PATS backing exports

For two days in March, Sandown Park Exhibition Centre in Esher, Surrey, will become the meeting place for the English pet supplies sector. According to the organiser, Impact Exhibition, over140 companies will be presenting new products and trends in the pet product industry. This year the organisers are also concentrating on the international aspect. "An added attraction for international visitors is the fact that almost 100 of the companies exhibiting at Sandown are listed as exporting their products," says a speaker from Impact Exhibition. To make it clear to the visitors which companies also export their goods, the exhibitors who export will have a 'PATS Exporter' logo on the fascia of their stand at the show. Another highlight of the show is the New Products Showcase. Here products are presented that might start a trend in their markets. In previous years more than 200 new items have been entered into the showcase.

Extensive seminar programme In addition to the wide range of new products and trends, PATS Sandown also offers an extensive seminar programme and a strong line-up of speakers. The two days of seminars are designed to give pet retailers ahead-of-the-game ideas on new lines, new approaches and new profit potential, according to the organisers. The talks, produced in association with Pedigree Wholesale, will take place in the Seminar Theatre in the Esher Hall of Sandown Park Exhibition Centre on both days of the show. The free-to-attend series of seminars will cover topics including: retailing RAW pet foods, using social media to build a loyal customer following, and 20 business tips in 20 minutes. Other talks will cover the subject of getting more online visitors to your website and what customers are saying about your pet business online. Those people attending a special seminar by animal healthcare specialists Merial will also have a chance to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, which will go towards the ongoing development of Suitably Qualified People (SQP) working in the pet industry. Topics such as shopper marketing for growth opportunities, an introduction to condition-appropriate feeding for dogs and optimising your website for Google in 2015 also feature on the list of seminars.