The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) and Sourcing City brought the UK’s promotional products industry to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England, on February 12-13 for Merchandise World.

The trade show drew 1,599 attendees this year, an 18-percent increase over 2019’s figure, to meet with more than 200 exhibitors. Exhibitors shared the show floor with a special Eco World zone, which featured sustainable products and an exhibit of award winners from the BPMA Product Awards.

The BPMA Education Day, held the day before the show’s doors opened, featured a full roster of education sessions. Seminars and sessions were also presented during the show at the BPMA’s booth.

Along with the BPMA Product Awards, which recognized new products in 10 different categories, Merchandise World also celebrated industry companies and professionals’ accomplishments at the BPMA Awards Dinner on the evening of the show’s first day. The event drew an audience of 450 industry professionals to applaud their peers’ successes, among them Essex-based Total Merchandise, which took home the Distributor Of The Year award in the £5 million-plus category.

Merchandise World will be held again in the fall, beginning September 9 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.