The opening day of PATS Sandown has been hailed as a huge success by exhibitors, who unveiled an amazing array of products in two busy halls at Sandown Park.
Exhibitors were particularly pleased with the quality of enquiries and orders generated from the many visitors who flocked into the show.
Toby Massey, co-founder of Beco Pets, said: “This is the 10th anniversary show for PATS Sandown and it just keeps getting better. The number and quality of visitors to the Beco Lounge has already exceeded our expectations.”
A new addition to PATS Sandown this year has been the Vital Grandstand, which proved very popular as director Sunny Sharma said: “We are having a fantastic first day and couldn’t be more pleased. Turnout at the Vital Grandstand and our enlarged stand, J7 in the Surrey Hall, has been beyond expectations and we are delighted with the response from existing and prospective customers.
“We’ve been handing out goody bags and providing refreshments to all our visitors and it has been so well received that over lunchtime delegates were queuing up to join us.”
“I know we’ve all felt that there’s a real buzz going on in the Grandstand in particular and thanks go to the suppliers who are supporting us there with exclusive deals. Our exclusive ranges are also creating excitement over at the main hall stand. We really wanted to signal that the new Vital is all about doing things differently, partnering with customers and suppliers and delivering best in class service. Today it really feels as if that message is being heard.”
It was also a fantastic first day for FROZZYS with Noel Conlon admitting: “I am indebted to PATS for opening so many doors. This exhibition has given us the opportunity to accelerate our business in the UK while attracting interest from countries such as Spain, Denmark and Holland.”
Another success story on a memorable opening day was Pet Remedy, who picked up two New Product Awards. Sales director Rob Tyler said: “The show was already proving to be very profitable even before we picked up two awards. Interest soared to even greater levels after the awards were announced so we’ve been busy all day.”
Unipet International was another award-winner, and marketing manager Dawn Robinson said: “The success in the New Product Awards has definitely driven people to our stand. We couldn’t have wished for a better first day at the show.”
One of the big attractions of the shows was the fact there were 37 exhibitors new to PATS Sandown. Lara Waddell, of Healthy Hounds, summed up the mood of the newcomers by saying: “I’ve been blown away with the response to our supplements and treats. The first day has been brilliant and if the show ended now we would still be pleased with the business we’ve done from both independent retailers and the big pet chains.”
The first day of the show also got the thumbs-up from visiting retailers.
Tony Sharpe, of Pets Korner, Stamford, Lincolnshire, said: “I love the timing of PATS Sandown because it gives us the chance to see all the new launches for the year. We’re here for two days, which gives us time to weigh everything up before making the big purchasing decisions. It’s a show we can’t afford to miss.”
And Piers Smart, of Scampers, Cambridgeshire, commented: ““I came to PATS looking for one type of product innovation and I found it.”
