After a successful September edition, Top Drawer continues to demonstrate that, even within a challenging retail environment, the show remains a must-visit destination for buyers seeking the newest names, latest products and trend insight.
Reporting a very high calibre of buyers, many of the 1000+ exhibitors took orders within the first 30 minutes of the opening day, and had a unique opportunity to put their collections in front of some of retail’s most influential names. Amongst those attending were the UK’s leading department stores Harrods, Selfridges, John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, Marks & Spencer, Fenwick and Liberty – as well as the very best independent retailers, museum groups including V&A Enterprises, The Design Museum, Royal Collection Trust and the TATE Group, and retail powerhouses Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Scribbler, ASOS, NEXT, Paperchase and Oliver Bonas.
This season’s quality of buyers did not go unnoticed by Nicky Sloan, Managing Director of Cubic who said, “Top Drawer is the best trade show in the UK by a mile. All the relevant design-led retailers make this a must-attend show.”
Jessica Russel-Flint, who has exhibited her namesake lifestyle and fashion range at the show five times added, “The September edition of Top Drawer was the best show yet for us, we met a huge amount of excellent new boutiques and stockists as well as consistent existing stockists who were able to view our new ranges. Each year we keep growing and a lot of this is credit to the Top Drawer showcases”.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Luca Bridges, Independent Sales Manager for Caroline Gardner who said, “We generally always take a lot of repeat orders at Top Drawer, but this season has been particularly busy. We have seen an increase in international visitors and are thrilled with the new business we have opened here.”
This edition saw the return of established sectors: Home, Gift, Greetings & Stationery, Fashion, Craft, Food Emporium and Spotted, each of which boasted the finest edit of hand-picked, design-led products. In addition, a brand new sector dedicated to all things kids was launched. PLAY reflects the dynamism and growth of the children’s sector, with buyers offered a comprehensive edit of the best products for kids within fashion, interior accessories, toys and gifts.
In Fashion, which presented its strongest edit to date with a curated selection of 150 leading labels, buyers were thrilled by the debut of CAPSULE: a brand new destination for conceptual, transeasonal and design-led collections.
Adding to the overall visitor experience, the first ever RetailFest presented a comprehensive educational programme that featured inspiration and insight from leading names in lifestyle such as Sophie Conran, Holly Tucker, Annie Sloan and Tamara Ecclestone.
Conran also lent her flair and expertise alongside Heals’ Kris Manalo, Farrow & Ball’s Charlotte Cosby and Chalk & Moss’ Anna Walton, as they unveiled trends for the new season using exhibitor products in unique, original Window Displays.
Top Drawer will return to Olympia London from 13-15 January 2019. For more information please visit topdrawer.co.uk.