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View All Press Releases| PATS 2010 | 02 May 2010 |
PATS goes for growth… Overall visitor numbers up by 23% on last year’s launch shows
PATS Harrogate 2010 began and ended on the highest of notes. The show was sold out more than two months ago and expectations were high, particularly as just a month ago, the south-based PATS Sandown visitor numbers had increased by 31%.
2010’s northern PATS in Harrogate opened with 129 exhibitors, compared with 107 exhibitors at 2009’s launch show. And the Harrogate 2010 show welcomed 1586 visitors – 17% more than the 1354 retailers who attended last year.
Overall, PATS 2010 visitor numbers were up by 23% on 2009’s total figure of 2310.
Show organiser Annie Dyke is delighted. “Our industry colleagues have supported us in the pet and aquatics trade’s inimitable, enthusiastic style. The PATS team sends thanks to everyone; exhibitors, visitors and our trade media friends. But we are by no means complacent. Today (Friday April 30th) we have sent out a survey to our exhibitors, not seeking praise but asking for constructive comments on ways in which we can improve the PATS shows. The 2010 shows may now be closed but we are already working on PATS 2011.”
So what exhibitor feedback did the PATS organisers receive while the Harrogate show was taking place? Alan Thompson, National Sales Manager of R.C. Hagen, said:
‘We’ve had lots of visitors – at times it’s been overwhelming – and all have been good quality retailers. We’ve seen a number of our existing key accounts, including some from Ireland; and high number of new retail accounts we can follow up and with whom we can create new relationships. There has been a fantastic reaction to our new Dogit and Catit ranges.’
New-to-PATS exhibitor Bergan UK, which has been established in the US for five years, has a recently-created UK division. Erick Riviera, Sales Director of Bergan UK, was most enthusiastic about his first PATS experience:
‘PATS has been phenomenal! We are launching our American company into the UK market and here we are getting to know a lot of pet store owners as well as key buyers from multiple chains. We’ve even took orders on the first day…and as we are newly launching into the UK that’s great.
We see PATS as a long-term investment to build our credibility in the UK market and we’ll definitely be back.’
Nicky Kininmonth, designer and manufacturer of Wicked or What’s CarPET Pet Hair Remover, agrees:
‘PATS went beyond our expectations. We saw loads of people and took good orders. In this show it doesn’t matter where our stand is based; the customer flow has been so good because of the excellent show layout.’
Stephen Bones, Managing Director, Aristocrat Pet Supplies, compared PATS 2010 with last year’s launch shows:
‘PATS 2010 has much better show dates than last year – it avoids the Bank Holiday. We’ve had a lot of enquiries from quality accounts, who are visiting the show from places as far apart as Scotland and Hastings in East Sussex. Retailers range from small independents to large chains and we’ve seen plenty of dog groomers. PATS Harrogate has been our first opportunity to properly launch our cold pressed salmon oil into the UK – it’s the first of its kind, sourced from fresh, wild salmon and is not heat treated, boiled or frozen. The coat conditioning qualities of this product adds value for groomers and they have come to the show especially to find us.’
Fadulla Ltd were exhibitors at PATS Sandown in 2009 and this year, exhibited at both shows. Of his first northern PATS experience, Director David Newman says:
‘We’ve been very pleased with PATS Harrogate; we’ve had some very good leads and picked up some orders as well. What an impressive venue this is!
We’ve had a good show and have really enjoyed it; and are interested that Wednesday was even busier than the first day, with top quality leads.’Versele-Laga’s Area Sales Manager, Matthias Rodeyns, is also delighted:
‘It’s a very good show and we’ve had excellent results and good footfall. PATS is working well for us. We were here in Harrogate last year and PATS 2010 is even better – we’ve experienced more interaction with independent pet retailers which is great for our brand awareness.’
PATS 2011 dates are as follows:
PATS Sandown Park March 22nd and 23rd 2011
PATS Harrogate April 5th and 6th 2011- Ends -
April 30th 2010
Photographs of PATS Harrogate 2010 are available as follows:
visit www.sirastudio.com
Click on Client Web Galleries
Click on PATS Harrogate 2010
On the password screen, enter:
Username; pats
password; pats10harrogateFor further enquiries press please contact:
Angie Noon, PATS PR
Email: angela.noon@impact-exhibitions.com
Tel: +44 (0)1342 716340
