Trade fair Top Drawer opens January 15 to kickstart the 2023 buying season at Olympia London

Top Drawer has opened on January 15th at Olympia in the heart of Kensington, London, reporting a buzzing atmosphere on the first day that attracted trade buyers from some of the biggest retailers from the UK and abroad, including Harvey Nichols, HMV, Harrods, Glasgow Museums, John Lewis, Oliver Bonas, National Trust, the Government of South Australia and Dobbie’s Garden Centre. Still registered to attend and source over the next two days are the likes of Liberty, Selfridges, Wolf & Badger, The Conran Shop, SCP, Aria, Fortnum & Mason, TJ Maxx Europe, Fenwicks, Marks & Spencers, Waitrose, the Walt Disney Company, and Waterstones.  

The London trade fair's S/S 2023 edition slated for January 15 - 17 2023  features 1000s of new launches across nine curated sectors -  Home, Wellbeing, Gift, Fashion, Food Emporium, Craft, Greetings Cards & Stationery, Play and Launchpad for promising new talent – to help buyers source the key products for the season ahead, and professional visitors to grasp in one venue the key trends that will help drive business.  

Organisers say 50% of exhibitors are exclusive to the show and 25% are making their Top Drawer debut. More than 500 brands from the UK and abroad are presented in this latest edition, including the likes of Aery, British Colour Standard, CABAIA, Inside Out Toys, Kind Bag, Lifeguard Press + Ban.do, LIGA, Ohh Deer, Poppy + Ted, Reeves & Reeves, Roger La Borde, Scream Pretty, Swole Panda, The Bottled Baking Co. and Wanderlust Paper Co. to name just a few, showcasing their latest product launches and Christmas collections.

Featured are Discovery Journal; Dahlia London Official; Charlotte's Web Jewellery;
Trixie Baby and We Are Proper Good
All images from Top Drawer SS 2023.

Show Manager, David Westbrooke said: “As the first show of the year, we understand just how important it is that Top Drawer offers our visitors the most exciting and inspiring sourcing opportunities of the season. In addition, the unique curation process that makes Top Drawer the event that it is, saves retailers time and effort by hand-selecting only the very best established brands and emerging names for them to discover on the show floor.”

Joanna Hockett, International Sales Manager for Lifeguard Press further expands on the appeal of the event: “Top Drawer is easily our favourite trade show - the timing, the location and the buyers here put it a cut above the rest, and this season is no exception!”

Once again The Better Trends Co. are providing attendees an exclusive trend forecast service unveiling fully two of the biggest trends for the season ahead at the show.   

Musango - HOME

“Rhythmic form” is a trend that emphasises the use of repetitive shapes and patterns to create a sense of visual harmony within a space and usher in a feeling of calm. By utilising a variety of materials and textures, this timeless trend can be easily incorporated into any space and is just what we need as we enter 2023. 

“Modern psychedelic”, on the other hand, is a trend characterised by bold, vibrant colours and patterns that evoke a sense of defiant, unapologetic joy. This style often features a mix of geometric shapes and organic curves, as well as a variety of textures and materials to create an eye-catching look that is sure to turn heads. 

Locomocean - GIFT

Tihara Smith - LAUNCHPAD

Alongside the top brands and household names, fresh new talent will be put in the spotlight in the “Launchpad” sector (which made its debut during the SS22 edition),  allowing them to network with high-calibre buyers and build lasting connections within the industry. For this edition, we’ll also see the return of the show’s partnership with the University of Arts London who have been hand-selected to showcase their products and are eager to increase their brand exposure.    

In addition, RetailFest has lined up speakers to inspire visitors, to offer advice and support for businesses by presenting their new Ecommerce Insight programme at Top Drawer S/S23. This will help businesses to tackle digital strategy head on, with actionable takeaways from sessions covering SEO, audience engagement and online advertising.

Speakers include the likes of Cath Kidson, The Conran Shop's Campbell Thompson, Oliver Bonas' Camilla Tress and more, offering the inside scoop on the industry, plus tips to help businesses to understand social media, how to engage with customers and operate sustainably plus marketing insights.

Registration for Top Drawer is free for professional buyers and store owners; more information on registration, exhibiting brands and seminar sessions can be found at their website.