Bringing products to decorators - Mayer House Business Media Ltd.

In an economic climate when time is a precious commodity coupled with a desire to be more eco-friendly (such as reducing travel) there are many garment decorators, your potential customers, who for one reason or another are not willing to make the trip to a national event. And it is for this very reason that a series of one-day roadshows have been launched. 

Commenting on the new series of regional exhibitions, aptly named: Garment & Product Decorating, organiser, Nick Carpenter, said, “Recently, some buyers have become increasing reluctant to visit national shows, due to the high costs at the venue and the time spent travelling on our congested road network.

“The solution to meeting these ‘missing’ buyers is to take an exhibition to their regions. This is why September 2008 sees the launch of ‘Garment & Product Decorating’ an exciting series of five regional exhibitions that will take an exclusive selection of products and services right to the local buyer’s doorstep.”

   Following discussions with a selection of garment decorators across the country, the locations selected for the 2008 series have been named as London, Bristol, Harrogate and Edinburgh.

   These regional exhibitions, which commence on September 21 in London, will undoubtedly serve as localised forums, yet on a scale of national event proportions. Explaining further, Nick said, “In providing companies based in the selected regions and served by each venue with the opportunity to visit an exhibition more local to them we believe will culminate in unrivalled reasons for them to attend. Not simply for the convenience, but due to the varied and exclusive range of products and services that will be exhibited.

   “We have ensured that each event will be staged in a quality venue, featuring ease of access and parking. In addition, for the exhibitors, being ‘regional’ means there is no requirement for vast ‘national show’ sized stands, making exhibiting and staffing costs more realistic than ever before.”

Continuing Nick said, “Experience with regional events in other market sectors has proven that visitors are more likely to develop positive business conversations on the stand rather than just collect literature as often happens at larger exhibitions.”

   Regional events are also exceedingly cost effective for exhibiting companies, as well as providing more exclusive promotion possibilities. Explaining Nick said, “The venues have been selected based on their ability to enable us to present an exhibition with ‘national’ quality shell schemes and lighting, yet remain compact enough to create a level of exclusivity not achieved elsewhere. This also means that as stand space is limited, exhibitors will not find themselves set alongside all of their competitors. And, with shell scheme packages starting from under £1000 these events are designed to make marketing budgets stretch further, whilst providing a unique opportunity to expand customer bases.”

   Each exhibition will play host to a variety of exhibitors from equipment suppliers through to promotional garments and products. And whilst exhibition space is at a premium, the organisers will ensure that a good mix is offered to the discerning visitor, hence the reason that interested companies should discuss their requirements with the organisers earlier rather than later to avoid being disappointed.

   In ensuring that the events are pitched correctly, Nick has arranged for each to play host to an organic/ethical product pavilion. Explaining he said, “Recognising the growing importance of sourcing ethical and environmentally friendly products, we are arranging for a variety of suppliers to exhibit garments, for instance, that are either Fairtrade certified, or use organic cotton.” 

   The use of organic cotton within the promotional wear, and in particular corporate wear, sector is a growing commodity and as recent surveys have highlighted (visitor polls at events such as PSI, TV Trade Fair etc) a vast proportion of attendees have specifically itemised eco-friendly, organic and Fairtrade as items that they are looking to source.

   Commencing next month, a focused multimedia campaign utilising magazines, ticket mailings and emailing techniques will channel visitor registrations to the 24/7 on line registration desk. 

21st September  - London

28th September  - Bristol

2nd November  - Harrogate

16th November - Scotland