Each year the superlatives regarding the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair increase, from the ease of set-up and breakdown to the ever increasing number of buyers visiting the show, not only to look but to place quit substantial orders for the year.
I have attended many shows over the years and certainly in the last 25 years or so, due in main to young buyers who can’t make up their minds or need a committee to finalise their orders, Harrogate is a breath of fresh air.
On page 18 we include a few quotes from exhibitors and without fail, all of them are telling us that orders were well up as well as footfall.
With very few Christmas Decoration companies showing at Spring Fair, buyers coming to Harrogate place orders and they all tell us that not only do they look forward to dealing with existing suppliers, but they are also looking for new companies to make their retail offering even more varied and original.
The 76th year of the show saw an increase in visitor attendance up by an amazing 11%. When you think that 2025 was 8% up on 2024, that means that compared to just two years ago, Harrogate visitors have increased by almost 20%.
Again, this is against a national background of shows struggling to maintain visitor numbers, let alone show big increases in attendance.
In my January edition I mentioned that I was delighted to see Floralsilk back with us, after a few years away. As I was writing in Christmas in January about Christmas in January, then I’m surprised that any reader may have thought I was alluding to the Harrogate show. Of course any regular visitor to Harrogate will be well aware of Floralsilk’s long history of showing at this exhibition, so my apologies for any misunderstanding.
I loved the description of the Harrogate show given by Debbie Waudby, a Director of Norfolk Leisure, when Debbie described Harrogate “As the capital of Festive networking.” A most apt description.
My picture shows John Athwal, M.D. of Premier Decorations with well-known gardening guru David Domoney. David worked with Premier in 2025 and so enjoyed the experience that he visited the show and enjoyed a night out with the Premier team and will once again be teaming up with Premier to promote further their 2026 ranges.
Our retail interview this month is with a great family run garden centre group – Perrywood. Based in Tiptree, Essex, Les and Mary Bourne bought 15 acres back in 1955. Move forward 71 years and they now have three flourishing garden centres. Our Editor Sarah Welsh catches up with 3rd generation Hannah Bourne to find out more.
As a family publishing group in just our 45th year, it is heart-warming to read of strong family roots that have seen families prosper and grow in these tough economic times.
Next year’s Harrogate show opens on the 10th January to the 13th and I’m already looking forward to the show.
Malcolm Naish
