Trade shows are an essential part of any retail business, so we asked the party trade to share their experiences of this year’s H&P Expo, Spielwarenmesse and Spring Fair. Here’s what a few of them had to say.
Stuart Wheeler, account manager, Delights Direct
“Once again, we found the footfall was very good in Hall 9 at Spielwarenmesse and we met a decent number of potential new customers. We were impressed by the spectrum of visitors; we had the opportunity to talk to a wide range of retailers and buyers, from large multiples to small independents.”
Charlotte Cox, marketing manager, Amscan
“Amscan exhibited at Spring Fair, which we see as being a key show in the calendar for the industry. We launched our new Sempertex collection of decorator latex balloons which received a very positive response, with demonstrations by Chris Horne throughout the week.
The stand also featured an extensive mix of fancy dress product from everyday themes to Halloween and licensed lines, which all proved popular. The unicorn trend remains noticeable and the mermaid theme seems to be growing. Our key trends for this summer are pineapples, llamas and cactuses.”
Julie Dommett, head of marketing, Pioneer Europe
“Pioneer Europe exhibited at both Spielwarenmesse and Spring Fair. Both shows were busy, with a constant stream of visitors. At Spring Fair, customers seemed happy with the new location in Hall 5, while at Spielwarenmesse there was talk about how to make more space available to the party industry. Both shows were very successful for us.
Chrome balloons stole the show at both events and we were delighted with the tremendous reaction to the product itself and our stand décor. In terms of design trends, the unicorn theme was still very strong and mermaids are obviously in ascendance as a trend. Colour-wise, rose gold and gold glitter were key themes and the new Qualatex wedding balloons received a lot of attention too.
The coming year looks to be good for the party industry. There is growth from newer themes, such as gender reveal parties and baby showers, as well as the increasing use of balloons at more established celebrations such as weddings and births, driven in no small part by customers striving to emulate the beautiful celebrations they see posted on Pinterest and Instagram.”
