Merchandise World – Record Attendance

Merchandise World saw a record 1,599 distributor visitors over two days at Ricoh Arena, Coventry last month. Attendance at the sold-out BPMASourcing City show was up by 18% on last January’s show, with 218 quality exhibitors from the UK and Europe.

Distributors arrived from as far afield as Ireland, Scotland, Europe and the US. The show had a waiting list this year and a high level of exhibitors are committed to the 2021 NewYear event, which will again be at Ricoh Arena and is also expected to sell out.

The show dates are 27-28 January, 2021. Winners of the MWPromotional Product Awards were presented with their awards at the show, and all finalists and winning products were displayed on the BPMA stand (see page 22). The new Eco World stand was a highlight with birdsong intriguing visitors as they looked through the growing selection of eco items available from exhibitors.

There was no printed show guide this year, with show information available on the Merchandise World app, including a feature which indicated to the exhibitors which visitors were in the show hall. Another highlight was the BPMA Awards Dinner where around 450 guests were able to celebrate the awards winners and enjoy the entertaining host, ex-England and British Lions rugby player, Martin Bayfield.