Innovations in the UK

The PATS Sandown pet trade show appears set to build on its success story of recent years. The organisers of the show at the Sandown Park Exhibition Centre have announced a record number of 141 exhibitors from all over the world who will be participating this year. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the popular show will be staged in not just one, but two halls for the third year in a row. PATS Sandown originally took place in a single hall – the Surrey Hall – but the show’s popularity dictates the need for it to fill both Surrey and Esher Halls. As established in 2012, both halls have their own entrances and registration points. The organisers, Impact Exhibitions & Events Ltd, believe that the two-hall strategy confirms how well-liked the show is: “The PATS shows have strengthened their position as the UK’s premier pet trade events and both Sandown in the south and Harrogate in the north are increasingly being regarded as must-attend events.” Richard Hulme, managing director of Vitakraft Burton Dene, gives his opinion on why that is the case: “The main reason we have booked Sandown is that it gives the UK pet trade the opportunity to see, first hand, and in one place, all the new product launches that were first aired at Interzoo. We understand that the majority of the trade are not able to get out to Nuremburg every two years and even our regular customers don’t get too many opportunities to see the full ranges on show all together.” Workshops and seminars In addition to the host of innovations and new products in the pet sector, PATS Sandown also offers its visitors a variety of other events. This show will once again feature a comprehensive mix of seminars appealing to all visitors to the show. The programme includes seminars like “e-commerce: get more online visitors. How to use the latest Google changes to your advantage”, “Driving sales in the small animal category”, “How pet stores can thrive in the Internet age” and “An introduction to responsible reptile retailing”. “Presented by industry experts, this educational programme will address the most topical issues facing the pet industry, including market-leading trends, practical advice and real-life solutions for immediate implementation in your own business,” says Impact Exhibitions & Events. The extensive programme also includes the PATS Grooming Point, where a wide variety of grooming products and state-of-the-art grooming demonstrations are presented. And the “New Product Showcase…