The Exclusively Show sold out sooner than ever this year and registered visitor numbers are tracking at 13 per cent up on 2023 numbers, suggesting another potentially busy show this year.

This follows the 10 per cent year-on-year (YOY) increase last year, a figure which also saw the Show well up on its pre-lockdown numbers.

Steve Richardson, Exclusively’s Marketing Director, said: “We are looking forward to the show with confidence given the increase in registrations and we are optimistic that this will translate into increased visitor numbers. The show’s strengths of a very exclusive entry criteria, the best brands in the industry, a fabulous trend showcase combined with our ethos of really looking after our visitors, with free refreshments, evening reception, subsidised travel available for all visitors is proving increasingly popular.

“There are some notable trends among exhibitors driving particular interest: tableware has made a real resurgence at Exclusively and now accounts for 20 per cent of all stands. Brands such as Portmeirion Group and Villeroy & Boch have returned to the show, alongside regulars such as Denby, Mason Cash and Sabichi. They are joined by a good number of newcomers such as Tarhong, ABS Pottery, Sur La Table, Wade, Royal Victoria and Milton Brook.”

Buyers from the likes of AO, B&Q, Next, Sainsbury’s, Dunelm, Dobbies, Lakeland, Homebase, Robert Dyas, and Blue Diamond will mingle with a plethora of UK independents and specialist cookshops, hardware and electrical shops, department stores, and shopping channels, as well as retailers such as Freemans, Trago Mills and TJX.  Overseas buyers from as far away as South Africa will be joined by retailers from Germany, France, Spain, Eire, Sweden and the Channel Islands.

Mr Richardson added: “Another category which is very well represented this year is small domestic electrical, now 21 per cent of the Show.  There are some eye-catching bigger brands there for the first time such as SharkNinja, and the list includes a whole range of sub-categories alongside the core of beverage makers, food prep and cooking. Cleaning, laundry, waste disposal, air purification and personal care brands have also booked space. It’s great to see names such as Sebo, Zanussi, and Bissell alongside Morphy Richards, Kenwood, Daewoo and Swan.”

The show demonstrates that this is the turning-point within the industry that the good times will return.