Want to show off your design-led gift and lifestyle products to over 7,000 industry buyers? UAL alumni are welcome to apply for a highly discounted opportunity to sell and showcase their goods in the launchpad area of Pulse 2016 (5-17 May). However there are only a few days left to get your applications in! As the deadline is Wednesday 9 March 2016
Not only is this a wonderful opportunity to hopefully sell your work to major and independent retailers from across Europe, but UAL also offers training and support to all successful applicants in the lead up to the show. Find out more and how to apply.
Here are some of last year’s exhibitors talking about their experiences and what they and their business gained from participating at Pulse.
JACQUELINE COLLEY
BA (Hons) Graphic Design for Communication, Chelsea College of Arts (2008)
As a result of attending pulse last year I made great industry contacts including Bridgeman Images who now manage the licensing of my designs. It led to a collaboration with Swoon Editions, producing the sell out ‘Cacti Karla Chair’ and I found some great independent Stockists around the UK and across London. The experience was amazing especially getting so much first hand feedback from buyers and other designers.
ROLFE AND WILLS
BA Fine Art Sculpture, Wimbledon (2010)
I found UAL and Pulse really supportive and helpful when deciding what to show and how to show it. Being surrounding by people in a similar situation made me feel at ease and was there for more relaxed with people who came to my stand. Due to the cost of the stand I felt like there wasn’t any pressure to make orders, just enjoyed making contacts – I think this came across to the visitors and they felt at ease talking to me rather than slightly avoiding me (which can happen at trade shows!).
Soon after the show I was contacted by the Design Museum shop and then by the Southbank centre who both now stock my work, which I’m really pleased with (it was a secret goal, so was really pleased they approached me).
STORY
PGDip Visual Communication, LCC (2010)
For PULSE in 2015, we exhibited a working prototype for our Walk-in-Book. Despite not having a product ready to sell directly to retailers, we were overwhelmed by the positive responses to our product. We came away with a notebook full of contacts from retailers who wanted to stock the product as soon as it was market ready.
Key retailers and galleries who want to sell our product are: Fenwicks, The National Gallery, The National Theatre, The London Transport Museum, The National Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and BBC licensing to name but a few. We are nearing a stage where the product will be ready for market, and can’t wait to see it on the shelves of all of these big retailers.
MATERIA RICA
BA (Hons) Product Design, Central Saint Martins (2008)
As Materia Rica we feel we had a great show at Pulse 2015. Being part of the UAL stand drove lots of various profiles of clients, sharing stand with other creative businesses was really positive for all of us.
We managed to get just under 10 orders on the show. They were mainly independent retailers with their own shops.
We were also approached by buying teams from larger companies. We had interest from the Southbank Centre, Turner Contemporary, and The National Gallery buying team showed interest.
Shortly after the show we received our first order from JOY. We met their buying team on the last day of the show so it is true that potential customers can come at any time any of the trading days.
FLORA BHATTACHARY FINE JEWELLERY
MA Design: Jewellery, Central Saint Martins (2014)
Showing at Pulse was amazing so soon after graduating from an MA. It gave us the experience of showing at a top venue and a major trade show very early on. UAL and PULSE handled all of the stand build and design on our behalf – which was incredible. Showing our designs gave us invaluable feedback from buyers and the public and it meant that we could adjust what we were offering to suit the market. We made some great sales, took orders – and most importantly – met buyers. All in all it was a fantastic way to test what we were doing and start to sell our jewellery.
THE CITY WORKS
BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Camberwell College of Arts (2014)
‘The City Works’ debuted at Pulse 2015, in the Launchpad section with ‘UAL Selected’. Despite this area not having the largest of stands, it still attracted the largest of stores – keen to uncover the latest trends. Over the course of the three days we found ourselves pitching our urban-themed stationery to some of the most prestigious galleries, museums and retailers in London. We ended up receiving orders from many of them, and continue trading with them on a regular basis. Additionally, our intricate illustrative style was commissioned by a handful of our dream clientele. The experience was extremely rewarding for us and we would recommend Pulse to any enterprising brand, eager to be noticed by top buyers.
WASHED UP DESIGN
Georgie Scully: BA Ceramic Design, Central Saint Martins (2013)
Lorna Doyle: BA Textile Design, Chelsea School of Art (2013)
Exhibiting with University of the Arts London at Pulse was a fantastic platform to network with similar start-up businesses, and build relationships with new trade clients. Receiving orders from independent shops whom appreciated and understood our handmade process was also an excellent opportunity. In total, three orders were placed at the show, from Four Doors in Rye, Eleanor’s Brye in Northumberland, and an online retailer lucasbond.com. We received one more a few months after the show from Definitive Design in Windsor. As a start-up business, this was the perfect response we could have hoped for, and we would most definitely recommend showcasing at Pulse London to those in a similar early position.
Also in 2015, UAL’s Paige Cartledge won the Pulse Award for Best New Product in Launchpad.
