Attire Accessories - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 75)

16 Check out all the important news and dates for your business diary… ON WITH THE SHOW BUZZ OF CONFIDENCE AT SCOTLAND’S TRADE FAIR SPRING Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring heralded a confident start to the new season, boasting the largest number of exhibitors for both the trade show and Scotland’s Speciality Food Show for a decade. The industry witnessed another busy tourist season in 2018, which kept footfall moving in many of Scotland’s independent shops, in particular those catering to overseas visitors. There is great confidence that this will continue into 2019 despite concerns over the global economic outlook and domestic political uncertainty. Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring had plenty to encourage orders at the show, with a huge range of gifts, homewares, jewellery, textiles, craft and speciality food and drink on offer. The Best Product Awards were a highlight of the show, with some talented exhibitors and a superb range of high-quality Scottish products scooping top awards. Seminars and workshops on a wide range of topics from social media to secrets for success were well-attended, and many commented on how useful these extra events are for retailers, who often struggle to find time time to learn new tips. Show director Mark Saunders said, “There was a real air of optimism at the show from exhibitors and buyers. Foreign buyers were also plentiful from predominately the U.S., Canada and Europe. Buyers were searching for high-quality, Scottish-made products, which are world- renowned for their excellence and commercial appeal. We are hoping that the 2019 season will be a profitable one for Scotland.” Visit scotlandtradefairs.co.uk JACKET REQUIRED REPORTS GROWTH THANKS TO NEW LAYOUT Trade show Jacket Required, managed by ITE Group, has reported increased visitor numbers for the January 2019 event. Attendees included UK and international retailers, buyers, department stores and independent boutiques, with the redesigned layout said to provide a more effective visitor experience over the course of the show, which drove footfall evenly across the venue. The In Talks With seminar programme, chaired by Caryn Franklin MBE, also proved a popular element thanks to talks from the likes of designer Christopher Raeburn, Han Ates from Blackhorse Lane Ateliers and Stacey Wood from King & Tuckfield. The summer edition of Jacket Required will once again take place at Old Truman Brewery on 24 th and 25 th July, 2019. Visit jacket-required.com