A NEW annual trade show is to be held for the first time at a hotel overlooking the Llandudno promenade across a three-day period in January 2022.

‘Llandudno Gift Fair’ has been organised by Steve Valentine, who founded Gwynedd Confectioners, Wales’ largest independent chocolate manufacturer, more than 30 years ago, and his son, Paul, who also works for the company.

It will be based at the four-star St George’s Hotel in Llandudno from January 16-18, 2022, and will be open for traders to visit between 9am-5.30pm.

The show hopes to attract owners and buyers from all sorts of businesses, including gift shops, garden centres, zoos, and convenience stores, and is already a sell-out event in terms of the number of exhibitors registered to attend.

Each of the 20-plus exhibitors will have their own existing client list to which they can promote the event to, but Paul said he is keen to promote the show as best he can to hopefully attract new buyers from further afield.

He said: “We just thought that the industry would benefit from having a new show, hopefully giving it a shot in the arm to help get things going again after COVID.

“There has always been a trade show in Llandudno, at the Venue Cymru, but with it being a vaccine centre, there was question marks about where it was going to go ahead.

“The companies that exhibit there rely on it, so we thought we could set something going to make sure it goes ahead.

“If you added up the orders that all the exhibitors would take during the two or three days that the shows run, it would be hundreds of thousands of pounds. It’s big, hence why it’s important that an event like that actually goes ahead.”

Llandudno Gift Fair is a separate venture to Paul and Steve’s family business, though Gwynedd Confectioners will be among the exhibitors at the event.

This is the first time Paul has helped stage an event of this kind, though with his vast experience of attending them, he is certain it will be a greater success for smaller businesses who may have suffered financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added: “You might be interested in looking for new things, or you might have decided that you want to open a business, or change career.

“Some people may have lost their jobs, so they might be looking at doing something else, and it might be an opportunity to meet people. There’s nice variety.

“We’ve all been doing it for a long time, and part of it is to gain experience and ask for advice. We’re happy to welcome anybody who has a business and might be interested in visiting.”

For more information, visit: www.llandudnogiftfair.co.uk.