It goes without saying that you’ll have your work cut out for you at this year’s Sydney Gift Fair. Get your comfy shoes ready, and prepare to discover thousands of products from the gift, fashion, homewares industries to delight your customers and style your spaces.
Sydney Gift Fair is where the industry has meet for the past 40 years to connect, discover the newest products and celebrate the very best the industry has to offer. Along with hundreds of wholesale suppliers showcasing their wares from Friday 21st to Monday 24th at Sydney Olympic Park, are myriad features that you won’t want to miss. Let me share my top six with you that I personally can’t wait to explore!
1 – Buy from the Bush – Hall 2 & 3
I’m particularly excited to explore the new ‘Buy from the Bush’ feature this year, where in partnership with Australia Post, AGHA have sponsored four artisans to travel from regional and rural Australia to Sydney to take part in Artisan Lane.
Make sure you discover artist Jacinta Haycock, the colourful creations by 23 year old textile, watercolour and acrylic artist Maisie Johnson from Moree in NSW who owns Mai Designs, the ethical, naturally moulted feathers from their farm that Laura (and now her parents!) use to create under their label Featherdale Earrings, and the artisan cow skulls by Brooke of The Quirky Bovine, who is based in Ramornie, NSW.
Be sure to support these brilliant businesses during a critical time of need by ordering from these #buyfromthebush businesses at Sydney Gift Fair – just look out for the Buy from the Bush logo.
Plus, on behalf of the Australian gift and homewares Industry, Sydney Gift Fair is donating $2 for every visitor who attends the fair to the rural and regional communities severely impacted by the ongoing drought and recent bush-fires, including NSW Rural Fire Service, Australian Red Cross, Salvation Army and WIRES.
2- Artisan Lane
Not only will Artisan Lane feature the very best in handmade art and craft items, but there will also be live demonstrations throughout the day! We’ll get to understand the skills involved in bringing these pieces to life, showcased by the artists themselves!
It’s a brilliant chance to not only meet the makers but see them in action too. Many of these artisans’ hail from rural communities across Australia, meaning not only can we support them and their work, but create a flow on effect into their local communities too.
Click here to meet each of the artisans and here for an entire list of exhibitors with Artisan Lane.
3- The Launchpad – Hall 3 & 4
Another must-see returning to Sydney Gift Fair is The Launchpad, which is a showcase of up and coming Australian brands making their industry debut! New products, fresh ideas, and innovative designs – including Pure Oils of Tasmania, Sensori and more. Discover and support these new businesses – and delight your customers with never-seen-before products!
Click here for an entire list of exhibitors within The Launchpad at Sydney Gift Fair 2020.
4- Masterclass Series
Did you know that included in your free registration for the Sydney Gift Fair, are free education sessions led by some of the industry’s best thought-leaders and business experts across eCommerce, digital marketing, trend spaces and more.
Emily Osmond will be running three Masterclasses throughout the four days, starting with a panel discussion, The Business of Design on Friday 21 February at 10.00am. Join start-up and established business owners from across the gift, homewares and design industry to learn what has worked for them and what hasn’t from their own experiences starting and growing their business. Book into this Masterclass here.
Returning on Saturday 22 February at midday, Emily will run a Masterclass covering the Must Know Fundamentals of Instagram. This is perfect if you are yet to fully embrace Instagram within your marketing strategy, and feel unclear about what content to post, how often and the proper use of hashtags. Book into this Masterclass here.
And the third and final session Emily will be hosting is on Sunday 23 February at 2.30pm: Instagram Advanced: Winning Strategies for 2020. This is perfect if you have a basic basic understanding of how Instagram can benefit your business and want to take your knowledge to the next level. You’ll learn where to dedicate your resources across your photo feed, story, live video and IGTV, as well as using Instagram for e-commerce. Book into this Masterclass here.
There are many other brilliant Masterclasses over the event including:
Getting your brand in the media hosted by Jen Bishop, founder of Interiors Addict
Fair Work 101: HR & Employment Law hosted by Charles Watson from Workforce Guardian
Visual Merchandising hosted by Strategic VM & Retail expert and Co-founder of TalkShop, Sarah Quinn
Ten ways to get on Google for free hosted by Business Connect Advisor Jane Tweedy
How to use a Gift Fair to style your next project – a Masterplan for stylists and interior designers hosted by Natalee Bowen.
The Australian Advantage, hosted by Chief Executive of Australian Made Campaign Limited, Ben Lazzaro.
Unlike other trade fairs, the Masterclass Series is free to attend for all registered visitors. So book your seat here to join the AGHA Sydney Gift Fair from 21-24 February 2020. Masterclasses will be held in hub 2, located in the Dome foyer at Sydney Olympic Park.
5- Design Life
Of course, a key highlight of Sydney Gift Fair is ‘Design Life’: the go-to place for premium brands, international designs and the big players in their respective industries. Held in the Dome, Design Life is the must-visit buying destination for exceptional interiors and inspirational products for tomorrow’s spaces.
You’ll discover the latest ranges from brands including ColCam Enterprises, Home & Giftware, Papaya, Bambury and more! Prepared to be wowed by the scale of these brands on show!
Click here for an entire list of exhibitors featured within Design Life at Sydney Gift Fair 2020.
6- Australian Made Pavilion
Finally, be sure to visit the Australian Made Pavilion, where the Fair has partnered with the Australian Made Campaign to shine a spotlight on home-grown ideas and locally made products. This space shines a spotlight on our best ‘home grown’ talent – from homewares, to skin care, gourmet produce, and more.
With many Australian communities in regional towns doing it tough, this is a perfect opportunity to support local business owners. Explore brands including Bell Art Australia, Candle Bark Creations and more. Plus, meet with the Australian Made Campaign team to discuss all things Australian Made, from registering a product to using the logo!
Click here for the entire list of exhibitors within the Australian Made Pavilion.
To learn more about how you can market your business using social media, book your seat to attend Emily Osmond’s two Instagram Masterclasses. You can register for these free sessions here.
Written by Masterclass presenter Emily Osmond. Article originally published on getinmyhome.com