Govt denies access grants to virtual trade fairs: UKFT

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men’s and Women’s Fashion Week and Who’s Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

While, Intertextile Shanghai is set to take place from March 10-12.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

UKFT in its press release stated that, DIT Tradeshow Access grants are available for these physical shows, and NB grants may be withdrawn by DIT (Department for International Trade), if the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) advises against travel to the market at the time of the show. In these circumstances, DIT would potentially agree to support companies with a grant if the brand was represented by an agent, but companies will be required to provide documentary proof that their stand was manned by a local agent.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

Most of the other key fashion and textile trade events are running virtually only in January-March. Key virtual only events include: Playtime, Project Men’s on NuOrder, Coterie on NuOrder, Magic on NuOrder, Tranoi Connect, Lingerie Connect (organised by Salon de la Lingerie and Curve), Première Vision Paris, and

H + H.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

Despite continued lobbying by UKFT and despite having received support from the Department for International Trade, the UK government has still not agreed to make the existing funding available for use at virtual trade fairs.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

Whilst the jury is still out on the effectiveness of some of these platforms in generating actual sales, they remain the only option available for many companies in the immediate future and the signs are that they are here to stay even after physical shows become the norm again. According to the release, the UK needs to be visible in key international markets to recover from Covid-19 and reassure the world that the UK is still open for business after Brexit. However, if UK businesses continue to be absent from these platforms, the UK’s competitors will take advantage of the situation.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

There is a direct correlation between the level of grants offered by countries like Italy and the number of companies from those countries showing on these platforms. At last season’s New York events, with the Italian government providing 100 per cent funding there were over 80 Italian companies participating, whereas with 0 per cent funding from the UK government there was zero participation from UK companies.

 

UKFT has been working to encourage UK government to extend tradeshow access grants to companies wanting to show virtual trade fairs. At present, Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo and Pitti Filati are scheduled to take place physically on February 21-23. The Paris Men's and Women's Fashion Week and Who's Next shows are slated to take place physically around March 4-8.#

Looking at 2021, UKFT anticipates that wholesale business will begin to grow from spring onwards, especially as we approach summer. Direct to consumer will remain an important trend and will challenge traditional wholesale routes to market, but in some of its key export markets such as Japan, China and the Middle East UKFT is already seeing some signs of activity and companies are going to need to look at their promotional budgets very carefully and decide what they can afford to do and what will give them the best return on investment.