In a major new development for the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF), the organisers have revealed that in 2020, the show will be open to the public for one day before the trade show gets underway, allowing consumers to buy directly from the exhibiting designer makers. To date, the show has been open solely to trade buyers.
“This is a real celebration of all things British and handmade,” show organiser Margeret Bunn explained. “Demand from the public for locally made, sustainable products is running at an all-time high and we want to do everything possible to help our exhibitors bring their crafts to market.”
She continued: “This is an amazing opportunity for the general public to visit the largest show in the UK that is exclusively dedicated to British designer makers, many of whom do not show at other retail or trade events and cannot easily be found online. BCTF is where people come to discover new and innovative products of the highest quality and they deserve to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.”
The new opening dates for 2020 will be Saturday April 4 (open to the public); Sunday April 5 through to Tuesday April 7 (trade only). The show will again be taking place at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate.
BCTF 2019, held in April, saw visitor numbers soar by 24% compared to the previous year.
Top: Among the designer maker products at this year’s BCTF.
