July 20, 2011

‘Harrogate’s 50th Giftware Trade Show’

I have not been to Harrogate Home and Gift for many years so I was interested to see if things had changed. The layout was much as I remembered, with exhibiting space spread out across a number of locations in the town centre. The Majestic Hotel dominates the scene, with four marquee halls erected in the grounds, more marquees in and around the Cairn Hotel along with several halls in the Harrogate International Centre.

Royds’ clients were located variously at the different venues representing the diverse mixture of products being show cased, from premier design led gifts company East of India in the design point marquee, to ceramics company DRH Collection Limited, other giftware clients and our many jewellery clients in the International Centre. Plenty of exercise as ever for your roving IP lawyer, and more than the one soaking by the rain in the process!

Harrogate still has a local feel to it. It has nothing like the scale or sophistication of Spring Fair or IJL. Unfortunately the poor weather put the dampeners on the celebrated social scene; the PIMMS tent and many outside catering establishments were unused. Whilst the summer fun and gaiety was missing, business continued regardless.

Royds’ client Instant Gifts International commented that Sunday and Monday trading was up on the previous year, and across the show visitor traffic was brisk. Reflecting the continuing economic uncertainty in commerce, at present, requests for legal advice were as much if not more about recovery of debt than protecting intellectual property.

As with other trade shows Harrogate offered free seminars and retail surgeries including a talk by Mike Josypenko of BJ & GI on sourcing from China. Royds are pleased to provide advice and assistance to BJ & GI on international and intellectual property issues.

So not a lot of change then, and typical “up north” weather. Bring on IJL in the “beautiful south” in September!

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