Cold, wet weather failed to dampen the spirits of the housewares industry as it turned out in force for the first day of the Exclusively Housewares show in London today.
Organiser Simon Boyd reported on Tuesday lunchtime that visitor numbers on the first morning were on a par with last year, with a small increase in the number of overseas visitors.

"This show is about quality, not quantity," Mr Boyd told DIY Week - and to prove the point, he added that Lakeland commercial director Matthew Canwell was waiting outside the door five minutes before the show opened.

As in 2011, the Business Design Centre in Islington was sold out months before the show, with a total of 124 exhibitors occupying all the available space. And exhibitors reported brisk business.

"We have seen some good buyers," one told DIY Week, before correcting himself: "Actually, we have seen some very good buyers indeed."

Exclusively Housewares runs today and tomorrow at Islington's Business Design Centre.