The British Hardware Federation has announced the cancellation of the Scottish Conference and Supplier Showcase Scotland due to lack of support.
The event was due to take place on October 10-12 at the Royal Highland Centre and Norton House Hotel in Edinburgh.

A BHF statement said that despite 'considerable efforts' the level of buy-in was too low to continue with the event. The statement said: "We have regrettably taken the decision to cancel the Scottish Conference and Supplier Showcase Scotland.

"The event was being coordinated by both the Scottish Council of Members and the BHF-BSSA Group and together we have made considerable efforts in publicising the event over the course of the last six months to a wide audience of both retail members and non-members in the hardware and housewares markets.

"However, disappointingly, we have received very low take up on the places available for both the conference and the one-day exhibition...unfortunately the numbers do not justify continuing with the event."

The BHF continued: "We understand it is difficult for many independents to be away from their businesses and with the added pressure of the current trading climate, amongst many other separate reasons, the event has come at the wrong time to be as successful as we had hoped and planned, despite our optimism and maximum effort."