Skye and Lochalsh businesses were a big success at last week's Scotland's International Trade Fair at the SECC, Glasgow. The fair resulted in four days of hard work for the nine local businesses who showcased their products on the Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise pavilion stand.

The marketing initiative was conceived and managed by Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise marketing adviser, