TOTALLY REVIEW
the thinking behind the change: “Our focus over the past 20 years has been on providing innovative and international products for independent retailers. Returning to a Sunday show opening, we are responding to demands from this key section of our visitors.” She added that the new show will feature “various zones,” with plans moving towards “a special new forum for the trade.” Responses to these plans were, on the whole, positive from visitors and exhibitors at this year’s show. Most, like hinges expert A. Perry, said they would like to keep their hat in the mix with Totally, whatever it’s new name, and continue to support the show if and where possible. “We’ll see what happens,” said sales manager Patrick Corcoran. “We’d like to keep the A. Perry brand with Totally, but we have to assess whether it will be worthwhile for us. Having said that, it only takes one really good customer to make exhibiting worth it.” Retailers, too, are weighing in on the changes being made to next year’s show, with some unsure of the June date and others welcoming change to the exhibition in whatever shape or form it takes. DIY Week asked independent retailer Broad Street DIY what it thought of the plans. “It sounds good and might encourage more visitors,” said directors Lisa Childs and Brian Warren. “‘Totally Tools’ sounds limiting and may put people off who think it’s just all about tools, when there are so many more products on show.”
Looking at the 2017 show overall,
the retailer reported that “there were good products,” but pointed out, “it seems to be getting smaller every year. It would have been nice to have more exhibitors, but not necessarily the bigger branded ones, as long as there is a good mixture.”
The inevitable comparisons Falling just one week after Spring Fair, with its well-publicised new DIY focus, Totally was
TOTALLY WINNING
There was a wide range of new products on show in the BHETA Innovation Zone and New Product Showcase, all vying for the coveted Best New Product in Show award. Taking home the prize was Patlock, a Secured by Design internal patio door security device, recommended by crime prevention officers. Two Highly-Commended certificates were awarded to Grakob’s PlumbThumbs radiator capping tool and the TrigJig digital coving and skirting mitring tools. Judges were impressed by Patlock’s certification under the Secured by Design scheme, which has led to recommendations by police crime prevention officers to home owners, particularly the elderly and vulnerable. Said sales director Jim Law said: “One of the main forms of criminal entry to properties is through lock snapping from the outside of patio doors. Patlock secures patio door handles from the inside of the home. “The quick-release method inside the home means Patlock can be
removed by the householder with ease when required.” Already stocked in major retail outlets, Patlock came to Totally DIY & Tools with the intention of expanding its network of independent retail stockists. Patlock managing director Craig Knott added: “There are so many good
products in the BHETA Innovation Zone and the show’s New Product Showcase that we are honoured to have won this award.” Industry judges were also impressed by their two Highly-Commended winners, praising the versatility of Grakob’s PlumbThumbs and its marketing at both the retail DIY and builders’ merchant markets. The product enables the user to cap off radiator connections so that radiators can be removed without the need to drain them. Also receiving high praise were TrigJig’s digital coving and skirting mitring tools, suitable for DIYers and tradesmen alike. The tools were recognised for their use in mitring awkward angles. The product was launched by HICI Ltd at Totally DIY & Tools 2017.
understandably compared by many exhibitors and visitors against the show. Speaking from the Wilsons stand, sales director Gary Hopkins said that this year’s Totally had been “really quiet, with one or two quality customers,” adding, “it’s hard to say if it’s been worthwhile at this stage. At the moment, the cost per lead is too high.”
When speaking on the subject of Spring Fair, he added, “It would be interesting to compare who went to which show. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have them so close together... I don’t think the DIY offer at Spring Fair was serious enough this year. It needs anchoring by the bigger suppliers, like Velcro and Henkel, then they might just crack it. However, something Spring Fair
doesn’t have is the merchant trade, they still choose to come to Totally.” Broad Street DIY’s Lisa Childs and Brian Warren added: “There was more variety at Totally for us than at the Spring Fair. While both are useful for us to attend, the Totally show has always been beneficial in terms of finding new products.” For A. Perry, exhibiting in the Gift department of Spring Fair proved worthwhile, with the supplier picking up £35,000 worth of business in its first day, thanks to interest in its metal garden art. Mr Corcoran said that they would be interested in exhibiting in the DIY hall at next year’s NEC show, but reiterated that the supplier was keen to continue to keep its brand with Totally too, if possible.
Those exhibiting showed a die-hard passion for their brands
www.diyweek.net
Visitors were impressed with the calibre of new products on show 10 MARCH 2017 DIY WEEK 9
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