Retailing is a large and vital part of the UK economy with so much opportunity for international exhibitors to take advantage of. Shopping has become a key leisure activity for the UK consumer and an important part of people’s lives, where more than a third of all UK consumer spending goes through stores.
The UK retail market is worth a staggering 403bn in sales each year, accounting for 5% of the UK’s GDP and is the largest employer in the UK outside of the NHS.
Despite the turbulent impact of 2020, the UK retail market continued to grow by 2.2% year on year, with homewares, DIY and Gardening all experiencing growth despite physical retail being closed for large proportions of the year.
With the UK consumers continuing to spend their way out of a crisis, and all segments of retail rebounding this year, the Bank of England estimates that the UK economy, by the end of 2021, should have returned to pre pandemic levels of activity.
Our shows provide a gateway for international brands and manufacturers to access the UK’s buoyant retail market, get in touch if you would like to learn more about how you can do the same.