See you next year 
– FIT Show goes annual again 
May 2019

FIT Show organisers marked the launch of FIT 2019 with the news that it is to become an annual event once again, and will now return on May 12, 2020, organisers have announced.

The event’s new Visit Glass feature will also return, as will the show’s Gala Dinner, Late Night Tuesday and learning programme along with the promise of further developments of the event’s programme.

Event director Nickie West says the decision is a positive move which reflects the expressed needs of the show’s audience. She said some brands were not exhibiting this year in response to uncertain political and economic times but cannot afford to wait another two years to reconnect with their customers and supply chain, and added that for B2B trade shows in the UK, the energy and commitment required to re-establish momentum of biennial events is not tenable in the long-term.

The FIT Show began as an annual event from its debut at the Telford Exhibition Centre in 2013, following in 2014, then took a two-year break to 2016 before moving to the NEC the following year with 250 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors in attendance. Last week, it announced that pre-registration figures had already passed the equivalent record levels of 2017, auguring the biggest event yet.

Angus Montgomery Group purchased 80% of FIT Show in January 2017, with Nickie West continuing as Event Director alongside the event’s founders; Matthew Glover and Paul Godwin serving on the board as Chairman and Director respectively. 

Nickie concluded: “An annual showcase will allow us to deliver the best ROI for our exhibitors - developing a more consistent campaign that doesn’t drain on resources or enthusiasm. It will allow them to better plan for product launches, get more frequent facetime with key customers and prospects as well as creating an extra opportunity to connect with new audiences with as little down time as possible in the customer cycle.”