There were some people in the Christmas and Floral industry that had their doubts over whether the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair would ever take place.

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Well, I was certainly never in that category of people, I felt right from the start that with Boris freeing up Christmas and New Year, that in true British grit and determination that the show would go ahead

AND HOW!

On entering the halls on the day before opening, it was just great to see all those familiar names that like me didn’t doubt that the show would be held.

Come opening morning on a lovely bright clear blue sky over Harrogate, buyers were queuing up well before the 9 o’clock opening to get into the halls. I must say hats off to the organisers. Simon Anslow and his team ensured that every visitor had to show proof that they had been jabbed, and if they hadn’t to take a lateral flow test to prove that they were Covid clear. Those who were O.K. wore a colour band around their wrist to prove this was the case. In the few who tested positive they were refused entrance and quite right too.

Whilst wearing a mask was not legally enforceable, the vast majority of both visitors and stand personnel wore their masks. 

Speaking to both exhibitors and visitors, it was obvious that they were all delighted to be at an exhibition once again. Let’s face it you can’t beat face-to-face meetings where you can see and touch product before making your mind up to place and order and from the exhibitor’s perspective, nothing better than showing the range on a stand it certainly beats a Zoom call.

It was also gratifying to find out that in the main buyers were sympathetic and understanding to the many problems that companies faced when bringing stock in from China. Of course, late deliveries are a pain, but having learnt that there could be a stock shortage, Products now in your store or warehouse will be worth a lot more now, if surging price increases are to be believed.

Local hoteliers and restauranteurs were also delighted to see exhibition visitors return. These also enjoyed a far better January than if the show had not gone ahead.

I wonder whether Spring Fair have shot themselves in the foot by shortening the show by a day? When they initially announced this, they were lengthening the hours to a 7.30. closing time for a couple of days. I believe this was never going to work, because who on earth would want such a long day. It is tiring work walking the halls for visitors, who normally by 5 o’clock are ready to leave the show. At least the organisers quickly decided that this was a no, no from the very start.

With the closure of the German shows christmasworld and Ambiente and of course Nurnberg, this has undoubtedly given Spring Fair an additional rump of buyers planning on coming to Birmingham. 

Our February edition includes plenty of information on those companies showing at Birmingham as well as those companies who have decided not to show, but who will be very pleased to welcome readers to their showrooms dotted up and down the country.

Last month I mentioned the increases in container cost from China to the U.K. and suggested that as much as 8 times higher than 12 months earlier. I stand corrected as a number of Christmas suppliers have told me as much as 12 times higher were quoted. Shipping line Maersk have just released their latest financial figures with profits not short of Microsoft’s earnings which are astronomical“ I’m definitely in the wrong business!

For industry golfers we will be running our golf day at Puckrup Hall on the 29th June sharing the day with our sister publication Nursery Today. I have kept the rates the same of £100 for the day which includes a nine hole Texas Scramble in the morning, followed by lunch and then the afternoon team fourball and individual Stableford. Once again fabulous prizes given after a mouthwater barbeque. All I need to do now is to ensure we have the right weather!