Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 57 - July/August 2021

57 HOME & GIFT PREVIEW Heading home The much-anticipated return of Home & Gift’s in-person event is here, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before, with safety paramount In response to overwhelming industry demand and in-line with government guidelines, Clarion Events, the organisers of the summer trade buying festival, Home & Gift, has announced its intention to return to a live show format in Harrogate for 2021. Taking place from 18–21 July across the Harrogate Convention Centre and grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate, the show will offer the retail industry the first and largest face-to- face opportunity for buyers and brands to unite and do business in over a year. In planning for the show, the Home & Gift team extensively surveyed its audience to see how it could best provide solutions for their needs. An astounding 87% of buyers said they would attend the physical show in July. Echoing the same sentiment, exhibiting brands are also eager to return to in-person trade, with nearly all saying they are ready and willing as soon as the opportunity presents itself. This only reaffirms that retailers are missing the opportunity to see and feel products, and make those all-important personal connections that are so unique to a trade show setting. Zoë Bonser, portfolio director, said: “From its beginnings more than 60 years ago, Home & Gift, just like the retail industry it serves, has always kept people and connection at the heart. The team and I take great pride and responsibility in delivering meaningful opportunities for our network of passionate buyers and brands to come together, do business, learn from one another, and be inspired. After a truly challenging year, our community is telling us that what they really want next is a face- to-face event, so it’s our privilege to deliver a safe, welcoming and successful show for them in July.” With safety remaining paramount, Abigail Quesnel, senior operations manager, added, “Delivering a safe, secure event for everyone building, exhibiting at, and visiting Home & Gift in July is our number one priority. From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team and I have been working closely with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) who are liaising with the government directly on live event guidelines. We will continue to work with both of them and our suppliers over the coming months to monitor the situation as it evolves, adhering to guidelines in every way as, together, we plan for the summer event.” IN BRIEF: When: 18-21 July, 2021 Where: Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate www.homeandgift.co.uk Clarion launches trade e-commerce platform Clarion has launched its new trade e-commerce platform, named Reveal. Designed to complement the existing live show offerings of Home & Gift, January Furniture Show, Manchester Furniture Show, and Top Drawer for suppliers, it will be a 24/7 digital shopfront, placing products at eye-level for the UK’s largest network of sought- after buyers. For retailers, it will be a daily dose of product discovery, and an opportunity to source, connect and buy, as well as learn and be inspired.