Take note of these 8 UK-based trade fairs and shows

1. Merchandise World

Industry: Promotional Merchandising

This small but potent show is for those in promotional merchandising and product distribution. Regarded as the UK's biggest in the space, over 150 suppliers and businesses along with over 1,600 leaders and visitors come together at this event. Upcoming promotional products are showcased and a lot of valuable information about what the new year holds is shared, all of which would benefit any company in this space.

Unfortunately, their main new year event has recently passed, as it is normally one of the earlier events of the year, taking place 24-25 January. But it's something that you can definitely put in your calendar for 2025. The main event takes place at the CBS Arena, Coventry. For more information, visit: https://www.merchandiseworld.co.uk/.

2. Ideal Home Show

Industry: Home & Lifestyle

If you are looking to showcase the latest in your home and garden technology, look no further than the Ideal Home Show. With over 600 brands on display and a whopping 170,000+ visitor count, your brand would absolutely get some great visibility here. And that’s not all. 

This event lands some pretty big name celebrities who host seminars, demonstrations and Q&A's. Some of those names include:

• Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (best known for the BBC programme Changing Rooms)
• Martin Lewis (a money expert and finance mogul)
• David Domoney (author, broadcaster and well known horticulturist)

Many more will be present for this lineup as well!

Taking place at the massive Olympia London convention hall, there is plenty of space and possibilities to show off your brand. It will be here soon, starting on 11 March and going until 7 April! To learn more, please visit their homepage here: https://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk/.

3. HRC

Industry: Hospitality

Look no further than the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering show. Over 1500 suppliers across the food and drink industry come together to share ideas, technology and products. Visitors can take in the newest in kitchen equipment, food tastings, demonstrations and more.

This show has deep origins, debuting in 1935. Today this event brings in over 30,000 visitors and attracts plenty of well known names in the industry.

Visibility for you can be at an all time high here, so definitely put this on your list if your brand or company is in the space. The dates are coming quickly and only lasts for three days - from 25-27 March, and will take place at the ExCel London exhibition centre. Please look here for more information: https://www.hrc.co.uk/.

4. Automechanika Birmingham

Industry: Auto

The Automechanika Birmingham show is one of England's biggest auto trade shows. It is a show that has branched off from the original Automechanika in Frankfurt, Germany - widely regarded as the largest auto trade show in the world - so you can get an idea of its scale.

In 2023, over 500 businesses were in attendance, ranging from small garages, body shops and dealerships to the major international brands including (but absolutely not limited to) Airbus, Denso, Rolls Royce, BMW, Tesla, Jaguar and many, many more. Foot traffic also exceeded 14,000 overall visitors!

Now, the event will not happen this year unfortunately, but it will return between the days of 3-5 June 2025 at the National Expo Centre in Birmingham. We want this on your radar due to its grandeur, notoriety and size. Sounds interesting? Read more at this link.

5. London Tech Week

Industry: Tech

The UK tech space comes full circle at the London Tech Week. Seven full days of conferencing, networking, sharing of new technologies and company products will be sure to have you in the line of sight of some important eyes. It's a perfect match made in heaven for startups, investors and even policymakers.

Over five days, there will be over 350 speakers, over 45,000 visitors in planned attendance and more than 70 total events, this year will be its biggest yet, doubling in total size over last year. It will take place in Westminster at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. If your brand or company is in the tech sector, mark your calendars for 10-14 June 2024! Learn more about it here: https://londontechweek.com/.

6. London Textile Fair

Industry: Textiles

You cannot miss the go-to event for the showcasing of fashionable fabrics, clothing accessories, printing methods, studios and more. For those into promotional merchandising, this is a must have on your list of trade fairs as clothing can be a vital part of branding. Get inspired by checking out the 500+ exhibitors on display and take advantage of the attention of the 5,000+ visitors in attendance.

Considered to be the biggest textile fair in the UK and one the largest in Europe overall, if your company can find an appropriate showcasing of its products here, it can definitely help with brand visibility. We can of course help with that with our long range of trade show giveaways. You have time to make the decision to go as it is later in the year, taking place 3-4 September at the Business Design Centre in London. For more information, check out their site: https://thelondontextilefair.co.uk/.

7. Four Oaks Trade Show

Industry: Gardening & Horticulture

When it comes to gardening and overall horticulture in the UK, anyone in the space knows about the Four Oaks Trade Show. Taking place in a 13,000m² glass covered area in a 23 acre nursery site in Cheshire, this event is the go-to for horticulture business leaders, companies and overall enthusiasts. If your brand is in this industry, we highly recommend putting it on your calendar.

Last year, there were over 300 exhibitors with more planned this year, so we can expect great foot traffic for those who are interested in setting up a trade show stand there. The Four Oaks Trade Show will take place on 3-4 September, giving you plenty of time to plan ahead. Expect to see the latest and greatest in, but not limited to:

• Machinery
• Services
• Products
• Merchandise

There will be gardening brands from small shops to major corporations, well known professionals, farm shops, local florists and more. What more could you ask for? Check out the details here: https://www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com/.

8. UK Construction Week

Industry: Construction

The UK Construction Week is an interesting one because they have two dates, but both yield high visitor traffic, many companies and vendors. Their first show takes place in London 5-7 May at the ExCel centre and boasts well over 21,000 visitors. The second (and original) show taking place in Birmingham at the NEC is slightly larger, with over 30,000 visitors recorded last year and more expected this year over the dates of 1-3 October.

So take your pick! Either event will guarantee you some great visibility and important networking opportunities. There are many industry professionals showcasing new ideas, materials, services, new-age machinery and information. This event catapults the innovation and ingenuity of the UK construction industry further ahead, so we definitely would recommend keeping an eye on this for those within the space. Everything you need to know can be found here: https://www.ukconstructionweek.com/.

We hope this article has inspired you to consider getting involved with a trade show and recognising how to improve your brand potential. Remember, we have you covered if you want to take this next step with our extensive list of trade show giveaways and promotional products. Want to feel inspired? Check out our blog post on our picks for the 7 best trade show giveaways to attract customers!