With the organiser hailing last week’s event another big success, PreschoolNews.net catches up with a number of exhibitors to find out how Harrogate International Nursery Fair was ‘a real celebration of innovation’, ‘overwhelmingly positive’ and ‘a great experience’.
Feedback from exhibitors following this year’s Harrogate International Nursery Fair (13–15 October) reflects another successful year for the popular trade show.
Attracting an impressive turnout of retailers and buyers, the event was praised by exhibitors for the “electric” atmosphere and the enthusiasm and positivity of attendees.
Cath Needham, head of sales, iCandy
“The show was a fantastic success for iCandy. We had an incredibly busy few days, and it was a pleasure to welcome our extended iCandy family of retailers to experience the raft of exciting new products that will be launching over the coming months. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited about the year ahead.
We always enjoy reconnecting with so many industry colleagues and the energy on our stand was really palpable. It was an amazing show for us, a real celebration of innovation, and the feedback we received from our customers and partners was just fantastic.”
James Harrison, country manager, BeSafe
“Exhibiting at the Harrogate Nursery Fair this year was brilliant. It provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with our valued UK partners. We’re thrilled to continue building on the success of our BeSafe Beyond concept, as well as highlighting our brand new Preemie Inlay, which was received so well.
We also loved showcasing the new products and beautiful additional colours for VOKSI, alongside officially introducing MiniMeis into the BeSafe family. The positive feedback and enthusiasm from attendees reaffirmed our position in the UK and we look forward to another great year ahead.”
Nicola Coletti, senior field marketer UKI, Dorel Juvenile
“As always, the Maxi-Cosi team had a fantastic time at this year’s Harrogate International Nursery Fair. The event is always a wonderful opportunity to showcase our new products, catch up with our retailers and meet new faces. It was also brilliant to receive such positive feedback on our product range – in particular, the new Emerald 360 Pro car seat, new home equipment colourways and our Fame pushchair.”
Terri-Louise Hersby, key account manager EMEA (UK and IE), BabyBjörn
“Attending the Nursery Fair in Harrogate 2024 as a supplier was an incredible opportunity to showcase our latest products and innovations. As a new member of the BabyBjörn team, I was particularly excited to meet our key customers for the first time but also to meet potential new customers/partners. This event provided a unique platform to build strong relationships, understand our customers’ needs first-hand, and explore new avenues for collaboration and growth going forward. I look forward to engaging with the vibrant community and making meaningful connections that will drive our success forward next year.”
Mike Acton, category sales director, RKW
“We had an amazing time at Harrogate, especially as it was our first time exhibiting there as RKW. Our primary goal was to relaunch the beloved Chicco brand and create some excitement around its presence in the UK market. It was wonderful to see so many visitors express their enthusiasm for Chicco’s return, and we feel that it is stronger than ever.
We also showcased products from Hubble and Boppy, all of which received a positive response. Highlights included the innovative new highchairs, Next2Me Twins and the Baby Hug 5-in-1. We also had exciting new toy lines like the Ducati and Vespa collaborations, so it was great to display such a varied range of products.
We found the nursery industry to be so welcoming and supportive, making the show a truly rewarding experience. We took the show as an opportunity to connect with other innovators in the field, and we look forward to building on these relationships in the future.”
Gineline Kallenberg, co-founder, KAOS
“Harrogate was a great experience for us. We got a better understanding of the UK market. We met a lot of premium and independent stores, and we’re now thrilled to start working with several of them. The UK as a market has significant potential for us.”
Maddy Saunders, head of customer experience, My Babiie
“We’re absolutely thrilled with how the show turned out for us. It was a fantastic opportunity to introduce our new branding and showcase our latest product range. Engaging with so many other brands and hearing their feedback was invaluable. The highlight for us was winning the BANTA Award for Best Travel Product for our MB450 Travel System, which we feel truly reflects our dedication to providing top-quality products at an affordable price point.
The atmosphere at the show was electric! Our stand had an incredible energy, with so many people stopping by to explore and chat. It felt like the event brought everyone together, and the buzz around our products was amazing to see. It was a great experience overall.”
Damon Marriott, head of product management, Joie
“This year has seen a bumper crop of new launch items for Joie, resulting in a very busy stand for the duration of the show. It has been great to have the opportunity to demonstrate some of those products to our customers and they were all really well received. Harrogate is a wonderful opportunity for us to meet face to face with our customers, as well as network with industry colleagues that we don’t get to see on a regular basis. We’re already looking forward to seeing everyone next year.”
The 2025 Harrogate International Nursery Fair will take place from 12-14 October at the Harrogate Convention Centre. Exhibitor bookings will open in December with 2024 exhibitors offered priority to secure either the same stand or request a new position at the show.
Going forward the show dates will be:
• 18–20 October 2026
• 17–19 October 2027
Visit www.nurseryfair.com for further information.
