Today marks the opening of Source Home & Gift, the top global sourcing platform for home and gift. The event, which brought together a global lineup of artisan makers and audited manufacturers to support items manufactured ethically and sustainably, reported a very successful first day of business.
Run concurrently with Autumn Fair, Source Home & Gift is a four-day event at the NEC Birmingham that offers a diverse showcase of homewares, furniture, gifts, toys, textiles, packaging, and stationery and greetings from countries such as Peru, South Korea, Portugal, the Philippines, Egypt, Nepal, China, and India. It continues to be a valuable platform for responsible sourcing.
Visitors eager to learn about the items and the tales of the makers greeted the inaugural Makers section with enthusiasm, since it provided a dedicated space for artisan artisans. In order to portray the authenticity and diversity of India’s craftspeople, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) partnered with Source Home & Gift to host live demonstrations in the Indian Pavilion. As a representative of handicraft producers and exporters throughout India, EPCH has established India as a top destination for sourcing the finest handcrafted presents and lifestyle items.
Geographical Indications (Gls) are distinctive goods that come from a particular area and are well-known for their special attributes, standing, and cultural history. These priceless items, which are frequently handcrafted by native American tribes, represent the soul of Indian territory. Global recognition and traditional knowledge preservation are combined with a substantial income gain from Gls for these communities.
The live demonstrations showcase the beautiful, regionally-specific products of India while also celebrating its rich diversity. The stunning Cheriyal paintings on cotton or khadi fabric, the exquisite needlework of the Sozani artisans, the elaborately decorated terracotta clay crafts of the Villianur artisans, the Warli tribal art paintings, the Nagina wood carving arts, the bronze sculptures, the Kutch Bandhani tie-dye, the lac bangles made from peepal trees and natural vegetable dyes, and more were on display for the visitors.and a demonstration of Muga Silk, an Assamese product renowned for its exceptional resilience and sun protection capabilities.
A group of Indian producers focused on empowering women via business is available at the Mawe (Madhya Pradesh Association of Women Entrepreneurs) Pavilion. The Madhya Pradesh Association of Women Entrepreneurs’ founder and chairman, Dr. Archana Bhatnagar, states, “We have received a good response to all of our handcrafted products by our women entrepreneurs.” At Source Home & Gift, we locate the clients that we desire.”
Based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, Claybotik is a handcrafted lifestyle functional ware business that specializes in hand block print bed and table linens and pottery, the oldest and most popular art form in the world.
Teesha is a high-end designer lighting and décor firm based in Bengaluru that redefines contemporary lighting with sculpted forms and eco-friendly materials by fusing innovation and legacy. Lighting becomes an art form thanks to designs that are painstakingly created to infuse elegance into every shape.
With the goal of becoming a catalyst for the creation of a vibrant and encouraging environment that may promote artistic expressions and introduce artists’ work to a wider audience of prospective art buyers and design enthusiasts, Hissa is an art project that aims to develop, collaborate with, and connect with up-and-coming artists. Each original Hissa Art sculpture tells a distinct tale of its own.
Sumaq Qara, a native of Lima, Peru, is passionate about bringing traditional Peruvian crafts to life. She is committed to producing handcrafted, genuine, environmentally friendly, and high-quality textile crafts for the global market and is also committed to supporting fair trade principles, protecting the environment in our neighborhood, and empowering women who have been victims of domestic abuse and terrorism.
There’s been a great vibe of positivity throughout the opening day, according to Suzanne Ellingham, Director of Sourcing, Source Home & Gift. Source Home & Gift is a two-part exhibition that features some very amazing items from industrial giants like China in addition to exquisite, high-quality items from artisan manufacturers in Peru and India. For a show focused on responsible sourcing, Source Home & Gift offers an unmatched selection, depth, and quality of products.For our audience, it’s a very attractive product. The purchasing public is becoming more and more aware of Source Home & Gift’s offerings as we continue to expand our selection and as they grow to value the high caliber of the goods we provide.
“Looking around Source Home & Gift is a trigger; you can specify your needs to suit your requirements, and the exhibitors can react to these,” explains visitor Vikram Avasthi, owner of Homescapes, West Midlands. After the show, you can start relationships that will grow. Here, the main Chinese industries are well-represented.
