Lakeland Christmas Press Show
11 November 2016
Lakeland showcase their new season products to the press, journalists and bloggers at Somerset house in London.
Each year Lakeland have a Christmas Press Show to showcase their new season products to the press, journalists, bloggers etc. I was honoured to be asked to design the exhibition in Somerset house in London in July this year.
The Christmas product launch planning starts November the previous year!
The process starts with a product meeting in the Windermere offices with the Buyers at Lakeland. They show us their many new finds from around the world. This planning generally starts 8/9 months earlier than the launch would be in the stores around the world and online.
Christmas themed product launch covers a wide range of merchandise
The planning of the exhibitions starts from here with the main theme being Christmas, I have to design a fresh new style and design for each section required with Lakeland now having such a wide range of merchandise.
Mood boards and sketches come next
I then produce mood boards and sketches to present to my client and the Lakeland Press office. We tweak, modify and amend the design over many months and many meetings until it fits the brief and requirements.
Negotiating London traffic with lorries is challenging
Lakeland lorries arrive at silly o'clock in the morning to avoid the London traffic, all products are shipped into the building while the build of the exhibition is already well under way. We have a second day to start displaying and styling into the early hours and finally, the exhibition is ready for show!
I hold my breath waiting for feedback as 100's of guests arrive
Hundreds of guests arrive, enjoy the exhibition, cookery and product demonstrations. Eat and drink samples, explore the new products while myself, my client and the team hold our breath eagerly awaiting positive feedback!
Eight months of planning, designing and building is over in a day
At the end of the day, the exhibition is dismantled and life goes back to normal. Eight months of planning, designing and building is over in a day. Then we all breath again happily. I however, start planning for next year.....
