Visitors to PATS Harrogate can expect to see a host of first-time exhibitors and new products when the doors open on the UK’s No.1 pet trade event. The two-day show takes place on Sunday and Monday, September 14-15.
As well as a record number of companies exhibiting their latest product lines, there will be new talks in the informative seminar sessions, grooming demonstrations by members of Groom Team England plus extensive catering and seating plans in place.
Among 170 exhibitors there are 44 companies appearing at PATS Harrogate for the first time, as they see the exhibition as the perfect opportunity to announce their plans for the year ahead.
The Big Dog Bed Company is a relative newcomer to the UK pet trade and will be making its first PATS appearance at Harrogate. With the introduction of products for the veterinary and physiotherapy market plus a new small bed range, director Dru Ross feels it is important to raise the company’s profile. "PATS provides the ideal platform to achieve this," he says.
Silver Pet Prints, a company which enables owners to capture their pets’ paw prints in fine silver, will use the Harrogate show to introduce their unique products to pet retailers and vets. “We learned about PATS by reputation because a few people said it was a really good show. So we felt it was the ideal opportunity to showcase our services there,” explains the company’s Amy Hobson.
PATS Harrogate is also an important date in the calendar for more established companies like Ancol, as its sales director Sarah Lane admits: “PATS is always a great exhibition for us. We look forward to sharing our new ranges with our customers and saying hello to our old friends.”
The New Product Showcase is a great way for visitors to see and touch the new products they will be stocking. In previous years more than 200 new items have been entered into the Showcase so it is the best place to view potential bestsellers. All items entered by manufacturers will be put forward for the New Product Awards judged by a panel of pet retailers.
The PATS Grooming Workshops will feature state-of-the-art grooming demonstrations by new members of Groom Team England – Alison Rogers and Mike Wildman – who will be eager to show off their professional skills.
And a free-to-attend series of seminars will cover new topics including: 30 ways to improve your business in 30 minutes; retailing RAW pet foods; an introduction to condition-appropriate feeding for dogs, and an insight into the life-saving abilities of medical detection dogs.
There is so much to see and do during a trip to PATS Harrogate, and the organisers have recognised that visitors need breaks for rest and refreshments. There will be plenty of seating areas throughout the exhibition halls where people can have meetings or simply rest for a few minutes. Those people arriving before 10am will receive a breakfast voucher, which is redeemable at the Hall B catering points.
PATS also features free entry, a free catalogue and a free park-and-ride scheme. There’s still time for visitors register online at www.patshow.co.uk where a full and up-to-date list of exhibitors is available.
Opening times
Sunday 14th September: 9.00am-5.00pm
Monday 15th September: 9.00am-4.00pm
