Top Drawer Spring/Summer concluded on January 16 after three days of product sourcing, talks, networking and more at Olympia London.
This season’s show saw a 10% increase in size compared with the 2023 edition, and a second consecutive increase in visitor numbers, with 35% of them never having attended previously.
In addition to the uplift in overall attendee numbers, a focus on attracting high-budget retailers saw a 23% increase in the amount of VIP buyers with budgets of over £250,000.
As a result, Top Drawer witnessed a veritable who’s who of retail on the show floor, including buyers from Accessorize, Anthropologie, Art Print Japan Co., Asda, Asos, Avoca, Barbican Centre, Barkers, Barnes & Noble, Blue Diamond, Brand Alley, Cardzone, Cass Art, Charles Tyrwhitt, Debenhams, Disney, Dunelm, English Heritage, Established & Sons, Fat Face, Fenwick, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Fortnum & Mason, Frasers Group, Fron Goch Garden Centre, Gatwick Airport, Graham & Green, Habitat, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Heal’s, Historic Royal Palaces, Homesense, Hoopers, Imperial War Museum, Jarrold Department Store, Jigsaw, John Lewis, JoJo Maman Bebe, Joules, L’Oreal, Lakeland, Lark London, Laura Ashley, Le Bon Marche, Liberty, Lords At Home, Moleskine, Moonpig, Morleys Department Stores, Museum Rijswijk, National Trust, Next, Notcutts, Ocado Retail, Oliver Bonas, Paul Smith, Petersham Nurseries, Ransoms Garden Centre, Rockett St George, Rossiters Of Bath, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Opera House, Ryman, Sainsbury’s, Science Museum Group, SCP, Scribbler, Selfridges, Sofology, Southbank Centre, Squires, Tate Enterprises, Tesco, The British Museum Company, The Conran Shop Japan, The Design Museum, The Dulwich Trader, The Hambledon, The National Gallery, The Natural History Museum, The V&A Museum, The White Company, TJX Europe, Transport for London, twentytwentyone, Urban Outfitters, Vinegar Hill, Waterstones, Whole Foods, WHSmith, World Duty Free, and ZSL.
Buyers relished the increased choice on offer and took every opportunity to connect with more than 550 suppliers – 30% of whom were brand new to the event.
This season also saw the introduction of the Spotlight Awards, celebrating standout brands from across the show. The winners were:
● Best New Product in Craft – Studio Kulik
● Best New Product in Fashion – Original Duckhead
● Best New Product in Play – Dinosuit
● Best New Product in Wellbeing – Oir Soap
● Best New Product in Food – Coco Chocolatier
● Best New Product in Home – Designed in Colour
● Best New Product in Gift – Archivist
● Best New Product in Launchpad – Freya Niamh Design
● Best New Product in Greetings & Stationery – Lagon Design
● Innovation in Design – Picture This
● Best Newcomer – The Way to You
Show manager David Westbrooke said: “A second successive year of both exhibitor and visitor growth is something the team can be rightly proud of – you can’t beat the buzz of meaningful connections being made and business done. I’m delighted to have witnessed so many happy faces over the three days – thank you to everyone involved!’
