Top Drawer remains UK Retail’s go-to design-led trade show and this season’s event is set to be the biggest and busiest Autumn edition in years. From the 8th – 10th September, Olympia London will be transformed into a haven for professional buyers to explore unmissable brands and on-trend products from over 500 exhibitors, helping them future-proof their new season collections.
With just one week to go until the show opens, there’s so much to discover at Top Drawer’s Autumn/Winter 2024 edition. The dramatic growth enjoyed by the show in recent years continues, with a larger footprint seeing a 10 percent increase in the number of stands, offering over 500 brands and an unparalleled opportunity to source unique and inspiring products. Across 8 sectors, visitors will be able to connect with brands from across the globe as they uncover their next best-sellers in Gift, Home, Fashion, Play, Greetings & Stationery, Wellbeing, Food Emporium, and Launchpad.
Over 35 percent of exhibitors this season will be making their Top Drawer debut, so there is a host of fresh and emerging brands to discover that visitors won’t have met at the show before including Aromatan, Art on Scarves, Asobu, BUFF UK, ByLola, Cape Island, Conscious Yoga Collective, dog&boy design, Feel Good Supplies, HarperCollins, Hello Hossy, Inara, Ingrid Rossi London, In Real Life, Islander UK, Little Lights, Lynn & Liana Serveware, Museums & Galleries, Namaste UK, Nila Parmar Designs, Philever, Robin Valley, Saddler Accessories, SASAWASHI, Shimeray, Skyline Chess, SOPHOS, Uashmama, Unique Linen, Vitaelux, and more.
Top names are also returning to the show to launch their new collections, so buyers can source from favourites such as ARTHOUSE Unlimited, ArtPress, Bigjigs Toys, Blade & Rose, BlissHome, Cambridge Imprint, Chalk UK, Designworks Ink, Donna Wilson, Dynamic Lifestyle & Gift, East End Prints, HACHETTE, Heaven Scent Incense, Hyggen, Kikkerland Europe, Kind Bag, Klippan, Lime Tree Design, Lisa Angel, Miss Sparrow, My Doris, Notable Designs, Rockahula Kids, Siren Silver, St Eval, Stone Marketing, Susan O’Hanlon, Thames and Hudson, Toasted Crumpet Designs, and Turnaround Publishing.
Hundreds of exhibitors have also chosen to make Top Drawer their exclusive trade show in the UK this season, including big brands such as Abrams & Chronicle, Aery, Archivist, Art Angels, Be Home, Bob & Blossom, Bookspeed, Chive, Designed in Colour, Frank Green, Izipizi, Le Toy Van, Legami, Locomocean, Morgan Wright, Museums & Galleries, Ohh Deer, Plum & Ashby, Portico Design, Redecker, Roger La Borde, Roka London, S-c Brands, Shepherd of Sweden, Suck UK, Talking Tables, and U Studio – so you won’t find them anywhere else!
In addition to sourcing high quality design-led products, Top Drawer also offers the opportunity to connect and learn from the wider retail community in a number of exciting ways:
With industry leaders taking to the RetailRevealed stage, there are 3 days of excellent talks lined up to help visitors stay agile when riding the retail industry’s wave of change. The talk schedule includes panels and discussions covering engaging topics including how AI is impacting the future of shopping, how to ace the Golden Quarter, building on-trend product collections, tips to build a resilient business, PR strategies, and much more! Hear from the likes of Catherine Erdly, Founder of The Resilient Retail Club, Priscillia Pollara, Founder of Top Trick, Ami Ranheru, Founder of Retail Huddle, Sarah Ward, CEO of the Giftware Association, Cara Bendon, Founder of the Cara Bendon Brand Consultancy, and many more. In addition to the expert-led sessions, the RetailRevealed stage will also host an exclusive live recording of the Start Scale Succeed podcast. Hosted by Nicole Higgins, Founder of The Buyer & Retail Coach, who will be interviewing Martha Keith, Founder of Martha Brook Stationery, about how she has created a stand-out brand and forms strong connections with customers. Visitors are guaranteed to leave Top Drawer with a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will empower them to navigate the ever-evolving retail landscape with confidence.
For this season Top Drawer will also introduce the brand new Product Pitch competition in partnership with IND!E. Four lucky brands will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative products to a panel of industry judges, including Marianne Carter of Morleys Stores Group, Jason Billings-Cray of John Lewis, Sara Allbright of Retail100, and Matt Hopkins of IND!E. The winning brand will receive a one-week pop-up with a major retailer. This exciting competition will take place on Monday, September 9th, at 11:30 AM, offering visitors a chance to witness first-hand the creativity and innovation of the brands.
For business owners seeking personalised guidance and actionable advice, the Business Hub returns for its 3rd season, providing a dedicated area offering free one-to-one 20-minute appointments with leading industry experts. Visitors and exhibitors can discuss their business or products and gain invaluable insights and practical tips to help them take them to the next level. The lineup of experts includes Therese Oertenblad, a Wholesale Expert and Founder of Small Business Collaborative, Larisa Barker, a Digital Marketing Expert and Founder of The Brand Map, Laura Harrison, a Finance Expert and Founder of LH Retail Development, Cara Bendon, a Branding Expert, Isobel Perl, a Social Media Selling Expert and Founder of Perl Cosmetics, plus many more. Whether a business owner is seeking guidance on branding, exploring new market entry, or refining their marketing approach, the Business Hub is the go-to resource for expert insights and practical advice. Appointments can be booked in advance via the Top Drawer website.
Another highlight of Top Drawer will be the return of the Spotlight Awards, which aim to recognise and celebrate the standout brands exhibiting at the show. The award categories include Best New Product across each sector, Innovation in Design, Best Newcomer, and Best Stand. These prestigious awards are open to all exhibitors and are be judged by an panel of industry experts, including Preena Patel, Buyer for the Design Museum, Sarah Holmes, Owner of Pencil Me In and Seasgair Store, Priya Aurora-Crowe, Owner of Lark London, Sarah Laker, Owner of Stationery Supplies, and Hannah and Clare Bishop, Owners of Cornucopia. Winners will be announced at the Show Party on Sunday evening, and products subsequently displayed on the Spotlight Awards Showcase.
With Top Drawer’s commitment to keeping retailers ahead of the curve, they are excited to continue their partnership with The Better Trends Company who have curated three key trends for the season ahead: Woodland Picnic, Festive Pop, and Purposeful Brands. These trends will help ensure that retailers source products that are truely of the moment, and that resonate with their customers. The Trends Feature is the perfect starting point for any visitor and The Better Trends Company will be doing an exclusive talk there on Monday at 12:45pm.
So don’t miss out, register to attend here.
