As retailers are making their way back to trade fairs, exhibitor Table Manners was pleasantly surprised by the number of buyers from regional NSW that visited his stand at the show.
“Our strongest day was the first day of the show,” Table Manners’ Paul McBarron says.
“It has been interesting that my orders and my buyers have all been from regional areas in country New South Wales including places like Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Tenterfield and Wagga Wagga. These are customers I do not get to see very often.
“They have wanted to get out of their regions and see what is happening in the industry and it has been good to see them— they are good country people who don’t take coming to an event like this for granted. It is also much easier to see them here as it is a lot of kilometres from me to get out and see them.”
Country customers are cautious buyers as they are stepping back in slowly in terms of re-stocking as visitors from the cities re-emerge into the regional areas, adds McBarron.
“I have had over 20 orders from the first few days at the show and half of my orders have been from existing customers and half have been from new customers.
“I have also seen a couple of buyers from Queensland but very few people from Victoria and I put that down to the positioning of this show right on Easter. We are three months away from the next show in Melbourne and winter buying is over, so customers are now looking to Christmas.”
Table Manners stocks mid to high end products that are made in France and its four brands refresh approximately 15 to 20 per cent of their range, making shows such as Reed Gift Fairs important for the company.
“Particularly in February as the brands introduce new stock at the end of each calendar year, providing me with new stock to show my buyers in February,” he says.
“In terms of targeting the buyers at mainstream bricks and mortar stores as well as the fast-growing online businesses, exhibitions will continue to be a central platform for our marketing effort in our business. Particularly the Melbourne show after the three-year break that will then feed back into this show in February 2023.”
