If there’s one UK industry we think needs a little more attention, it’s the giftware industry. Throughout Britain, gift trade shows consistently offer opportunities for business growth and expansion. Whether you want to showcase your brand’s new products and services, connect with giftware professionals, or stay ahead of emerging trends, UK Gift Trade Shows have got you covered!
If you’re a CEO, event planner, or marketing manager from a B2B retailer or wholesaler, these gift events are essential for sourcing new products, building partnerships, and gaining insights into the latest market shifts. Whether you’re launching a new product line or expanding into the UK market, exhibiting at a gift trade show can drive brand exposure and kickstart business growth.
In this article, we’ll explore giftware industry trade shows in the UK, discovering why they can be so valuable and which ones you can target as a supplier.
Importance of gift trade shows UK
According to the UK Giftware Association, the value of the UK giftware industry stood at a whopping £9.3 billion in 2024. With the end of the pandemic and the continued rise of the British e-commerce sector, the industry is projected to continue its upward trajectory for years to come. Naturally, there’s no better way to capitalise on this growth than by attending some giftware industry trade events.
Besides exciting lead generation opportunities, gift trade shows allow associated independent stores and global manufacturers to connect and form business partnerships for the future. Indeed, networking in the gifts industry has never been easier with the help of some top industry trade events like the Spring Fair and the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair.
Finally, gift trade shows provide business owners an unbeatable opportunity to exhibit their newest gift items to a targeted audience; this setup allows for quality interactions where buyers can give instant feedback to suppliers. As any visitor can tell you, handling a new gift item in person is more efficient than judging it off a digital image!
Top 5 UK gift trade shows for 2025:
Spring Fair
When: 2-5 February 2025
Where: NEC Birmingham
Visitors: 35,000+
As one of the largest annual gift trade show events in the UK, Spring Fair is the nation’s top trade marketplace for wholesale home, fashion, and gifts. Products on display cover 13 definitive sectors, including festive, floral, and decorative offerings. When it comes to supplying special items for buyers’ retail collections, Spring Fair simply can’t be beaten. Moreover, the exhibitors here usually do product launches with licenced goods too, adding to Spring Fair’s prestige as the top gift exhibition in the country.
Top Drawer
When: 12-14 January 2025
Where: Olympia London
Visitors: 10,000+
With a special focus on new gifts and lifestyle products, Top Drawer another UK power event for the gifts and retail industry. Like Spring Fair, scores of attendees visit regularly, including key retailers from overseas. A few lucky exhibitors will even be eligible to win some awards. Overall, it’s a must-attend event for any successful independent retail store looking for their next best seller and the latest products in giftware.
Giving & Living
When: 12-14 January 2025
Where: Westpoint Exeter
Visitors: 4,000+
Both suppliers and buyers alike will find something relevant at Giving & Living, the largest UK gift exhibition in the South West. Held at the well-regarded Westpoint Exeter arena, the show offers free entry to registered professionals; this increases attendee numbers and offers gift exhibitors a better idea of where the market is headed. The slightly smaller venue also gives this show a more relaxed atmosphere for attendees to meet industry peers and explore at their own pace.
Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair
When: 12-15 January 2025
Where: Harrogate Convention Centre Yorkshire
Visitors: TBC
Seasonal gift buyers are usually the primary attendees for this more niche event, which deals mainly with the festive gifts industry. Still, more than 90 exhibitors are expected to attend in 2025 and there are usually many moments to meet suppliers and buyers. If Christmas gifts are one of your brand’s specialties, this accessible event will provide an unrivalled selection of festive gift buyers under one roof.
Scotland’s Trade Fair
When: 19-21 January 2025
Where: Glasgow SEC
Visitors: 3,500+
A more regionally focused event with great potential for UK businesses, Scotland’s Trade Fair covers a few selected gift sectors for seamless sourcing and supplying. Both established retail buyers and smaller innovative start-ups will attend; they’ll be available to chat with face-to-face, making the retail spaces at Scotland’s Trade Fair highly accessible. There’s no better trade exhibition international gift companies can leverage if they want to access the Scottish market.
Who exhibits what?
Visitor demographics vary by show and by region. Still, recent show reports indicate gift trade shows remain wildly popular with retail buyers and sellers, prominent industry leaders, suppliers, and other industry peers.
Some products that perform well at gift shows include home décor designs, luxury apparel, and tech gadgets. Certainly, this correlates with continuous changes to what consumers consider as “gifts”. Certainly, the chocolates, cards, and flowers of the past have since been supplanted by dynamic and personalised offerings.
No matter a visitor’s budget or occasion, there’s usually something for everyone at UK gift trade shows. As for suppliers, they’ll gain access to local and international buyers that drive business and help owners reach their sales targets.
Maximising your brand presence at gift trade shows
Let’s face it: nothing is worse than squandering a good opportunity. By preparing for your gift trade show appearance well in advance, you can be assured of exhibition success. Leaving critical tasks for the last minute will usually end in disaster!
With such high levels of attendance at gift exhibitions, it’s absolutely vital to stand out from competitors and keep your gift products and services memorable. One task you should begin to think about months in advance is your exhibition stand.
By making full use of a leading exhibition stand builder and setting up a strictly defined budget, you will have taken a major first step toward maximising your brand presence at your gift exhibition of choice. From creative and practical design to logistics, installation and more, an exhibition booth partner will give you critical assistance throughout
Conclusion:
Preparing for a gift trade show can be a complex and time-consuming process. From designing an eye-catching exhibition stand to managing logistics and post-event follow-ups, a lot of work is required to get it just right. Prospective buyers won’t settle for less!
That’s where Booth Exhibits™ comes in. We specialise in simplifying this process, offering tailored solutions that ensure your brand makes a lasting impression. With our expertise in modular and custom exhibition stands, we help businesses stand out, making the entire experience seamless from start to finish.
