Printwear & Promotion The Total Promotional Package
The BIG Promotional Trade Show is an events business specialising in trade exhibitions, shows and associated events.
Following on from a very successful launch in 2018, The BIG Promotional Trade Show (The BPTS) expanded its 2019 series of events due to popular demand with more exhibitors, larger venues and additional shows including autumn exhibitions entitled The BIG New Products Trade Show (The BNPTS) majoring on the thousands of new products launched into the industry at that time of year.
2025 finds The BIG Promotional Trade Show as a well-established event in its eighth year and going from strength to strength as the pre-eminent regional exhibition series in the promotional merchandise, printwear and wearables industries in the UK and Ireland.
The team also manage the very successful Promotional Showcase exhibitions that have been touring the country for 30 years and last year rebranded the highly praised eco shows as the Green & Sustainable Promo Show concentrating only on sustainable and eco related products. The BIG Wearables Trade Show which co-locates with The BPTS and The BNPTS series focuses as its name suggests on promotional clothing, print wear and wearables. Showcase & Friends are networking and social events across the UK. The BPTS Product Spotlight And Industry News is a weekly ezine going out to the entire industry. The team also produce and manage very successful customer shows and events for distributor companies in a range of styles and sizes.
The exhibitions are ‘tabletop-plus’ with all exhibitors expected to make a great effort at presentation. They are easy to set-up for exhibitors and for the visitors, easy to navigate. The organisers have a huge spectrum of products and suppliers right across the promo and print wear sector.
The shows are all located in high traffic, easy access locations with free parking and free refreshments provided throughout the day. With 70-ish exhibitors it’s possible to get round in a few hours and also for visitors and exhibitors to spend more time together and have detailed conversations.
Watch out for something new from us later in the year!
In the main the shows will be consolidated in 2025 and looking at a potential fresh development, as mentioned above. Venue wise, the Dublin show has moved to the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown and following a very successful October relaunch for the southern The BIG New Products Trade Show last year have moved this to a larger venue at The Orbiter Conference Centre at the Radisson Heathrow.
This year the orgaisers have more than 70 exhibitors on board for The BIG Shows. With many exhibitors returning year on year, there is limited space to add new ones. New exhibitors for 2024 include:
Promotrade, 3M by CCA Occasions, Regal Toys, Keramikos Thermalmate, Reldas Garment Covers, BagTrade, Printberry, Zigaflow and Little Green Paper Shop
They will be joined by returning favourites including Fruit of the Loom, Russell Europe, Result Professional, NJ Garments, Headwear UK, Neutral and Euro Cap. Further exhibitors will be announced in the coming days.
The organisers had a great deal of feedback last year, much of it very positive and are building on this. Sustainable, eco, green and new remain the buzz words. The new industry buzz word for 2025 is AI and how this can be of benefit.
Everyone loves coming to live shows, getting their hands on products and speaking face to face. This is especially true when the economy is very tight as it is now, everyone wants to talk about it, see how others and doing and indeed just be there to be seen to let their colleagues and piers know they are still about!
Because of the size, nature and location of our shows, visitors have time to get to see all the exhibitors and there is always time to talk!
A lot of first-time attendees and new exhibitors are engendered by word of mouth and feedback from industry peers and colleagues which is always very satisfying.
The team look at all the feedback received and are very grateful for it, this is used to improve the shows, tweak and change things and improve the experience for visitors and exhibitors alike. Even simple things like changing food options to more healthy ones and having more vegetarian and vegan food options available.
Last year the organsiers trialled visitor breakfasts at a couple of the shows. This has expanded that this year to more venues. Also planned are breakfast seminars at a couple of venues, so watch this space for news on these.
There is great potential here for Printwear & Promotion readers with cross-over and to expand their product range. The shows originated out of and still has its base in promotional merchandise. Trade decorators, printers and promotional merchandise distributors will be selling to the same customers and buyers. If you are selling them printed T shirts and not printed pens, chances are you are missing out as your customer will more than likely be buying merchandise elsewhere.
The reverse is true for business gift houses, some of whom shy away from the complexity of the apparel and print wear market because it is seen as too complicated. Well come along to the shows and learn from the many experts who will be happy to guide you about product print and processes.
There will be demos of equipment and software at the shows. Many exhibitors are planning special giveaways from their stands. Visitors will be able to collect hundreds of free samples, new catalogues and of course, ideas! You can also help choose the best stand at the show and best new product award!
The BIG Promotional Trade Show / The BIG Wearables Trade Show
- Dublin Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown 05-Mar
- Glasgow Glasgow Crowne Plaza 02-Apr
- London London Heathrow Marriott 09-Apr
- Manchester Manchester United FC 30-Apr
The BIG New Products Trade Show / The BIG Wearables Trade Show
- Manchester Emirates Old Trafford LCC 24-Sep
- London Orbiter Conference Centre Radisson Heathrow 15-Oct
The Green & Sustainable Promo Show
- Elstree / London Dupont & Gate Suites DoubleTree by Hilton Elstree 05-Jun
- Leeds Norman Hunter Suite, Leeds United FC 10-Jun
