The UK Gifting Industry: 5 Big Business Events You Need to Attend

Posted on 17th April 2023

The 2022 UK business event sector was worth £70 billion. As a sector, it provides significant business and employment opportunities, but it is also a vital process for the success and endurance of every sector across the UK amidst cost-of-living concerns.

Attending business events is useful from a networking perspective, but it can also inform businesses about current trends in the market, the future of business, and your place within the larger scheme. This is a great opportunity for you to find new businesses, get your own company’s name recognised, and keep up to date across industries.

Here, we will explore some of the big business events happening in the UK in 2023 that you should be attending and why.

London Stationery Show

The London Stationery Show will be held for two days between the 16^th–17^th May 2023 at the Business Design Centre. This is a terrific opportunity for businesses to scout stock providers or sell their stock to other businesses. Whether you are a buyer, retailer or dealer, this is an opportunity for businesses in the stationery industry to discuss the market, network, and discover new stock.

This is a free event for businesses wanting to attend. In 2022, the London Stationery Show hosted over 150 different exhibitions from start-ups and innovative designers to some of the biggest brands in the UK stationery game. Some of the brands joining in 2023 include: Bookaroo, Lego Stationery, and Manuscript Pen Company. This is a fantastic opportunity, no matter your business size, to find brilliant new products and more.

British Craft Trading Fair

One longstanding event which could see you finding the perfect gifting stock for your business is the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF). This event has run for 45 years, with dates for 2023 on 16^th–18^th April taking place in the Harrogate Convention Centre.

This is a place for prospective designers, artisans, and independent creatives to showcase their creations for retail. Some of the artists associated with the event include: Christine Pike Sculptures, Altered Chic, and Islewear. Whether your business is looking to find the next sculptures to feature on your garden centre shelves or a glassworker for your shop floor, this could be the perfect place to find the best British craft.

Progressive Greetings LIVE

Progressive Greetings LIVE is the only business event of its kind dedicated specifically to the greetings card industry, and it is the perfect place to find card stock for your own businesses. For trade buyers, Progressive Greetings LIVE allows sector retailers to talk to experts, find products to suit their target consumers and experience the latest in the greetings card and gift dressings arena.

This event will take place between the 6^th–7^th of June 2023 at the Business Design Centre in London. Exhibitionists include Globe Enterprise, N Smith Packaging & Display, and UK Greetings. Whether you are looking for a card supplier who provides what you are looking for character-licensed card stock or a sustainable provider, this could be the perfect location for your business to network with a range of suppliers and examine their stock.

Glee

For those looking for garden and outdoor-specific retail business opportunities, the Glee business event is the perfect place to be. This will be taking place from the 27^th–29^th of June 2023 and will be held in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

The event is split into 10 sectors within the gardening industry, making finding the right stockist for you much easier. It also offers tailored events to help you grow your business. Through the event, you have the chance to meet market-leading garden centres, retailers, and department stores including Amazon, Homebase, and National Trust. So, Whether you are looking to expand your network or spend some time learning the best way to improve your business, Glee is full of opportunities for all businesses in the garden industry.

Brand Licensing Europe

Brand Licensing Europe is the big business event of the year for those looking to collaborate with branded names and gain copyright licences to characters and designs. This will take place in the ExCel Centre London for three days, from the 4^th–6^th of October 2023.

This is an opportunity to meet some of the biggest branded names in the game, but it is also a useful insight into the consumer market. Here, businesses can explore upcoming trends and new designs. Brand Licensing Europe is also a useful event when it comes to networking, with thousands of brand owners appearing each year – making this an informative and magical event for all businesses to find themselves at. Some companies you are likely to meet at the event include Boofle, TFI Licensing, and Pokémon.

Whether you are looking to find an upcoming artist excelling in their field or a recognisable brand name to decorate your shelves, attending big business events throughout the year can help you find the best and upcoming stock for your company. The networking opportunities of these events alone can help your business reach new heights. No matter your sector, national events which are catered towards specific industries, such as gardening or greetings cards, provide the best opportunity for businesses to learn and grow.