, visit: www.scotlandstradefairs.com Shows, news & events Diary dates London Stationery Show 16th-17th May, 2023 Business Design Centre, London www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk h+h americas 21st-23rd June, 2023 Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Centre Rosemont, Chicago www.hh-americas.com Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn 20th-21st August 2023 www.scotlandstradefairs.com Autumn Fair 3rd-6th September, 2023 Birmingham NEC www.autumnfair.com h+h americas expands After a strong initial launch in North America in 2022, anticipation is building towards the next h+h americas set for 21st –23rd June, 2023. The event will take place again at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Centre in Rosemont/Chicago. The June dates have been carefully selected to provide buyers with seasonal offers from the entire handicraft industry. h+h americas is a B2B trade show with a comprehensive conference programme organised in partnership with the Craft Industry Alliance and open to Influencers, Professional Crafters, Etsy Sellers, Content Creators and everyone who makes a living in crafts. As an offspring of the world’s leading textile handicraft trade fair in Cologne, Germany, the show is a response to strong US demand for a unified trade show on US soil. The US market consists of 30 million Americans that crochet, knit, sew, quilt or embroider. The inaugural 2022 event combined 2,000 attendees with 200 exhibitors who displayed a wide range of products from yarn, fabric, art, craft materials to toys and pastimes. Many attendees praised the high share of international product lines from 39 countries normally not seen before in the US. Due to strong interest among buying groups the 2023 event will now broaden its product categories to include craft, hobby and artists’ supplies. Buyers will have access to materials and tools for scrapbooking, papercraft, rubber stamping, painting, handicrafts, sewing, modelling, and decorating to high-quality papers and paints, easels, inks, pens, markers, brushes and adhesives as well as graphic accessories and cutting tools. For more information on exhibiting, speaking or attending contact: Darrin Stern, d.stern@koelnmesse.us or visit the website: www.hh-americas.com
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