Posted by Danielle Harvey on 9 January 2024
This season’s show is a must-visit, as it’s jam packed with everything a retailer needs to start 2024 with a bang! Here are just some of the highlights to see and enjoy at Top Drawer:
Bigger and Better Than Ever
Following double-digit visitor growth in 2023, this January’s Top Drawer has seen a 10% increase in exhibitor numbers, bringing retailers an unparalleled choice of hand-picked suppliers to explore. Particular stand-outs include the Craft, Greetings & Stationery and Wellbeing sections, which have seen 55%, 25% and 15% expansions respectively.
New, New, New
Top Drawer is THE place to find the latest products and brands, with over 30% of this season’s exhibitors here for the very first time! Visitors will be able to browse captivating new products from both emerging talent and top brands including Ameico UK, Aurora World, Baa Baby, Banwood, Be Home Europe, Flamingueo, Flick Fashions, Fog Linen Work, Littlemore Candle Company, Natural by Hillbrush, Okkia, Paper Rose, Papier, Pickle Picnics, Pott Candles, SAHI London, Signare, The Somewhere Co., Widdop and Co., Wigiwama and many, many more!
Launchpad
The newness continues in the Launchpad sector - where brands are born. For those looking for freshest products and suppliers to hit the market, Launchpad is the place to be. Here visitors will find a showcase of 35 exciting new talents looking to make their mark, including Arcana Living, Fugafit, Ghost & Bonesetter, Kensho Heirlooms, Lolly & Kiks, Peachie, Plinthy, POTR Pots, Shaven Raven Designs, Sunshine Lane, and Tillie Rose Studio amongst a host of others. For many of these exhibitors, this is their first ever trade show, giving visitors access to these bold new products and designs before anyone else! The show is also excited to continue its partnership with the University of the Arts London, which will showcase hand-selected products from talented recent graduates who are eager to increase their brand exposure.
Spotlight Awards
In recognition and celebration of our exhibitors, Top Drawer are delighted to present the inaugural Spotlight Awards. These awards shine a light on stand-out brands across the show and the winners have been picked by an expert judging panel that includes the likes of Emma Hawkins from Fortnum & Mason, Preena Patel of the Design Museum, Priya Nobbs of Lark and Trevor Read from Adorn the Common. The winners will be announced at the Show Party at 5:30pm on Sunday evening.
RetailFest
One of the highlights of each edition of Top Drawer is Retailfest, a series of talks and panels featuring speakers, industry experts, and influencers from the retail sector, who this time will cover topics such as sustainability, social media, customer experience, and more. Through lively panel discussions, insightful interviews, and practical masterclasses, visitors will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, explore current trends, and learn from the experiences of thought leaders. Speakers include social media masters Kirsty Raper and Andie McDowell, Founder of Platform Retail Stacy Chan, a panel composed by The Giftware Association and many more!
Business Hub
Another valuable service that Top Drawer has to offer is the Business Hub, a free service that offers visitors the chance to gain personal business advice and actionable tips from industry experts. In private 1:1 appointments, visitors can discuss their current challenges and receive tailored advice and strategies to boost their business this season and beyond. Some of the experts include Nicola Snell, Founder of the show’s PR partner Press Loft, Ami Rabheru, Founder of Retail Huddle, wholesale expert Therese Oertenblad of Small Business Collective, Nicole Higgins, the Founder of The Buyer and Retail Coach to name just a few.
Trends
The Better Trends Co. will be returning to Top Drawer with their trends showcase, helping visitors stay on top of the latest trends - and ahead of their competition. The Better Trends Co. are the industry’s trusted forecasting experts, who will unveil their three top trends for the year ahead curated exclusively for Top Drawer. For buyers looking to ensure their new collection is bang on the money, this feature is a must-see as it will spark their inspiration as they shop the show’s outstanding line-up of brands.
Speaking of the show next week, Top Drawer Show Manager David Westbrooke had this to say “We can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors of Olympia London; with 10% more exhibitors than last year, a whopping 30% of which are brand new to the show, this edition is bigger and better than ever! Coupled with all of the content that we’re putting on across the 3 days, Top Drawer S/S 24 is the place to be this January - miss it, miss out!”
To discover all of this and more, be sure to register for your free badge today!
