HERE'S THE LOW-DOWN:

Sunday 7 October at 9.30pm the show opens…as the curtain comes up we will reveal a host of new products and innovations never before exhibited. From the special Launchpad area (sponsored by RFIB in association with Ni) and all across the show there are exciting new ranges to see.

During the course of the day, if you can fit them in, there will be an extensive list of presentations in our the open plan seminar theatre, where you can just walk in and sit down, rest your feet and learn something.

When you've had a rest and been enlightened, you can continue your tour of the 140 plus stands crammed with world class products ready for the UK market. There are a host of competitions and prizes to be won around the show and even a glass of bubbly if you know where to go! Watch out for the BPA Baby & Child newsletter or visit the website for further information.

During the course of the Sunday, the final judging for the BACRAs (Baby and Child Recognition Awards) will be underway. There have been a huge number of entries this year and the winners and finalists will be recognised at the awards dinner and party in the evening. The show closes at 6.30pm so you will have time to get back to your hotel change and come to our party.

If you have not booked your ticket for this event you really must get a move on, they are nearly sold out. What can I say, good food, great entertainment… a fabulous night out where you can network with fellow members of the industry all held in a fantastic environment at the National Motorcycle Museum. In addition to the aforementioned BACRAs, the much coveted Retailer of the Year awards (sponsored by Recaro) and also the BPA Sales Agent of the Year award will be presented.

It truly is a great night out and you might as well come along because if you're serious about your business and want to see all that's on offer for you at the show you will need to be there for at least two days.

Coming back to the show on the Monday will also ensure you get to see more of the seminar programme as it's spread over the whole duration of the show. On the Monday morning, the final judging of our BPA Concept Awards will also be completed and around lunchtime the winners will be announced from the Concept stand at the front of the BPA area.

This year the standard has been higher than ever and the sheer weight of entries has been phenomenal. We think we have got the next generation of new innovations to wow you from some of the brightest and creative minds ever to enter our awards. As with previous years we expect these products to be on the UK market in very short order so please take time to watch this presentation and talk to the contestants about their innovations.

The rest of Monday will give you more time to continue with your schedule. The show closes on the Monday at 6pm but I must tell you that many retailers said last year that they have to stay for the whole three days. In this way they ensure they can see everybody and do the business they want to do at the show. So many retailers make the mistake of not giving themselves enough time; you should never be too busy to improve your business.

So Tuesday arrives and the show opens once again at 9.30am.You get to see some of the seminars not shown on the first two days and have those follow up meetings and mop up the rest of the stands you missed out previously. You can sit down with a coffee at the Meeting Place or in the BPA Retail lounge and check that you have completed what you set out to do. You can keep in touch with base, access your email and stay in the loop whilst still maximising your time at this most important event.

The show is drawing to an end, doors close at 4pm, and that plan you had at the beginning of the show is now complete. You can leave for home tired but satisfied feeling sure and certain in the knowledge that you have done the best business possible for your organisation.

Well Done!

BPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2007/8

As with all trade associations there is a board that provides governance, guidance and direction to the organisation. The BPA Executive Committee meets three to four times each year, reviews progress of the association against its key objectives and discusses matters of strategic importance both to the association and often to the industry in general. Nominations are invited and received for membership of the Executive Committee each spring and the structure of the committee is usually finalised and confirmed at the AGM held in June. This year the BPA received more nominations than there were places available on the committee and as a result a vote from the membership was called. This has now been completed and the BPA Executive Committee for 2007/8 is now confirmed as follows:

Chairman - Andrew Ratcliffe - Dorel UK
Vice Chairman – Jonathan Feingold – Kooltrade
Luke Burns – Britax
Selina Russell - Cheeky Rascals
Mike Chapman - East Coast/ Bébécar
Tracey Bamber - Graco UK & Ireland
Rob Holmes - Gro-Group
Mark Wilson - Mamas & Papas
Neil Slagel - Petite Star Products
Phil Ludlow-Smith - Saplings of Shropshire
Rachelle Harel - Summer Infant Europe
Andrew Kluge - Supercover Group

If your company is a member of the BPA and you wish to table any issues for consideration by the BPA Executive Committee then please contact me.

Tel: 0845 456 9570
Email: info@b-p-a.org
Web: www.b-p-a.org

Peter White

Chief Executive BPA

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