Sirius has reported that its Autumn tradeshow had a record turnout, as approved members discovered the latest products and exclusive deals from market leading suppliers.
The show took place at Marshall Arena, the home of the MK Dons in Milton Keynes on October 1-2, where the Sirius Buying Group came together to prepare for a strong 2024.
Steve Jones, Managing Director at Sirius, explained: “The decision to move to a two-day event at a larger, purpose-built venue was an honest representation of how far we have come since day one, as well as being highly indicative of the direction that the group is headed in terms of serving the independent retailer on a far greater scale.
“None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of our near-200 Members, and the incredible effort that all of our Approved Suppliers put into the Show, as well as the ongoing day-to-day support. It does not go unnoticed, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to every brand and your fantastic teams.”
The two-day trade show provided an extensive preview of next year’s trends with Sirius members having the opportunity to cherry-pick from best of the best new products and enjoy special deals and rewards from the likes of market leading brands like Siemens, Neff, Bosch, HotPoint, Stoves, Haier, Montpellier, Liebherr, CDA and Caple.
The event provided onsite catering and space for networking, Members were able to take time away from the demands of the shop floor for networking and strategising with Sirius experts, as well as getting the latest technical training one to one from product specialists.
There was also a cooking demonstration from HotPoint and refreshments from BSH, as Approved Suppliers welcomed professionals and newcomers alike.
The show also led tributes to Peter Gilks, Co-Founder and now Former Director of Sirius, following his announcement to retire – members thanked Mr Gilks for his 22-year service to the industry.
Added to this, the awards gala dinner culminated in a generous Charity Auction, which this year supports Bristol-based charity, the Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust. Helping to fundraise for research in subarachnoid haemorrhage, BEWT is a fantastic cause that is pertinent within the industry and in particular, Danny Lay, Managing Director at Caple.
Mark Veysey, Head of Operations at Sirius Buying Group, said: “We pride ourselves on looking at the bigger picture so that our Members can decide exactly how they want to position themselves as a key player in their markets.
“By bringing so many people together at our UK Trade Show means we’re able to create a unique and welcoming environment to network and ultimately, generate sales through orders. I was delighted to see so many retailers mapping out their business strategies, and we look forward to providing fundamental support as our industry continues to evolve.”
