UK – The autumn edition of the Merchandise World was held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on September 13, 2023 amid beautiful sunshine. In the run-up to the show, the joint organisers, the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) and Sourcing City, had announced that a record number of trade visitors from the promotional products trade had registered to attend. Then on-site nearly 500 guests were counted, which was a new record. The interested visitors were received by 98 exhibitors (2022: 85 exhibitors), eight of whom were newcomers to the show.
The show day kicked off with a free breakfast, which according to the organisers was followed by a vibrant atmosphere in the exhibition hall. The attendees were evidently overjoyed to be able to meet up again. The free lunch, the opportunity to relax during a massage and a mobile tea trolley that provided in-between refreshments were also aspects that were very well-appreciated.
Innovative and environmentally-friendly products dominated at the stands. Sustainable products were additionally on display in the special Eco World zone. It was possible to download information on the articles via a QR code, so that the visitors were able to carry information on the products conveniently around with them in their mobile phones and also allowed the respective suppliers to call up all necessary items. This offered the exhibitors the ideal opportunity to draw attention to their own line-ups and also show them to those visitors, whom they possibly didn’t have chance to chat with at their own stand. The trade show organiser, Ella Long, commented, “Seeing the show hall buzzing is always great for everybody. There was lots of feedback from visitors thrilled with the new products and suppliers they had discovered and the exhibitors felt that both the quality and volume of the visitors was exceptional. Time to prepare for January now!”
The next spring edition of the Merchandise World is being staged at the CBS Arena in Coventry on January 24–25, 2024. The autumn edition is scheduled for September 11, 2024 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes once again.
Photo source: Sourcing City
