Sirius UK Trade Show Marks Next Phase of Development : As approved members discovered the latest products and exclusive deals from market leading suppliers to the group.
Sirius, one of the UK’s leading buying groups in the electrical appliance and kitchen retail sector is pleased to report a record turnout at its UK Trade Show this October, as approved members discovered the latest products and exclusive deals from market leading suppliers to the group.
The show took place at Marshall Arena, the home of the MK Dons in Milton Keynes on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd October, where the Sirius Buying Group came together to prepare for a strong 2024.
Steve Jones, Managing Director at Sirius explains, “The decision to move to a two-day event at a larger, purpose-built venue was an honest representation of how far we have come since day one, as well as being highly indicative of the direction that the group is headed in terms of serving the independent retailer on a far greater scale. None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of our near-200 Members, and the incredible effort that all of our Approved Suppliers put into the Show, as well as the ongoing day-to-day support. It does not go unnoticed, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to every brand and your fantastic teams.”
The two-day trade show provided an extensive preview of next year’s trends with Sirius members having the opportunity to cherry-pick from best of the best new products and enjoy special deals and rewards from the likes of market leading brands like Siemens, Neff, Bosch, Hotpoint, Stoves, Haier, Montpellier, Liebherr, CDA and Caple. This underlines just one of the many ways the independent retailer can enjoy a leading-edge over competitors by working with such a well-connected and progressive buying group.
In fact, Sirius is always seeking to deliver the widest possible range of tools to support stock management, customer service and logistics to help Approved Members build greater profits and productivity into their individual businesses.
With extensive onsite catering and ample professional break out zones, Members enjoyed having dedicated time to their businesses away from the demands of the shopfloor for networking and strategising with Sirius experts, as well as getting the latest technical training one to one from product specialists. Members got hands-on in a popular cooking demonstration from Hotpoint and also enjoyed the best light refreshments from BSH, as Approved Suppliers pulled out all the stops to welcome established professionals and newcomers alike.
As well as reflecting on the changing nature of retail and using the event to prepare for peak season, Sirius held its gala dinner on Sunday evening with visitors getting to enjoy a drinks reception followed by a lavish three-course meal. The Sirius team is renowned for its generous hospitality supported by its Approved Suppliers and acknowledged the huge effort and hard work, which went into the Trade Show with some special Sirius Awards that recognised some of the stand-out Approved Suppliers within the group. Steve Puzey, Area Sales Manager at Bluestem Group was awarded Company Representative of the Year award. Hotpoint won the award for Best MDA Stand, Bluestem Group won the award for Best SDA stand and Haier secured the Best Stand Member’s Choice award, sealing its popularity with Sirius Members.
The entire group also led tributes throughout the show to industry legend, Peter Gilks, co-founder and now former director of Sirius following his announcement to retire, and Members and Suppliers took the opportunity to thank him for 22 unforgettable years of leadership, inspiration, and support.
Added to this, the awards gala dinner culminated in a generous Charity Auction, which this year supports Bristol-based charity, the Billie Elizabeth Wood Trust. Helping to fundraise for research in subarachnoid haemorrhage, BEWT is a fantastic cause that is pertinent within the industry and in particular, Danny Lay, Managing Director at Caple. Sirius Suppliers are always recognised for their generous product donations for the chosen charity auction but this year they went above and beyond and as a result, a huge £12,000 was raised during the event with a substantial range of prizes including a spa break at Ragdale Hall, the luxury wellness resort. With entertainment from a talented saxophonist and a fun-filled game of Bingo Boogie to round off the evening, guests enjoyed a great night of socializing while testing their musical knowledge.
Mark Veysey, Head of Operations at Sirius Buying Group says, “We pride ourselves on looking at the bigger picture so that our Members can decide exactly how they want to position themselves as a key player in their markets. By bringing so many people together at our UK Trade Show means we’re able to create a unique and welcoming environment to network and ultimately, generate sales through orders. I was delighted to see so many retailers mapping out their business strategies, and we look forward to providing fundamental support as our industry continues to evolve.”
Steve adds, “None of this would have been possible without the entire team at Sirius, and the support from events specialist, Incentivise. I would like to give a special mention to our very own Mark Veysey, along with Ella Fry of Incentivise, as their complete focus before, during and after the event, has helped make it such a huge success… Bring on next year!”
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