Healthy Boost to BIC’s Sales

The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) has won a three year contract to host the first ever Healthy Living Show. The show will take place from Saturday 28th February until Sunday 1st March 2009; open from 10.00am daily until 6.00pm and 5.00pm respectively. The show will return to the BIC in 2010 and 2011.

The health food and natural products exhibition is aimed at educating health conscious consumers about the finest and most innovative health food brands from passionate and knowledgeable developers. Conference and Exhibition Sales Manager at the BIC and Pavilion, Lisa Ashurst said of the win: “Healthy Living is a new client for the BIC and with fierce competition for business at the moment, securing the three year contract is testament to our dedicated sales team and fantastic facilities.”

The Show will feature approximately 60 exhibitors and expects to attract around 5000 visitors to the two day event. Confirmed exhibitors include, The Bay Tree, Discount Health Store, Winton Health Foods and Broadstone Health Foods. There will be an education programme, split between the demonstration theatre on the main exhibition floor in the Solent Hall and the main seminar room. Visitors can choose to attend punchy 20 minute sessions or more in-depth workshops. With freebies, tastings, treatment areas and plenty of retail therapy the show looks set to be a healthy hit!

The show organisers will be producing a quarterly consumer magazine called Healthy Living – The Natural Way, for distribution in local retailers. Health consumer journalist Tracy McLoughlin has been appointed editor of the magazine, which will include information on latest products at the show, expert advice and outline the show schedule.

Cathy Norris, Operations Director of Healthy Living Shows said: “When deciding on a venue we do in-depth research about the location. Areas we look at include consumer demographics to fit the purchase of health and natural products, strong local retailer support and good access. With the ability to accommodate all these factors, Bournemouth and the BIC, the largest venue on the South Coast, were the ideal choice!”

The Healthy Living Show is appointing a local firm, Deep South Media, to manage the PR, marketing and advertising campaign around the show. Account Director Louise Isaacs, will head up the campaign, with the aim of promoting the show locally, regionally and through specialist trade magazines. Louise said: “One of our main aims is to get people through the doors so our campaign will focus on promoting the show and its many benefits. It won’t be hard; the team at the Healthy Living Show have years of industry experience and have a great product. Managing Director Stuart Jackson is Chairman of Real Food’s, Scotland’s largest health food retailer, and Director of The Health Food Institute.”

The BIC’s deal with the Healthy Living Show will contribute towards Bournemouth’s business tourism figures. Recent statistics value it at £127.6m, of which the BIC and Pavilion contribute £73m annually through the conferences and exhibitions staged at the venue. The remaining £54.6m is a result of conferences, events and meetings at other venues in Bournemouth, often facilitated by the Bournemouth International Conference Bureau (BICB).