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Tradeshow Support – How to show

UKFT prides itself on its impartiality and we visit most of the international tradeshows and showrooms for fashion and textiles each year. This means we can give you up-to-date knowledge on the show and showroom scene.

We normally cover:

We can talk to members about tradeshow options by appointment at our central London offices or by phone. We will tell you which shows could work best for your business size and collection. We can explain whether shows are suitable for you, how they work, how to visit (and what you need to do to get in) and how to apply for vetting if you decide to show.

FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEW UK TRADESHOW PROGRAMME

The “UKFT Guide to Exhibiting at International Tradeshows” explains how tradeshows and showrooms work. When you are ready to show, we offer one-to-one meetings to talk about specific tradeshows and help you to visit or apply. Our Practical Exporting seminar explains the export basics that you will need to know before you show. Go to our events section to view the latest seminar programme and dates.

If you would like more information on tradeshows, please contact us by emailing info@ukft.org.

To see the latest @UKFTorg #ukftglobalbrands listings of UK designers and brands at overseas tradeshows, and images of their collections, click here.

Are you ready to show?

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If you need further advice contact us.

Before you can even begin to think about participating in a tradeshow or signing up with a showroom for a season or two, you need to have sorted some of the basics:

  • Collection, preferably with a strong story to inspire buyers
  • Production
  • Costings
  • Wholesale margin to cover the costs of getting the goods produced and sold to the wholesale market, including promotions such as tradeshows or social media
  • A strategy for how wholesale will sit alongside, support and not be undermined by your own direct to retail sales (own online, third-party online, own shops etc)
  • Terms and Conditions for each kind of sales transaction you intend to make (e.g. wholesale, retail, Sale or Return/Consignment, online to consumer)
  • Someone with you who understands selling

Once you have these basics, you will need to visit the exhibitions which are relevant to your product. There are so many competing shows and events these days that, whilst you can do a certain amount of research at home, only by seeing for yourself will you know what is right for you and your brand and understand how they work and how much they cost.

Do you have the financial resources available to enable you to export without crippling your business? Export buyers can take a long time to pay. Have you thought about payments, considered credit insurance or factoring, spoken to your bank?

Are you able to show twice a year and, assuming you are in the right exhibition or showroom, are you prepared to show regularly? Showing should be a long-term commitment; it will usually take a few seasons before you really start to see regular sales. Tradeshows will normally charge for space and stand construction and fitments; most of them are very selective about which brands they will accept. Agent showrooms usually work on a contract basis, charging fees for space and sales support, and commission on sales; some will just rent you space without the addition of sales support. Be sure you know what is on offer.

UKFT can help you to plan your visit to the shows to make the right decisions.