Trade Only National Show Breaks New Records! 

Trade Only, the leading marketing and information solutions provider for the Promotional Product Industry has announced that the Trade Only National Show 2011 has been the most successful ever.

 

Trade Only reports that the show, held at the Ricoh Arena, Coventy on the 26th and 27th of January has broken previous records with over 2,800 visitors through the doors of the Ricoh Arena in Coventry over the two days - 20% up on 2010.

 

The massive increase highlights the importance of the show to the promotional products market, and also shows that the industry is alive and prospering despite the doomsayers.

 

Initial analysis has the final number of visitors at 2,836, compared with 2,370 in 2010. The number of unique distributor visitors was also up (2,546 against 2,195).

 

Nigel Bailey, Event Director for Trade Only said:  “It has been an incredible few days.  This show has just kept growing and is now a world class event and the biggest and best promotional products show the UK has ever had.  With nearly 80% of space rebooked by the end of the show we are already hard at work planning to make TONS 2012 even better.  Feedback from suppliers and visitors alike has been very, very positive.”

 

Gail Kilcoyne, Exhibition Manager for Trade Only added:  “It has been an amazing few days and we have all been working non-stop. The reaction from everyone has been terrific and makes a year of hard work very satisfying”.

 

There were more suppliers exhibiting than ever before, with over 1,100 staff and 278 stands, and the show benefited from an international flavour with representatives from 42 countries.

 

 The bpma Annual Awards Dinner enjoyed record attendance too, with over 700 suppliers and distributors enjoying the most glamorous evening in the industry calendar. the awards evening took on an exciting additional element in the form of a live vote for both Personality of the Year – Lawrence Angelow and Campaign of the Year – BTC Group.

 

The event was superbly hosted by Peter Dixon from the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent who was making his debut as a front of house compere.

 

The Trade Only National Show delighted exhibitors and visitors alike:

 

Lawrence Angelow, winner of bpma Personality of the Year, commented: "Just a line of thanks for the arrangements over the last couple of days - much appreciated and well received. Really delighted with the show and dinner too, it just goes from strength to strength. Here's to the 2012 show!"

 

Melissa Chevin of Senator said: "The show was once again an invaluable networking opportunity and our team was kept busy for the duration of the event meeting with both existing customers and new prospects."

 

Stuart Warne of Newell added: "This was the best show to date and another improvement on last year's great show. Well exhibited, very well attended and there was a real buzz and a great atmosphere during the 2 days."

 

"Great show," said Charles Booth of Booth Brothers. "Thanks for all your hard work, it was certainly worth it!"

 

Glenn Hyams of BTC Activewear said: "Once again TONS 11 has proven to be the best Promotional Gift Show in the UK. In fact, I would go as far to say, in my 21 years in the business it was the best Promotional Gift Show we have ever exhibited at.

 

The quantity and more importantly, the quality of visitors to our Stand, was the best we have ever experienced and we are really looking forward to TONS 12 next year."