7 days until Top Draw starts!

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.