Once again the 2009 STAG Buying Show lived up to its name, with managing director, Ward Robertson, confirming that the group’s retailers were in “buying mode” at the Four Pillars Hotel, Cotswold Water Park on November 22-23.
Attendance by STAG members was 18 per cent up on last year, despite the bad weather that affected large parts of the UK during the event – an unequivocal seal of approval for the format and effectiveness of this show.
Says Robertson: “The 2009 STAG Buying Show attracted 213 members, as well as the 65 exhibitors.
“Every member we have spoken to thoroughly enjoyed the show and they wholeheartedly recommended it next year for all STAG members. Ninety-five per cent of the exhibitors have already indicated they want to come back in 2010.”
Robertson told Sports Insight that, less than a week after the show, he had received 50 testimonials from exhibitors and STAG members alike – and all were positive.
As were the comments from the exhibitors that Sports Insight spoke to.
Graham Richards, brand director at Hilly Clothing, said it was the company’s best-ever show. “We booked a lot of orders, opened new accounts and received new leads to follow up,” says Richards.
“In addition, we received a lot of positive comments about our products and overall service, which was very encouraging.
“We had an excellent response to our new Twin Skin, Lite Plus sock, which has taken double layer technology to the next level.”
Mizuno’s Paul Stevens echoed Richards’ sentiments, saying the 2009 event was the most successful yet for the running brand: “The show has turned into a very important show in the UK sports calendar. It is a show that we work very hard to be ready and prepared for.
“Members now come looking to buy, and the show is very positive and very well organised. Products were selling across all our ranges of rugby, running, soccer and indoor. In particular, sales were very strong in our running and rugby ranges.”
INTEREST
Samurai’s core product of shorts, socks, body armour and training apparel attracted considerable interest at the show, according to national sales manager, Richard Brand.
“The STAG team always put together a superb show and Samurai enjoy attending,” explains Brand. “Interest in the brand continued to grow this year, especially in our ability to provide bespoke multi-sport teamwear and off-field solutions.
“We believe that retailers are beginning to see Samurai as the answer to the turmoil within the rugby sector, where consistency for quality of product and timely deliveries are paramount.”
Other products that proved popular included Mercian’s luggage collection and Reusch’s Xosa Pro glove, which the company’s sponsored goalkeepers will be wearing at the World Cup.
Says Mercian’s managing director, Simon Mason: “The show went very well, the fantastic venue and great facilities attracted the retailer and all the brands present put on
brilliant displays.
“The show gives us a perfect opportunity to see a large number of our customers at the same place at the same time, to showcase some new products and to sell current lines.
We feel that our luggage collection has sold particularly well this year and the response to the new lines that we offered suggest that it will continue to be a significant growth area for us in 2010.”
Bob Fidler at Reusch UK had this to say: “After a difficult 12 months’ trading, it appeared at the STAG show that there was a bit of positive optimism amongst the retailers we saw for the coming year – and in particular an opportunity around the World Cup for excellent sales from football related products.”
Andy Geary, UK sales manager at HI-TEC, which provided some excellent prizes for the Sports Insight prize draw at the event, congratulated STAG on what he described as: “Another winning show”.
He told us: “It’s good to come to a very well run trade show in a fantastic location, which is fully supported by the manufacturers and STAG members and where people come to write business in a relaxed, friendly environment.”
George Sandison, managing director of Brand Agility, made the trip from Edinburgh to attend the show, but the near-400 mile journey turned out to be worth it for Caribee, which was showing its range of rucksacks and daypacks.
“This was our second STAG show and we brought on another 10 new customers,” says Sandison.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the Caribee brand and meet new and existing customers, some of whom we may only have spoken with on the phone prior to the show.
“We were also approached by six potential sales agents and have hired three – not bad for a jolly weekend in a nice hotel in the Cotswolds.”
SUCCESSFUL YEAR
The show capped another successful year for the STAG Buying Group, whose developments we cover on a regular basis, both on this site and in Sports Insight magazine.
The group enjoyed a 15 per cent growth in members in 2009, boosting numbers to 465, and made significant headway in Ireland this year, where total membership now stands at 60.
Looking ahead, STAG’s new-look website has just gone live, it’s just launched its Freedom buying group for the outdoor market and is planning an All Ireland Buying Show for the back-end of 2010.
The buying group shows no sign of slowing down.
