Source Home & Gift, the leading international sourcing platform for home and gift, closed on a high after hosting hundreds of exhibitors from around the world and a 47% increase in registrations.

Thousands of Buyers, Sourcing & Procurement professionals and Business Owners and Directors from 12 different countries attended. Retailers and brands including B&M, WH Smiths, Lucy & Yak, B&Q, House Of Marbles, Blue Diamond, Widdop & Co, Cardology, RSPCA, Dunelm, Next, ALDI, TK Maxx, National Trust, Amazon, Homebase, Scribbler, Card Factory, Waitrose and TikTok, gathered at the NEC Birmingham from 1 – 4 September 2024 to discover the world's best manufacturers and material providers under one roof.

Each season, the show strives to bring the best manufacturers, artisan designers and technology providers from around the world to Source Home & Gift, and each supplier is audited and accredited and ready to work with. Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Home & Gift says, “We are doubling down on championing responsibly made products and supporting makers and social enterprises that are making a real difference to communities around the world. Buyers investing in buying products from these makers and community projects can have a huge impact on their lives, whilst also buying exceptionally high quality and unique products. In contrast, we’re also really proud to shine a light on the exceptional manufacturers and great products that are coming out of powerhouse countries like China and India.

“Source Home & Gift continues to bring global manufacturers and artisans across 8 sourcing destinations to the UK buying audience, offering an easier, cheaper, and more effective destination to develop and source new materials and products, with reliable, audited brands and producers who utilise responsible manufacturing and sustainable production.”

New to Source Home & Gift for September 2024, the ‘Makers’ sector has shone a light on artisans, featuring live demonstrations which showcased a myriad of unique and high-quality handmade products with smaller order quantities, ranging from candles and glassware to fabrics and figurines and much more. This group of curated makers from Portugal, India, Peru and beyond have brought a wide variety of beautiful and responsibly sourced items to Source Gift & Home and has provided the opportunity for smaller artisanal producers to be introduced to buyers and sourcing directors.

Throughout the show, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has supported Source Home & Gift to present a number of live demonstrations from artisans at the Indian Pavilion, showcasing the diversity and authenticity of India bringing a range of stunning, regional products to Source’s International and UK companies. Visitors were treated to demonstrations of Sozani fine needlework, Cheriyal paintings on khadi or cotton and much more.

Ellingham continues, “Source has become a home for manufacturers and makers, and a hub for visitors to discover artisan products in a balanced mix with tried and tested manufacturers; as well as an environment where visitors can be educated on how things are made and how to source responsibly and more effectively. This season we’ve seen a lot of people doing business on the show floor, numerous returning customers and an increase in visitor density. Looking ahead to next season’s edition, we will capitalise on the success of the ‘Makers’ section by expanding the area and introducing a global craft hub, highlighting India, Peru, Portugal, North Africa and, importantly, the UK.”

Buyers at the show have commented on the need for a show that offers a safe space to make new connections, discover new suppliers, and do business. Marcus Appleton, Founder of new e-commerce business Décor Sanctuary said, “It’s my first time at the show and it’s been fantastic. I’m here for two days and we’re looking to source niche and interesting products in home décor from different parts of the world. There’s a very good range of both companies and product here.  For me the highlight has been being able to meet the right people to do business with – I’ve been able to meet lots of people, talk and learn about trends in the market and most importantly look and feel the product. It’s one thing looking online but having that first-hand interaction has been great. It’s been a great use of time and very worthwhile.”

Andrew Turner, Managing Director of AMT Marketing, Guildford, “This is our first visit to Source Home & Gift, we work in business merchandising, so we are looking for products to brand. We are really surprised by the show, it's great. We have already bumped into some of our suppliers here, so it has been nice to cement our relationships. We have also found new suppliers which is great.”

Amanda Wiliams, buyer at a new store Herbase in Liverpool commented, “I am looking for handmade, artisan products that are sustainably made and this show is perfect for that. I have found some bamboo cutlery, coconut bowls and some lovely wooden boxes.”

Belma Vardar, Owner of B Style Studio, London said, “It is a great show, with lots of international manufacturing suppliers. Although we are looking for ideas for custom-made products in gift, textile, and jewellery design, we have also seen some new products we are now interested in sourcing! This show is a great opportunity to sell products with no competition, it’s a niche market.”

Exhibitors at the show have reported high quality visitors who are ready to place orders, resulting in a positive show, Aymet Alcahuaman Torres at Sumaq Qara commented, “We’ve had a great show. We’ve made some really great contacts with some big companies and closed some orders! We’ve met retailers and stores such as TK Maxx, so it’s been great. We’re already re-booked for February.”

Many exhibitors for this season have already rebooked for February 2025, like Yusuf Shakir at Clearance Giant who said, “We’ve loved the show. Big businesses now know who we are, what we do and what products we deal with – so yeah, in total it’s been fantastic. We’ve got new customers as well, and met some really big companies, including B&M and Amazon sellers and met some of the most influential online sellers in this space. In February we’ve already got a bigger stand and more products, so we can’t wait.”

Lauren Howells, buyer at WHSmith’s Travel commented, “It’s really important to be able to see upcoming trends and a lot of products in one go. Being able to wander around Source Home & Gift and see different suppliers and have everyone in one place so you can really pinpoint who you’re looking for and what you’re after, is really useful.”

Retail 100 continued to deliver invaluable information and insights on the Responsible Retail Stage with panel conversations on circularity, how to derisk your business and increase supply chain resilience, and how to source and range new product categories - toys, candles, ceramics, home textiles.

The next edition of Source Home & Gift takes place on 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham.