A British success model

Pats is the UK's no.1 pet trade event, showcasing thousands of products and over 300 brands and companies all under one roof. "A total of 3 848 pet retailers attended both Pats Sandown and Telford in 2018," stated a press release by the organisers.
The number of visitors attending the two-day Pats Telford show has broken the 2 000 mark for a fourth successive year. A total of 2 047 visitors went through the doors at the impressive Telford International Centre, making it the second-highest Pats attendance figure ever. Organiser Gordon Thomas said many of the companies exhibiting at Pats Telford were eager to point out that the quality of the people visiting their stands had been of the highest standard: "Exhibitors told us they met with the key decision-makers and buyers, and that was good to hear because we put in place measures that ensured the right people attended."

This year's Pats Telford was able to reduce the show's impact on the environment. Eco-friendly ini­tiatives included handing visitors recyclable paper bags with their catalogues instead of plastic carrier bags, as used in the past. Water dispensers were provided with paper cones that could be recycled. Visitors and exhibitors were encouraged to recycle their plastic badge holders and lanyards, so they could be used again. The exhibition hall carpet will be recycled in the UK, with the fibres it was made from being cleaned, shredded and melted back into plastic pellets that can be re-used to make more carpet.

Pats is also keen to work with venues like the Telford International Centre, which takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. The venue has a host of policies designed to reduce waste and pollution, as well as an onsite water filtration system which enables glass bottles to be reused, reducing the need for plastic.

Pats Sandown will be moving to a new date in 2019. The two-day pet trade exhibition will now be held on Sunday, 10 February and Monday, 11 February, again at Sandown Park, Surrey. "The new dates mean that Pats Sandown will be the first major pet exhibition of the year and will avoid the busy March show period," say the organisers. Pats Telford follows on 22 and 23 September.