05 Jul 2012
Pulse, the summer's only design-led gift trade event, took place from the 10th-12th June 2012 in Earls Court, drawing in an impressive calibre of buyers to the 10th edition of the show.
The visitor figures demonstrated a marginal decrease of 4% on 2011, which is representative of the current market conditions, and a show date line that fell directly after the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
Despite this, VIP visitors increased by 3% as Pulse enjoyed a larger number of department store visitors and the show saw an 118% increase in press attends, demonstrating the continuing interest in the design talent and unique product on display at the show.
Pulse also presented a 30% increase on 2011 in new suppliers and designers, throughout the show and in sectors such as Launchpad, and buyers were impressed by the fresh new design available across the event.
Buyers And Press Interest
While the current retail climate is proving challenging for some smaller retailers, this was not evident amongst the high-profile multiples and department stores who attended the show in their thousands, providing testament to the need for high-quality design-led product available at Pulse.
Attendees included:
Anthropologie, Bentalls, Caravan Style, Cath Kidston, Debenhams, Fenwick, Fortnum & Mason, Habitat, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Heals, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Joy, Liberty, London Transport Museum, Marks & Spencer, Museum of London, National Portrait Gallery, Natural History Museum, Notonthehighstreet.Com, Oliver Bonas,Paperchase, Pedlars, Saatchi Gallery, Scribbler, Selfridges, South Bank Centre, Space.Nk,Tate Britain, Tate Modern,The Conran Shop, The Dulwich Trader, The Hambledon Gallery, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, V & A Enterprises and Waterstones.
Pulse also saw keen interest from the trade and consumer press, as well as online bloggers, welcoming
representatives from Conde Nast, the BBC, The Times, Telegraph Magazine, Heart Home magazine, and trend forecasters WGSN.
Key Affiliations And Keynote Speaker
Pulse Keynote speaker Peter Cross, business partner to Mary Portas, conducted a retailer critique session to a packed seminar theatre, giving independent retailers bespoke advice for their stores in a troubled climate. Peter's consultancy is highly valued within the industry, with his previous consultancy clients including Oasis, Westfield, Louis Vuitton and many others.
Peter commented on the design talent at the show:
'This is my second time at Pulse and I remain endlessly motivated by the sheer number of new talented and creative individuals on show.'
- Peter Cross, business partner to Mary Portas and keynote speaker at Pulse 2012. Mary & House Of Fraser
Visitors crowded around to see the Mary & House of Fraser selection panel run a mini Dragon's Den, hosted by Peter Cross.
10 finalists were selected to present their product to the panel in a bid to be stocked in Mary Portas' House of Fraser concessions throughout the UK. It was a highly successful initiative which demonstrated the enthusiasm and support of Mary & the House of Fraser team for UK designer-makers at Pulse.
The 10 successful finalists were:
Cole of London, Rosie Wonders, Kabloom, Martha Mitchell Designs, Big Tree Little Tree, Lara Sparks Embroidery, Le Pigeon Voyageur, Nancy and Betty Studio and Rosie Brewer.
Support From Impressive Line-Up Of Judges At Pulse Awards
The Pulse Awards were held on the opening day of the show, with a strong line-up of judges showing their interest in the product at Pulse.
The judges included:
Emilio Pimentel-Reid, Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director, Dalani - Best New Product, Launchpad Winner: welovekaoru - Breakfast Collection
Adam Thow, Head of Retail and Buying, The Southbank Centre - Best New Product, Gift Winner: Ruby Ruth Dolls Anna Rigby, Head of Buying for Home Accessories, Gifts, Lighting, Textiles and Carpets, John Lewis - Best New Product, Home Winner: Graypants 'Scraplights', Pad Home
Amy Sanders, Junior Buyer, Bathshop, House of Fraser - Best New Product, Wellbeing
Winner: Bodhi
Michelle Alger, Buying Manager, Liberty - Best New Exhibitor, Launchpad & Best-dressed Stand Under 24sqm
Winner, Nest New Exhibitor Launchpad: Chase and Wonder Winner Best-Dressed Stand Under 24sqm: Andrea Garland
Siobhan di Rienzo, Founder, The Lollipop Shoppe - Best-dressed Stand Over 24sqm
Winner: Wild & Wolf
New Show Dates Announced
Looking forward to 2013, Pulse announced a change in dateline for the summer event.
Next year, Pulse will take place from the 12-14 May at Earls Court. This change in dateline is the result of intensive retailer & exhibitor research, benefiting buyers by allowing a longer lead-time to source product for the current buying season, and to avoid clashes with consumer-affecting events such as the half-term break, and the May bank holiday. The move is supported wholeheartedly by current exhibitors as May was the traditional and proven dateline the show enjoyed for several years Raj Gill, Show Director comments:
"At Pulse 2012, there was positive buzz as superior quality & design was recognised by the thousands of buyers who cannot find this elsewhere. Design shines through in any economic mood and this sector enjoyed good orders whilst slightly lower footfall from smaller independents showed retail caution. The support for Pulse's new 2013 dateline has been strong as it clearly promotes earlier sales for retailers and suppliers. We very much look forward to next year and our clients can't wait to see which new endorsements we work with as the show continues to grow in importance."
- Ends -
Additional Information:
Key Exhibitors Included
Big Metal, Cubic, Culinary Concepts, Disaster Designs, Garden Trading, Grand Illusions, Jellycat,
Lisbeth Dahl, Pad Home, Rex International, Rice A/S, Scandi-Chic, Two's Company by Mulhouse, Wild &
Wolf Miss Etoile, Marks Japan, Pad Home, Tivoli Audio, Jansen+Co, It's about Romi, Handedby
Exhibitor Testimonials
"Pulse remains to be one of the must attend shows for us, giving us the opportunity to meet and showcase our design brands at one of the leading trade shows in the UK. We met with key buyers and footfall was good throughout the show.
The quality is always high with buyers hungry to see new product."
Nik Fulton, Director, Pad Home (Distribute Leff, Paperboy, Flux, Piet Van Eek Wallpaper)
"Pulse was the best UK show on record for Miss Etoile...we saw more international, department store
buyers than at any other show we have attended before ...this was our first Pulse show and we made orders from companies in over 12 countries. We sold out of our Christmas stock and found the quality of buyers to be very high calibre.
We have already re-booked for next year."Steen Kranhom, UK Agent, Miss Etoile
"I know at least 10 new shops that have opened recently and they all know that they have to attend Pulse as it is the best place to find new products and see what is new out there" Jude McEwan, Just Divine
"I love the Pulse show; it is our best show of the year and we are recently excited about the dateline moving to May for next year!"
Just Trade Pulse is great for short order; we've had loads of orders for Father's Day so we will be very busy getting them out on time. The dateline next year means we will have a bit longer to fulfil those orders!"
Tyler and Tyler "We have had an amazing show. We've picked up some great, quality retailers and have been busy the whole time"Aashima, Kris Ana"I would highly recommend Pulse as a show for those selling, looking to buy or write about designer jewellery.
This year Cinderela B was situated in Launchpad plus area of the show and there was an incredible buzz in this section.
We received a record number or orders and the leads were of a very high quality too. We received interested from Fenwicks, Museum of London and numerous other high profile gift and jewellery stores. We also talked to Red Direct and Stylus. Thanks to the wonderful team at Clarion for helping us to get the most out of the show.
We will definitely be exhibiting next year."
Rachel Jackson, Creative Director, Cinderela B Ltd.
For More Information On The Winners Of The Pulse Awards And Additional Images, Please Contact:
The Pulse Team