UK Aware, in 2011 now in its 4th year, is Britain's only sustainable living consumer show and the 2011 show is the second UK Aware event that I have attended for the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW.
At about 1010 GMT Joanna Yarrow, the sustainability expert and TV presenter, who has greened the Premier League and helped Ariel turn to 30 degrees, opened the show.
The first 25 visitors through the door – and yours truly was one of them – received a goody bag with a number of nice products,m with the bag in which those goodies were ensconced being one of the ever so useful Onya bags.
Amongst other goodies the bag contained a set of USB rechargeable AA batteries from Moxia Energy, a T-shirt from Pier32, soap nuts supplies by Living Naturally Soapnuts Shells, and a copy of THE GOOD SHOPPING GUIDE.
An interesting array of booth with vendors and representing a large spectrum of interest in the sustainable- and green living arena were found on the show floor. Some were the same that were at UK Aware last year, such as Onya Bags – who, as said, supplied the bags for the goody bags – and Green Oil; old friends by now. Others were new to the UK Aware event and some even to me, a seasoned green Blogger and writer.
Around 1500 GMT the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham will be dropped by to show his support for the UK Aware Show and this was certainly a nice touch, adding support of the council to the event.
Danny and his team have done a great job in getting this event going, even though we are still very deep in a recession, the Great Recession as, no doubt, this may become known as, and companies are not very easily persuaded to pay out money for space at shows. This can also be seen with many other trade fairs and consumer shows, even with regards to the Ideal Home Show of this year.
There will, no doubt, be the usual detractors, such as we had las year, who complained reckoning the event was too much geared for the hardened greenie rather than the newbie but I there was, I am sure, something there for everyone.
On the other hand, the truth be told, as with everything, improvements, I am sure, can be made such as, maybe, creating sections for the real newbie where more how-to advice can be given.
The seminars – although I have to say I did not have the time to attend any of those as I was far too busy chatting with people – go some way towards addressing that to some degree.
If we consider how UK Aware is put together without the aid of an expensive PR consultancy and without the huge financial backing that, for instance, Climate Week, a quasi-government operation, has and other shows then all I can say is “hats off” to Danny and his team and “well done”, and also a great thanks.
© 2011
