A first-class venue and a pervading air of positivity combined to make the STAG Buying Show 2008 an unmitigated success for both supplier and retailer members of the UK’s largest buying group.
The Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel, complete with its own lake, proved an excellent choice in terms of accommodation and as a trade show venue, while a number of suppliers ‘Sports Insight’ spoke to said they’d written more business at this year’s event than in 2007 – no mean feat when you consider the current economic climate.
The show’s Sunday morning start didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the retailers in attendance, meaning a brisk beginning to the day for many of the 62 brands housed in three exhibition areas. The traditional Sunday evening party was the usual lively affair and day two of the show provided another chance for retailers to place orders for 2009.
“By common consent, the reaction to the weekend’s show has been absolutely terrific,” says Ward Robertson, managing director of STAG. “Suppliers and STAG members have said in unison it was one of the best UK trade shows they had ever attended. The hotel was really amazing in their standards of service.
“I would add that the attitude of the suppliers was first class and the STAG members were remarkably upbeat considering what is going on in the world. We expect next year’s show to be fully booked by the end of February 2009, some eight months ahead of the 2009 dates, which are November 22-23.”
