The Schoolwear Show is postponed

The Schoolwear Show, the annual trade exhibition for the schoolwear industry, is postponing its October 2020 edition.

In a statement to the industry, TSSL, the show’s organisers, said: “We are all experiencing extraordinary times. We hope you are well and your preparations are working now that you have been able to reopen.

“After extensive work, including canvassing exhibitors and retailers and investigating the various options for running The Schoolwear Show this October – including an appointment only and a virtual version – the decision to postpone this year’s show has been taken by the board.

“It is a great disappointment, as The Schoolwear Show has been such an important place to see virtually all your suppliers and meet potential new ones. The 2021 show has been booked at Cranmore Park and TSSL will be making sure that it gives you even more to help your business prosper, even in tough times.”

In the meantime, TSSL is continuing to look at all options and will review the situation in September, after Back to School.

These options include whether there is a practical way of putting on an interim show of some kind, possibly in November. This would allow the market to unite and also help clarify what 2021 might look like.

TSSL continued: “For the next three months or so, we all need to be focused on delivering as good a Back to School as possible, which is going to be a further challenge. The key will probably be the schools opening in September and fully functioning.

“We hope Back to School goes well for you. You can rest assured that TSSL will be working on all the options to help the whole schoolwear market to be able to come together at a show in the future.”

In light of The Schoolwear Show postponing its 2020 event, the annual Schoolwear Association (SA) Awards are also being deferred this year. The awards, which include a presentation at the SA fundraising evening following the first day of The Schoolwear Show, will return for 2021.