Are you still looking for products to fill your shelves this upcoming festive season? Then you can’t miss this weekend’s Reed Gift Fairs to find those new and innovative items for your store.
Held at Glebe Island for the last time before moving to the new and improved ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour in February 2017, Reed Gift Fairs has pulled out all the stops to ensure retailers will find everything they are looking for.
“Retail Therapy will make its Sydney September debut with a really powerful line up of expert led sessions on the Monday to help make a real difference to a retailer’s bottom line,” explains exhibition director Louisa Theobald.
“We’ll have more than 20 companies exhibiting for the first time in our First In Show area―this is an incredibly buzzy area at the front of Hall 1, which allows new and up and coming brands to put their products out there. Retailers love seeing what’s new and finding that super special range that will make their stores stand out. We’ll also be having a bit of fun with an island theme.”
Theobald says September is a really enjoyable fair and whilst there is serious business being done for the last period of the retail year, there’s a more relaxed ambiance. It is also the last chance of the year for NSW retailers to connect, network and do business.
“There are over 200 wholesalers, 80 of whom are brand new to the fair, so for retailers it really is the perfect opportunity to find that ready to go Christmas bestseller, top up on last minute stock ordering or to be inspired for their 2017 range.
“For wholesalers, 86 per cent of retailers who attend didn’t go to Melbourne August, so it’s a really important fair for meeting new NSW stockists.”
She adds that being the last show ever at Glebe Island, there’ll be mounting excitement about the move to Darling Harbour in 2017 and she anticipates much of the ‘show talk’ will be about this.
“We get goosebumps about Sydney February,” Theobald enthuses. “Iconic meets world class. Categorisation, feature F & B themes, a host of new exhibitors and refreshed stands. We’re challenging our wholesalers to bring an experience to their stand to really get interaction going―we want to bring the European trade fair buzz back to Australia.”
Between now and next February, Reed Gift Fairs will keep the industry regularly updated through its Retail Collective newsletter, EDMs and social media, as communication is key, says Theobald.
“Also, onsite at the show we’ll be flooding the foyers with customer service people so retailers and wholesalers need never be confused about where to go for direction or information.”
Reed Gift Fairs September starts this Saturday 17 September and finishes on Tuesday 20 September. The 2017 February gift fair will be held from 18 to 22 February, so make sure you mark it in your calendar!
By Marion Gerritsen
