The dates for the 2021 Exclusively Show have been moved to Tuesday and Wednesday 24-25 August 2021.
BHETA (the British Home Enhancement Trade Association), which owns and organises the Show – which covers housewares and small electrical products for the retail industry – said this is a result of the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Will Jones, Chief Operating Officer of BHETA and Chair of Exclusively, said the health and well-being of all attendees is of paramount importance.
“We consulted with our exhibitors and visitors and there is a genuine desire for the Show to go ahead, but at the right time and in the right place,” he said. “There was strong support for a move to August.
“The Business Design Centre [the Show’s venue] has an existing very well organised set of health and wellbeing protocols and we will confirm them to all stakeholders in the lead up to the Exclusively Show.”
Mr Jones said the later dates – the Show was due to take place mid-June this year – provide an opportunity for the industry to gain more confidence as the COVID vaccination programme gathers momentum, and the timing fits with the Autumn buying season.
He continued: “The speed of the vaccine roll-out has given us genuine belief that by August the UK will be back to some form of normality – the pace of the roll-out is continuing to rise and we expect, based on todays’ numbers, that by showtime a majority of UK adults will have had two vaccine shots; and our industry will be able to move forward.”
BHETA President, Alistair Fisher, who is also MD of Exclusively exhibitor, Taylor’s Eye Witness, added: “The industry is hungry for a show and the extra time until August should allow the vaccine roll-out to really make a difference to the confidence of the nation. I am looking forward to what will most likely be the first industry show for 18 months, and to welcoming buyers to our stand.”
The Exclusively Show regularly has over 130 companies and 300 brands participating, representing all the key product categories in the housewares sector. Retail visitor interest has been increasing in recent years, and tried and tested features such as Trend Displays, Trend Talks and The Brand Showcase, aimed at media visitors, will remain features of the Exclusively Show in 2021.
