Bring out the birthday candles – Harrogate Christmas & Gift is turning 75 in 2025, says show organiser Simon Anslow
For most retailers in almost every sector in the UK, Christmas is the key commercial season of the year – and successful sales during November and December will oil the wheels and keep them turning for the following 12 months.
So it’s hardly surprising that one of the first ‘must-attend’ events of 2025 will be Harrogate Christmas & Gift, which takes place from January 12 to January 15 at the Harrogate Convention Centre in Yorkshire. It’s billed as the only UK trade show for Christmas retailers and everyone involved in any type of giftware from independent retailers, department stores and garden centres, to tourist attractions and florists.
Harrogate Christmas & Gift is certainly not new to the festive arena – it’s one of the longest running trade shows in the UK, first opening its doors in 1950. As show organiser Simon Anslow explains: “The show celebrates 75 years in 2025 and was primarily toy-focused, with suppliers filling the hotels of Harrogate with the latest new products to present to toy shops and retailers. Over the decades the show has evolved, with the toy industry moving to a London show, while the Christmas sector remained in Harrogate.”
Since its conception, Harrogate Christmas & Gift has continued to evolve, primarily to cater to demand. Christmas celebrations in the 1950s and 1960s were simple affairs with a handful of traditions for the majority of families. Christmas trees, paper chains, Santa and stockings have been around for decades.
Christmas 2025 is a much more lavish affair, with American and European traditions bringing a huge new melting pot of sales opportunities. From Elves on Shelves, Christmas Eve boxes and even pet grottos, the festive season spreads from September to January, bringing months of joy and happiness to British consumers and, of course, retailers in the industry.
Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2025 is expected to be bigger than ever, with demand for exhibition space growing year-on-year and extending to eight halls packed with every imaginable gift and decoration for Christmas, plus numerous ranges for year round gifting.
Simon says: “We’ve been in the fortunate position to have a waiting list of companies wishing to participate and have consequently just opened an additional hall – Hall G.” This hall is the new home for Netherlands-based Kaemingk, with a range of Christmas trees, lights and decorations promising innovation and versatility.
Also taking advantage of the new space is CB Imports – one of the UK’s largest importers of artificial flowers and giftware; Lotus Imports, which specialises in home décor products from Christmas floral arrangements and stems to artificial flowers; Widdop & Co., a wholesaler of gifts and homeware; and Swan Mill Group, Penny Kennedy and The Great British Card Company, which all specialise in cards, gift wrap and paper accessories.
Other notable new exhibitors at the show include Eurowrap (stand D3) – a supplier of multiple products in the gift packaging industry serving many leading retailers in the UK, Scandinavia and Europe; Sienna Glass (Conference Centre Entrance); Calipso Roast (G14) – a family business established for over 40 years which is now amongst the leading importers and distributors of floral sundries and packaging; and Aromatize, with a range of candles, diffusers and scented products.
Unfortunately, Pineapple Circus has gone into administration. However, Apac (stand Q10) has taken its stock for anyone who placed orders at Harrogate and still requires those products.
For a full list of exhibitors, and to register to visit the show, go to www.harrogatefair.com. There are still a few stand spaces available too, so if you are a supplier wishing to take advantage of the UK’s favourite industry trade show, contact simon@harrogatefair.com.
What: Harrogate Christmas & Gift
Where: Harrogate Convention Centre,
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
When: January 12-15 2025
Email: simon@harrogatefair.com
Visit: www.harrogatefair.com
