Merchandise World Grows from Previous Year

Visitors arrived to a warm welcome at Merchandise World on the 24th and 25th January 2024 at the CBS Arena in Coventry. There was a clear enthusiasm from distributors and exhibitors as they looked forward to the UK industry’s biggest annual event.

Merchandise World in January 2024 had around 1,500 visitors from around 600 distributor companies. This was up 7% from the visitors who came in January 2023. The show was just 134 visitors short of the best-ever visitor year in February 2020, which significantly, was Pre-Covid. Since then, the number of people working in our industry is less due to distributor companies becoming leaner.

Visitor companies predominantly attended from the UK and Ireland, however there were also distributor visitors from the EU & USA.

The exhibition featured 40 new suppliers to the show and a total of 173 exhibitors, which was more than 7% up on the exhibitors in January 2023.

Overseas exhibitors represented 20% of all exhibitors. Several of these exhibitors’ presented products or services not readily available through UK suppliers. Others offered EU based services enabling distributors to order and deliver directly within the EU.

Many exhibitors now have a focus on environmentally friendly products, and this was evident from the new products presented in their ranges. The continuing move towards sustainable products is clear and ECO World proves an efficient way for visitors to identify the top environmentally friendly products in the show hall.

The recent UK Promotional Merchandise Market Report for 2023 indicated that the industry has grown 4% and is doing very well despite the mainstream media doom and gloom, UK & International political turmoil, plus the very real cost of living crisis. This assessment was borne out through from the many conversations that took place. The UK Promotional Market is now believed to have a spend of c.£1.2 Billion a year.

There was a clear air of positivity as people were pleased to meet both familiar and new faces. As everyone enjoyed the free breakfast and a real buzz could be felt throughout the show hall. The free lunch was a hit, as were the ever popular Massage Angels. The Roving Tea Trollies were also appreciated when people needed a quick refuel.

Show organiser, Ella Long said; “The exhibitors were delighted with both the quality and volume of the visitors, which was exceptional. We were delighted that everyone left the show with a smile and now we start planning for next time hoping to see everyone again – and some new faces are always welcome!”

If you didn’t manage to get to this Merchandise World, we hope to see you at the next show in September in Milton Keynes – it is always worth it, just ask anyone who came this time!

To see all the Merchandise World Show videos; please visit: www.youtube.com/@merchandiseworld1388/videos

To see all the Merchandise World Show photo albums, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/merchandiseworld/albums

PS: We would also like to thank our generous sponsors. To meet them, please click here.

————————————————————–

Dates for your diary, we look forward to seeing you there:

Wednesday 11th September 2024 – Marshall Arena, Stadium MK, Milton Keynes

Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd January 2025 – CBS Arena, Coventry