THINKING OF EXHIBITING AT A TRADE FAIR NEXT YEAR?
Good. You’ve come to the right place.
Perhaps you’ve already done a general gift trade fair. If you did, and the results weren’t what you hoped they’d be, forget that experience. BCTF could hardly be more different.
You won’t find yourself in a giant hall surrounded by huge companies selling cheap, mass-produced goods imported from China or India.
At BCTF we sell only BRITISH… QUALITY… HANDMADE products. If that sounds good to you, read on…

BCTF takes place in April each year in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The dates move around from year to year depending on when Easter falls, but in 2019 the dates are 7th – 9th April.
Our makers come from all over Britain and so do our buyers. Our venue, the Great Yorkshire Showground, is located a few miles outside Harrogate town centre, providing easy access, free parking for all, and a wonderful, restful environment for buyers and makers alike.

BCTF is a TRADE fair!
You won’t be selling to members of the public. Visitors to your stand will be professional buyers representing large organisations like Department Stores and the National Trust, plus owners of galleries, specialist gift shops, heritage shops and many, many more.
Because you’re dealing with the trade, you won’t need to take lots of stock with you. Buyers won’t expect to take their purchases with them. They will place orders with you and you will tell them how long they will need to wait before you send your products to them (your lead-time).

Is the trade route right for you?
Maybe you are currently selling at retail fairs up and down the country. Perhaps you are relying on your website to do the work for you. Or maybe you’re a new maker looking for a way to find their first customer.
Dealing with the trade offers several distinct advantages but it may not be right for you. Here’s what you need to consider.

If this is your first trade fair, you’ll need some extra help!
We don’t just sell stands to anyone and let them sink or swim. We have a Mentoring Program to help you prepare and we offer subsidised prices in your first three years.
We have special sections know as the Newcomer and Post-Newcomer galleries for exhibitors who are relatively inexperienced. prices start at only £692 all-in, including VAT.

To qualify, you must be making handmade goods in Britain or Ireland.
BCTF promotes only British products, so you won’t be competing with cheap mass-produced or imported goods. Our buyers want quality British handmade and they won’t be shocked by your prices – they know what quality costs!
The exact definition of handmade is a little complicated.
BCTF isn’t just a three-day event!
Every exhibitor gets a page in our online catalogue, BCTF Online. As soon as your page is built, your products will be in front of our 12,000+ buyers who have access to our catalogue. You can receive orders months before you arrive at the show!
Your page will show 3 – 5 images and about a hundred words of text to describe who you are and what you do. It will also include your contact telephone number and email and a link to your website.

How to apply for a stand – the three steps!
Step 1 – register your interest.
Step 2 – we have a brief chat. No hard sell – just a friendly five minute chat.
Step 3 – you fill in a booking form.
And that’s it!

Let’s talk money!
Exhibiting isn’t cheap, but it’s a necessary investment in your future. Unlike the people you might meet at a retail fair, buyers you meet at BCTF may still be buying from you twenty years from now. That’s why it’s not just an expense, it’s an investment – in you!
Our stands come in a wide range of sizes starting at 2 metres wide by 1 metre deep. That’s not very big, but if your product is compact (i.e. jewellery) it’s plenty big enough. Remember, you don’t have to carry stock to sell – you only display samples and take orders.
Want to apply for a stand at BCTF 2019?
Maybe you’d just like to talk to someone first.
Either way, register now and get the ball rolling.
When you register with BCTF we will add your details to our database. We will provide you with access to our online booking system so that you can book a stand if you’re ready.
Thereafter, each month you will receive our e-Newsletter providing you with more information about the coming fair.