“We have had a great day, the response has been good, and we have had a few orders from new buyers,” says exhibitor Sheetal Dhawan, founder of Shreeya Fineries.
It’s my second time exhibiting at Source Home & Gift, and it’s been a really fantastic exhibition, according to Hongyan Ni, Director of Hangzhou Shoyi I/E Co. Ltd. Many consumers who stopped by our booth expressed interest in the merchandise. We are thrilled with our first day here because some people want to be our distributors.
Source Home & Gift offers the Responsible Retail Stage, which hosts daily workshops with globally recognized industry specialists, in addition to hundreds of manufacturers and artisans. The first speaker was Insider Trends’ Head of Trends, Jack Stratten, who discussed the importance of history and tradition in storytelling and sourcing.
The presentation walked attendees through the consumer trends that have been propelling the evolving retail scene, as well as the effects of AI and the significance of storytelling in separating ultra-fast fashion’s AI-driven growth from new business models that support consumers’ desire for luxury. “Consumerism is currently polarized all the time, especially when it comes to spending. Rarely will you sell to a customer who is solely concerned with price. If your goal is to provide value for your money, you run the risk of offending those who value quality, and vice versa—you can’t pursue luxury at the expense of those who value pricing. One does not exist without the other.
Stratten went on, providing insightful updates on artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is changing the landscape of digital commerce and consumer mindset to meet the growing demand for curation and storytelling. She said that 87% of customers start their product searches online and that the average customer interacts with a brand through 20 different channels, demonstrating how the retail industry is vying for customers’ attention. How can brands overcome consumers’ awareness when they can’t compete with the ultra-fast brands? Here’s when narrative becomes crucial. In the retail industry, we might have a bias, but it’s impossible to deny the value of incorporating storytelling, artistry, and originality. Customers will follow if you adhere to the core of identity and being and concentrate on culture-led storytelling.
Louise Welsby, Managing Director of Buy, and Therese Oertenblad, Founder of Small Business Collaborative, had a “Fireside chat: revitalizing the high street – how to re-engage and evolve alongside it” after that. In recent years, there have been major alterations to the high street. Businesses have had to quickly adjust in order to balance their presence in both physical and digital locations due to shifting consumer preferences. Finding fresh approaches to reconnect with the high street is essential for shops and brands as in-person shopping experiences make a comeback.
Oertenblad started off by highlighting how crucial it is to give customers individualized experiences in stores. Everything has changed since COVID, and more and more people are shopping online. These days, it’s critical for retailers to combine offline and online strategies to offer distinctive experiences,” she stated.
Welsby emphasized how sustainability is becoming more and more important. “We can no longer afford to ignore wiser decisions; sustainability will soon become a top priority for all of us. Customers will support your firm if sustainability is viewed as a key component. Retailers ought to view this as a chance for business expansion. Tell your clients everything, even the little things, like the background information on the vendors you choose and your reasoning for doing so.
The conversation came to a close with these important points:
- Transparency is Key: Therese counseled, “You don’t have to do everything perfectly, but you must be transparent about your efforts.”
- · Accept Technology: Louise emphasized, “Accept AI and learn how to use it; it can greatly increase your productivity.”
- Emphasis on Authenticity and Values: Both presenters stressed the significance of outlining your company’s basic values and mission statement in plain language.
The Responsible Sourcing Stage will feature retail consultant Ian Scott talking about “The merging roles of technology and humans in retail,” Mike Coates, Assistant Director, Fashion Retail Enforcement from the CMA talking about “The importance of accurate and truthful environmental claims,” Sara Allbright from Retail 100 talking about “Retail 100’s Regional Intelligence: How to source in new regions – near shore vs far shore?,” and a panel discussion with moderator Andrew Goodacre, CEO of BIRA, Stuart Lorimer, Brand Ambassador, Bosilunlife, and Smruti Sririam, CEO from Bags of Ethics. The show returns tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Go to http://source-homeandgift.com.
Source Home & Gift will be held at NEC Birmingham from September 1st to 4th. To learn more, go to www.source-homeandgift.com.
