Merchandise World kicks off in MK!
Milton Keynes is the latest venue for the UK’s leading promotional merchandise event, this month.
With summer coming to an end and the crucial pre-Christmas period looming, the merchandise industry will be looking forward to planning for a profitable and lively few months. This year’s peak season Merchandise World event will be held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on Wednesday 11 September. The 30,000-seater home of football’s MK Dons is also home to the 3,500m Arena, which is the largest indoor space in the area and makes it an apt venue for the UK’s leading promotional merchandise trade exhibition.
Now established as the place for the industry to come together in February and September each year, Merchandise World is a unique concept that combines a traditional exhibition, a networking event, and optional appointments. With the UK and Ireland, promotional merchandise market spends in excess of £1 billion, more than 1,000 professional distributors have made it their business to attend previous MerchandiseWorld events.
All sales and administration teams, management and directors from professional distributor companies from across the UK and Ireland are invited. Visitors can choose to informally take in the latest and hottest products from the industry’s top suppliers in a traditional exhibition format, or they can hold business review or planning meetings by appointment with exhibitors. There is no limit on the number of company personnel able to attend from any invited distributor company, and they do not have to be members of the BPMA, Purple Club or Sourcing City.
As always, this year’s event has some new twists. As well as its debut at the stunning new venue, Merchandise World is recognising the growing importance of sustainability to the whole industry and its customers with the introduction of Eco World. This issue of Product Media is dedicated to how the merchandise industry is responding to the demands for greater accountability and environmental awareness, and Eco World is a reflection of this trend. Eco World will highlight the latest environmentally friendly products available and guide visitors through what can be a confusing area.
The show is also doing its bit for the planet with the Merchandise World app. There will be no printed show guide, but all show information is on the app. To download your copy, simply visit your phone’s app store and search for Merchandise World. Branding World will also be in operation with leading suppliers demonstrating how a range of products is branded. Always a favorite with visitors, Branding World allows you to ask detailed questions about how specific branding techniques are achieved, what they can deliver, and what other options are available.
In total, professional distributors can bring their teams to see more than 125 leading industry suppliers, giving them a distinct advantage as the industry approaches the peak selling season. The show will contain the industry’s latest and hottest products just in time for the ‘golden quarter’. David Long, CEO, and founder of organiser Sourcing City said: “We are very excited about September’s Merchandise World at Milton Keynes. The venue is excellent and we have already had some excellent feedback from distributors looking forward to discovering new products at Eco World and for new staff members to learn at Branding World. There is no doubt that seeing the latest products first gives a competitive edge.
For whatever reason you come, we will do all we can to make it a valuable experience.” Merchandise world is jointly owned by the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) and Sourcing City. Visitors to the show are invited to attend the BPMA’s networking drinks reception at the Marshall Arena as the perfect precursor to Merchandise World on the eve of the show. The show is also set to be the venue for the BPMA AGM, which will be held at 5 pm after the show closes and will give industry members the opportunity to hear from their trade association, as well as catching up with colleagues from the industry.
