I cannot believe how quickly September has come, I have a calendar counting down to
Top Draw and
100% Design to make sure everything will be ready starting in June.... and now most of it is crossed off with red X's and I have 6 spaces left!
I had great news that I have been accepted for both the
Product GB and
Eco-Trail at
Top Draw, part of me was slightly confused that I got congratulated for this as these are two important factors driving my company and I would have been pretty miffed if I didn't fit the criteria. So on my stand
D137 I will have both of the following stickers, so please come and say Hi
2010 has seen a thoughtful, more considered approach to buying. Retailers are on the hunt for products with longevity and zero impact on the environment. The aim of Oliver Heath’s eco trail is to stimulate the eco retail market. There are some fabulous products out there with great stories, which try their hardest to reduce their impact on the environment. Companies who are experimenting with new sustainable products or product lines are welcomed onto the trail and we hope that increased consumer interest to their stand will encourage retailers to get further involved in this exciting and dynamic market area. Oliver’s Eco Trail identifies those exhibitors whose products are recyclable, reusable, fair- trade or sustainable. Make the choice to ‘be green’ at Top Drawer - keep an eye out for the Eco Trail logo and accompanying literature as you make your way around the show.
"What we are seeing now is a larger cultural shift brought on by the impact of global recession; from a short-term way of thinking about our lives, and what we buy, to a more considered long-term approach."
What does Product GB actually mean?
I love the idea of Product GB, the special accreditation given to companies who produce their products in Britain. The name itself always makes me think of Team GB, the sound-bitey nickname given to the Great British & Northern Ireland Olympic team. As such, when I’m looking through the applications from companies who would like to participate in this initiative, I get the urge cheer on the dedication, struggles and success that so many companies experience in the process of producing British products.
The companies who form the Product GB trail use materials that are either of British origin (including ceramics from Stoke and wool from Lancashire) or are imported and then significantly altered in this country. One example of the latter might be the use of Indian cotton which have been dyed, cut and sewn into finished products in Britain. Many of the companies have their own manufacturing facilities – from small studios to mini factories. Others use a combination of specialists from around the country to make their products. One that stands out in my memory is a stationer who designs in Gloucestershire, uses paper from Hull and London and a printer in Kent, buys envelopes from a West Yorkshire maker and uses biodegradable bags from Essex. That process alone contributes to the local economies of six separate counties. When you’re at Top Drawer this September, keep an eye out for the newly designed Product GB logo which will displayed on stands throughout the show. We’re expecting more than ever this year.
I have spent the last two days setting up my joint stand at 100% Design. I will be sharing stand H114 with fellow designer and friend SjGuest Designs.
We had a rocky start, I turned up to find our whole stand painted a dark grey instead of just one wall! I range Sarah to let her know she maybe turning up to a stand looking quite different than she anticipated... all she really said was "you have to laugh" which was a relief but thankfully the event organisers were on the ball and the two walls which should have been left white were repainted before Sarah arrived at the stand! Check out the very grey and small looking stand!
2010 has seen a thoughtful, more considered approach to buying. Retailers are on the hunt for products with longevity and zero impact on the environment. The aim of Oliver Heath’s eco trail is to stimulate the eco retail market. There are some fabulous products out there with great stories, which try their hardest to reduce their impact on the environment. Companies who are experimenting with new sustainable products or product lines are welcomed onto the trail and we hope that increased consumer interest to their stand will encourage retailers to get further involved in this exciting and dynamic market area. Oliver’s Eco Trail identifies those exhibitors whose products are recyclable, reusable, fair- trade or sustainable. Make the choice to ‘be green’ at Top Drawer - keep an eye out for the Eco Trail logo and accompanying literature as you make your way around the show. 
I love the idea of Product GB, the special accreditation given to companies who produce their products in Britain. The name itself always makes me think of Team GB, the sound-bitey nickname given to the Great British & Northern Ireland Olympic team. As such, when I’m looking through the applications from companies who would like to participate in this initiative, I get the urge cheer on the dedication, struggles and success that so many companies experience in the process of producing British products. 
