PATS Sandown grows up

“The number of visitors has actually doubled since the show launched three years ago,” announced the PATS organisers proudly. It had already become evident in recent months that the PATS Sandown success story would continue uninterrupted this year, as both show halls had been sold out for weeks. The fair organisers are now looking forward confidently to the autumn, when PATS Harrogate opens its doors on a new three-hall configuration on 16 and 17 September. Only a few booths are left for this fair. The show at Sandown Park notched up a considerable 13.5 per cent increase in visitors compared with the previous year. Right from the start, both halls were jam-packed with people, giving rise to single-file traffic in some aisles. The staff manning the booths certainly couldn’t com­­­- plain of boredom in the face of this barrage of visitors, especially on the first day of the show. Esher Hall better integrated Whereas the Esher Hall situated on the lower floor was some­what cut off from the comings and goings in the Surrey Hall on the ground floor at last year’s show, it was better integrated this year thanks to the stronger sign­age. The items nominated for the “Products of the Year Awards” were also on display in the Esher Hall, which further increased the footfall here. A programme of talks and a grooming point at which dog grooming demonstrations were presented in collaboration with Groom Team England additionally helped to ensure a lively atmosphere in the Esher Hall. Looking around the booths, it was evident that the focus at PATS Sandown, as in previous years, was on the presentation of products for dogs, cats and small mammals. Aquatics companies were once again extremely thin on the ground, and the range of terrarium products on offer was limited. On the other hand, virtually everything from food to care products, accessories and health products was available for dogs, cats, small mammals and birds. An increase in the number of foreign visitors According to the exhibitors, the majority of visitors were pet supplies dealers from the south of England. The word in the booths was that pet store and garden centre chains were less in evidence. In view of the forthcoming Interzoo, the attendance by international visitors was perceived by some exhibitors to be somewhat poorer this year than in 2011. The show organisers recorded an increase of 22 per cent in visitors from overseas, however, indicating that the fair’s international appeal is growing. All in…