Alison Church, Event Director

Alison Church, Event Director

Premium Beauty News - This edition of Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London will take place in a new venue. How will the show look like in this new location?

Alison Church - Packaging Innovations has seen phenomenal growth since the show launched back in 2010. And of course, with the addition of Luxury Packaging in 2011, the event has since doubled in size over the years. The Business Design Centre served the event well in its infant years, but now that it has evolved to become the exclusive event for branded and inspirational packaging in the capital, we needed to find a new home that allows for continued growth.

We are really excited to be holding the sixth edition in Olympia for the first time, to really provide an enhanced visitor experience. The Central and West Hall in Olympia is a new, beautiful modern venue. It provides extra floor space, as well as having the added benefit of being on one level, allowing visitors to move freely throughout the hall.

This year we have over 170 exhibitors taking part. We have seen the attendance of the cosmetics industry grow over the years. In fact, the highest proportion of attendees in 2014 were from the cosmetics industry! This was due to providing specific content relevant for the cosmetics industry including hosting the Beauty Symposium which has grown in popularity each year. We have a wealth of innovative exhibitors taking part too who cater for the cosmetics market, including Miran, Quadpack, FlacoPharm, Print Park, Richmond Containers, Vesna, PET Power, Toly and Elanders to name but a few.

Premium Beauty News - What will be the new features of this edition?

Alison Church - Well, where do I start? We have so many new features and initiatives being launched at this year’s show! We have four new features being launched:

- the Brand Innovation Programme, boasting nine leading creative agencies across the two days, including Webb deVlam London, Brand on Shelf and Icicle Group;
- the Great Innovation Debate, chaired by The Retail Institute and exploring the term ‘innovation’ in relation to packaging;
- the Live Design Challenge, a timed competition which will see three designers go head to head in a bid to design a rugby themed pack in homage to the Rugby World Cup;
- the Innovation Showcase, where top exhibitors present their innovations on stage and Pimm’s O’Clock where visitors to the show can enjoy a free glass of fruity Pimm’s.

We have also introduced two new initiatives:

- the Platinum VIP scheme which recognises purchasers from leading brands who are coming to the event specifically to buy
- and the Rising Star Scheme which recognises young and up and coming brands to help find the right suppliers for them and to make the most out of their visit.

And if that wasn’t enough, we also have returning show favourites such at the Drinks & Beauty Symposia, the Learnshops seminar programme featuring speakers from Marks & Spencer, Müller, Nabeel Perfumes and Liberty and the Luxury Packaging Conference.

Premium Beauty News - And what about the Luxury Packaging event.

Alison Church - The Luxury Packaging exhibition is the UK’s only event for luxury packaging. This year the show will be brimming with the latest innovations, techniques, products and solutions, giving visitors and their products that real aspirational look and feel.

This year we are pleased to announce that we are able to host the Luxury Packaging Conference free of charge to attendees. The conference will feature senior representatives from Crabtree & Evelyn, Harrods, Diageo and Lush. The conference will evaluate, debate and celebrate the latest creative thinking and innovations in luxury and premium packaging and designs.

The Luxury Packaging Awards, hosted by Packaging News and run in association with our Luxury Packaging Exhibition, is a great opportunity for the luxury industry to network and celebrate the very best packs in the luxury market. As a judge, I got a first-hand look at the products and there were some truly amazing luxury packs! It will be an exciting event to see the winners revealed!

Premium Beauty News - What are the differences between the London and the Birmingham editions?

Alison Church - London is at the heart of the design, brand and innovation community; it is the show that designers and buyers working for major luxury, prestige and mid-range brands attend when looking for new ideas and inspiration.

Birmingham incorporates all parts of the packaging supply chain. It covers everything from design and materials to packaging and print machinery all under one roof. It is much broader whereas the London event has a much stronger focus on creativity, marketing and branding.