Following the attendance of hundreds of foreign exhibitors and a 47% rise in registrations, Source Home & Gift, the premier global sourcing platform for home and gift, concluded on a positive note.
There were thousands of attendees, including business owners and directors from 12 different countries, sourcing and procurement specialists, and buyers. From September 1–4, 2024, retailers and brands such as Amazon, Homebase, Scribbler, Card Factory, Waitrose, B&Q, House Of Marbles, Blue Diamond, Widdop & Co, Cardology, RSPCA, Dunelm, Next, ALDI, TK Maxx, National Trust, and TikTok convened at the NEC Birmingham to explore the world’s top manufacturers and material suppliers in one location.
Every season, the program makes an effort to curate a roster of the world’s top manufacturers, artisan designers, and technology suppliers for Source Home & Gift; each supplier has undergone an accreditation and audit process and is prepared for business. “We are doubling down on championing responsibly made products and supporting makers and social enterprises that are truly making a difference to communities around the world,” says Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Home & Gift. Purchasing goods from these producers and contributing to community initiatives can significantly improve the lives of purchasers while also providing them with incredibly distinctive and high-quality goods. On the other hand, we take great pride in highlighting the outstanding producers and fantastic items that are emerging from industrial giants like China and India.
“Source Home & Gift persists in connecting international producers and craftsmen from eight sourcing locations with the UK consumer base, providing a more convenient, economical, and efficient platform for creating and obtaining novel materials and goods, partnered with reputable, verified brands and manufacturers that employ ethical production practices and ecological practices.”
The “Makers” sector, which will debut at Source Home & Gift in September 2024, has shed attention on craftsmen by showcasing a wide range of distinctive and superior handmade goods with smaller order quantities. These products include candles, glassware, fabrics, sculptures, and much more. Live demonstrations were also conducted to highlight these products.In addition to bringing a wide range of exquisite and ethically obtained goods to Source Gift & Home, this group of carefully chosen makers from Portugal, India, Peru, and other countries has given smaller artisanal producers the chance to meet sourcing directors and buyers.
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has provided support to Source Home & Gift so that the latter can showcase the diversity and genuineness of India by showcasing a number of live demonstrations by artisans at the Indian Pavilion. This allows Source’s International and UK companies to see a variety of beautiful, regional products. Exhibits included displays of exquisite Sozani embroidery, Cheriyal paintings on cotton or khadi, and much more.
“Source has evolved into a home for makers and manufacturers, as well as a hub for visitors to find artisan products in a well-balanced mix with seasoned manufacturers. It’s also an environment where visitors can learn about the making process and how to source more ethically and efficiently,” says Ellingham. This season has seen a rise in the number of returning consumers, a busy show floor, and a higher visitor density. In anticipation of the upcoming season, we plan to leverage the triumph of the “Makers” segment by augmenting the space and instituting a worldwide craft hub, accentuating India, Peru, Portugal, North Africa, and, significantly, the United Kingdom.
The necessity for a show that provides a secure environment for networking, finding new suppliers, and conducting business has been brought up by buyers at the event. Décor Sanctuary’s founder, Marcus Appleton, stated, “It’s my first time at the show and it’s been fantastic.” We’re searching for unique and specialized home décor items from around the globe while I’m here for two days. This list has a pretty nice variety of products and companies. The most memorable experience for me has been connecting with the proper individuals to conduct business with. I’ve met a lot of people, had conversations, learned about industry trends, and most importantly, handled the product with my own eyes.
Managing Director Andrew Turner of AMT Marketing, Guildford, We are looking for things to brand because we work in business merchandising and this is our first visit to Source Home & Gift. The show really impressed us; it’s excellent. It’s been good to solidify our relationships with the providers we’ve previously run into here. It’s fantastic that we have also identified new suppliers.
“This show is perfect for that,” said Amanda Wiliams, buyer at a new Herbase store in Liverpool. “I am looking for handmade, artisan products that are sustainably made.” I discovered some gorgeous wooden boxes, coconut bowls, and bamboo cutlery.
Belma Vardar, owner of London’s B Style Studio, remarked, “There are many foreign manufacturing suppliers at this fantastic show. Even though we are searching for inspiration for personalized gift, textile, and jewelry designs, we have also noticed some recent items that we would like to source! This expo offers a fantastic chance to sell goods in a specialized market where there is little competition.
Positive feedback from exhibitors during the expo indicates that attendees are of a high caliber and prepared to place orders. As Aymet Alcahuaman Torres of Sumaq Qara put it, “We’ve had a great show.” We’ve closed some orders and established some excellent relationships with some major corporations! It’s been amazing meeting retailers and stores like TK Maxx.We’re already re-booked for February.”
Many of this season’s exhibitors, like Yusuf Shakir of Clearance Giant, who stated, “We’ve loved the show,” have already rescheduled for February 2025. Large companies are now aware of our identity, capabilities, and products, so overall, it’s been great. Along with meeting some extremely large organizations like B&M and Amazon sellers, we’ve also added new clients and connected with some of the most significant online vendors in this market. We are eager because we already have a larger stand and more things for February.
“It’s really important to be able to see upcoming trends and a lot of products in one go,” said Lauren Howells, buyer at WHSmith’s Travel. It’s quite helpful to be able to walk throughout Source Home & Gift, observe various vendors, and have everyone in one location so you can truly identify who and what you’re wanting.
On the Responsible Retail Stage, Retail 100 continued to provide insightful panel discussions on topics including circularity, how to reduce company risk and strengthen supply chain resilience, and where to find and stock new product categories like toys, candles, ceramics, and home textiles. The speeches from the Responsible Retail Stage will soon be accessible at https://www.source-homeandgift.com/content-hub.
Go to http://source-homeandgift.com.
The dates of the upcoming Source Home & Gift event are February 2, 5, 2025, in NEC Birmingham.
