Indie sales reps celebrate Giving & Living’s 60th anniversary
There’s been a party atmosphere down in Exeter where the three-day Giving & Living trade show finishes today, 14 January, and attendees have been celebrating its 60th birthday.
The largest gift and home show in the south west region, organiser Hale Events had over 140 exhibitors at the milestone event held at Westpoint, including publishers such as AddSquirrel, Betty Boyns, The Eco-Friendy Card Co, Flossy Teacake, Hannah Wisdom Textiles, Jen Winnett Art, Nicole Elders, Onneke, Otter House, Pigment Productions, Rosy Roo, Salty’s Studio, Widdop And Co, and Meg Hawkins Art – who can be seen in the reel below.
Indie sales reps for the card industry in the region including Steve Johnson and Nicky Lockyer, who represent Otter House, Pigment’s Grainne Cooley and Michelle Adams from The Eco-friendly Card Company used their stands to find new contacts and network with existing stockists as well as fellow exhibitors.
Steve, who’s been exhibiting for 19 years, told PG Buzz: “It’s really great to have a local show and meet new customers and independent retailers – and it’s so easy to do for both visitors and exhibitors.”
Grainne said: “It’s been great to bring Pigment to the south-west. We’ve been showcasing our new Gesso range and had a great response from independent retailers.”
And Michelle added: “It’s been lovely to have such a great response to our new ranges which are literally hot-off-the press – this has to be our favourite show of the year!”
The Eco-friendly Card Co’s co-owner Sue Morrish said the Devon-based publisher had its best Sunday at a trade show since before Covid: “Which bodes well for the rest of 2025!”
