Top Drawer London saw the highest number of visitors in the show’s history at London’s Olympia from the 15th-17th of September. Surpassing the record number set in 2006, 8557* (pending audit) retailers attended the show over the three days, creating a buzz that suggested that more positive times are ahead.
Barbara Wiggins Ltd commented: “The atmosphere was great at Top Drawer. It had a clean, crisp, optimistic and positive feeling from the beginning. We had a brilliant Sunday and Monday, writing orders from open to close. The show brought in a great cross-section of buyers and there is definitely more confidence in the marketplace, which was evident here. Thank you for a great show!”
Retailers present at the show were impressed with the quality of exhibitors at Top Drawer, many taking to Twitter to share their thoughts. @naturalbed said: We had a great day at @TopDrawerLondon trade fair - very busy and had a great buzz. @TheDesignTrust said: Being @TopDrawerLondon today talking to exhibitors it felt like there was optimism in sales that hasn't been there in last 3 years or so. @Natural_History said: @TopDrawerLondon I think it has the best line-up of exhibitors it's had in years. So many strong new brands.
Neil Gaisford, Retail Portfolio Director, comments: "It was fantastic to see buyers out in force at Top Drawer. With a level of optimism back in the marketplace, and an enthusiastic response from the exhibitors, we are hopefully looking forward to a good Christmas trading period and strong Spring events for 2014."
Launching alongside Top Drawer September 2014 is the Autumn edition of Home, a strikingly-designed trade show dedicated to innovative and stylish homeware and interior accessories.
Home’s concept has been hugely successful in January where the event now hosts some of the world’s most influential homeware brands – 80% of whom have chosen Home as their exclusive UK event. Following extensive research and hundreds of face-to-face meetings with UK and international buyers and exhibitors, findings showed that a similarly stylish, dynamic London-based event in the autumn season is long overdue.
The arrival of Home, held between 14-16th September, is the first stage of exciting development plans for the Top Drawer brand in autumn. Together the two shows will have the power to attract significantly more UK and international buyers to London for the final event in the European buying season.
In addition to the launch of Home in September 2014, retailers can look forward to the show’s January event. Home and Top Drawer will run in colocation with one another at the first buying event of the 2014 season, offering retailers an unparalleled list of leading and exclusive brands to choose from.
New launch event CRAFT will also take place alongside the two shows. Launched with the support of Crafts Council, Ateliers des Arts France, Crafts Magazine and more, CRAFT offers a unique opportunity to see the work of 100 contemporary designer makers working across a wide range of disciplines, from glass blowing to textile weaving. Running CRAFT alongside Clarion Events will be Piyush Suri, Founder and Director of Handmade in Britain.
Clarion Events is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Rudge as Brand Director for Top Drawer, CRAFT and Home 2014. Ian currently works for Clarion as the Business Development Director for the retail portfolio, and was responsible for the launch of Home in 2012 and the current launch of Craft for 2014.
Ian is an experienced event organiser and Launch Director, having co-Founded 100% Design in 1995, and Tent London, a group of cutting-edge design shows at the Truman Brewery in 2007. Ian’s appointment as Brand Director is an exciting step forward for the January shows, with the three shows together offering an enhanced buying destination for retailers.
Ian Rudge comments: “Top Drawer Autumn provided positive boost to the spirits. Buyers were buying and there was a genuine sense of confidence and optimism amongst our buyers and exhibitors. It certainly provided the perfect backdrop against which to announce the launch of Home Autumn alongside a re-designed, re-invigorated Top Drawer in Autumn 2014.”
