On a sunny, bright Monday morning it is extremely pleasant to receive telephone calls from exhibitors who had a successful weekend at Southport Flower Show.

Looking ahead to continue this positive flow of good sales, we are working on The Autumn Festival at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, in Romsey  Hampshire on the 6th – 9th October. We have received an excellent response from demonstrations of country crafts, Arts and Sculpture and catering food exhibitors. As we are producing the publicity and emailing press releases we require a response from you for the craft pavilion, either, space within the pavilion or there is still a small availability for outside space with shedding if you wish.

Our costs for space are at “cost price” only, so a 3 metre site in the pavilion will cost you £240.00 (including power) for four days trading.

A site 3m x 3m outside shedding and power will cost £210.50.

If you have your own cover/pavilion this is reduced to £152.00, if you have a quiet genny this is reduced to £72.00.

(All costs + vat).

Large or small, experienced or just starting we need your support for this venture it will become an important event in your calendar in future years.

Please ring Karen or Maryanne on 01428682292 or email karen@ruralcraftsassociation.co.uk.

James and Nigel have just set off for Southport that outpost of flower power in the North West.

Chatsworth is now full and at Burghley we have 1 0r 2 small spaces for special work.

Bisley Gun & Country Sports Show

Food walk needs a few more bookings. The organizers have sold 180 outside stands so it will be a substantial show.
30th September -2nd October Guildford area.

Hillier Autumn Festival

6th – 9th October 2011
New event for us all, such promise on this lovely site. Stands and open ground being offered at cost price only for this first year – good take up on group stands.
We plan for this Autumn show to become an important part of our programne.

Book it today; speak to Karen or me about how best to make your visit a profitable one.

Christmas leaflets

These are with us now so let us have your requests for your Christmas mailing.

Southport Flower Show

4 spaces for 2 m to 4m available
 

Chatsworth Country Fair

2 spaces of 2 or 3 m still to go
 
Bisley Shooting Show  30th sept – 2nd October 2011
6 stands in food walk (catering stands now full)
 

Christmas Season

 
A bit early but plan well ahead with publicity leaflets which are available for your Christmas mailing. (A5 size)

Game Fair

Best for 10 years back to its old self. Huge visitor numbers on this large site, full of interest and content/ smashing show

Gatcombe Horse Trials

Two emergency cancellations mean we have 2 sites available at short notice – ring Trevor or Maryanne 0142868 2292

Southport Flower Show

Expecting a large crowd here, we still have some stand space to go – ring Trevor or Maryanne 0142868 2292

Chatsworth Country Fair

Nearly full – 3 spaces to go – ring Trevor or Maryanne 0142868 2292

Burghley Horse Trials

Signs are that this will be a good year for us all. Some space available for unusual or special work but its got to be different!! – ring Trevor or Maryanne 0142868 2292

We made a visit to Hampton Court this week where trade was described as OK but not life changing. The first day of Yorkshire, from immediate report, looks to be shaping up well.

We are all now faced with a plethora of shows one upon another, keep calm – keep banking your money – a good night’s sleep before the last day of a show and the journey onward is sensible!

NOTES ON FORTHCOMING SHOWS

Holkham Country Fair

Such a lovely setting on the northern Norfolk coast – take a little evening trip to get fish and chips at Wells by the Sea.

Royal Welsh Show

Do remember you cannot park behind the pavilion unless you have an “on site office” ticket which is used for overnight accommodation only. Nigel will advise you on where to park your van for the four days.

CLA Game Fair

Travel from the Welsh on the last evening and park up in the holding area at the Game Fair. You will be allowed in at 6.30am to set up. Don’t go at it like a bull at a gate!

SPACE AVAILABLE

Southport Flower Show

We have several stands still available at the most popular northern flower show. Ring Maryanne or Trevor as Karen and Peter are now on holiday.

Burghley Horse Trials

One stand in the food walk and four stands in the craft area for unusual or new work – ring Maryanne or Trevor again.

Bisley Food Walk

Some space still to go at this exciting new event, catering and take home sales allowed.
Food and kitchen related products also welcome.

Hilliers Autumn Festival

Promising bookings for this event on this lovely site, some food, craft and independent outside stands available – it will be a “Country Show” in theme.

SAD NEWS

It is with great regret that we learn of the death of two interesting, independent people:

Kate Weaver the potter and artist died last week. Kate joined us in the seventies and was an example of good practice in that her stand was always first class and her work always interesting. Nothing held Kate back, together with her rescued greyhounds she ventured to all parts of the UK. She stopped attending shows in the late nineties, she was surprisingly 90 years old and continued painting and potting till the last week of her life.

Lana Gregory – Lana died last week aged just 52, we shall all miss her lively personality and good humour. An Association member for the last 10 years, Lana’s vitality and enthusiasm with customers and fellow exhibiters was infectious leading to her success with her business.

We shall miss you Lana, our thoughts go out to Greg and her family at this sad time.

June Shows

Cornwall

Up on last year and what a stalwart this show is.

South of England

Again up on 2011 despite the showers.

East of England

Not so good for most of us – but  a cheerful forecast for 2012 in that they are joining their large dog show to the Agricultural Show and moving into July.

Lincolnshire Show

Just about up to standard – apologies for the late arrival of pavilion, contractor was doing a job in Scotland and his logistics went wrong, thank you for your cheerful patience.

Royal Highland

Good and better than 2010 for most exhibitors with a few having record sales.

Guildford Festival

Nine days of selling in the cobbled high street of this popular town centre – most reported sales up to 2010, which for most means a good weeks trading.

Royal Norfolk

Comments from the majority of exhibitors reported an above average event on two lovely days.

Cotswold Show

Katherine reports good for some, average for others. A lovely two days with a super parkland site.

Announcements

Burghley Food Walk

Next up is a challenge for all food producers at the Burghley Food Walk. “Burghley Life” the smart magazine printed for the trials are doing a feature on the food walk and have asked me to ask you all for a recipe using your product, short or long , by post, email or fax send me something this very day. If it is your Great Grandmas Victoria Sponge recipe, do please say so.

For sale

Nigel Martin has retired from his successful furniture making business, sailing has claimed another victim! His most attractive stand is for sale – do not miss it if you are making furniture.

The shell is designed for either a 3m or 4m wide stand. It is free standing and quick to erect and dismantle. The only tool required is a screwdriver to insert a few screws. The shell consists of a lightweight floor and blue carpet tiles onto which the self-supporting walls mount. The walls consist of a timber frame with lightweight fibreboard panels, ideal for attaching photographs etc. Four spotlights mounted on wooden plinths simply plug into the top of the walls. There are also shelves, which can be used to display items.

£250.00 OIRO

Contact Nigel Martin
Tel: 01379 687764
Email: info@nigel-martin.co.uk

Future Events For All of You

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens Autumn Festival, Romsey  nr Winchester, Hampshire

6th – 9th October 2011

We are promoting British Crafts, lifestyle crafts, specialist foods, country pursuits, Artists and sculptures together to form a most pleasant and profitable weekend to end the summer season, not to be missed contact us to reserve your space.
Prices start at £80.00 per metre frontage.

Food Walk at Bisley Live, The Gun & Country Sports Show, Bisley, Surrey

30th September -  2nd  October 2011

We need a few more food members, soups, pork products and teas already gone.
Both catering and take home sales offered.
Cost: £94.00 per metre frontage + vat.

SPACE AVAILABLE

We have SPACE AVAILABLE at the following over the coming month.

• Great Yorkshire Show -  8 metres
• Kent Show – 15 metre
• Holkham Country Fair -7 metres
• Royal Welsh – 16 metres craft and foods.
• Holker Hall Driving Trials – 22 metres – do support this please.
• Southport Flower Show – 28 metres – purple carpet this year.
• Chatsworth Country Fair – 37 metres
• Burghley Horse Trials – 57metres (talk to Karen or I)

Meanwhile whilst the Lincolnshire, Royal Highland and Guildford Festival are full we do have limited space at the Royal Norfolk (food and craft), Great Yorkshire (craft) and Kent (craft) – send an email to Maryanne and Karen who are poised to talk to you.

Good News

The late Lowther Horse Driving Trails has now been officially replaced by the British Holker Hall Driving Trials (6th – 7th August) as the official Cumbrian event.

We shall organise a small pavilion this year and grow with the event as we did at Lowther. We look forward to reconnecting with our many customers and friends in the North. A comfortable trip for members from the North of England and Scotland to this prestigious venue, establish your presence early at this event as we feel sure it will become as popular as Lowther. Costs will be moderate. Location off Junction 36/M6.

Southport Flower Show

18th – 21st August

We have re-negotiated our costs here and can therefore hold our prices so there will be NO increase in the net charge this year. In addition we shall be carpetting the pavilon avenues in purple! – this will add style to the pavilion a provide a good visual look. We shall also be taking our piazza furniture to give a bouyant atmosphere around the pavilion. James will be bringing up grey panels so if you need these please do contact him.

Late News

Suffolk Show (1st – 2nd June)

We have 4 spaces available.

Royal Bath and West Show (1st – 4th June)

We have 2 spaces available.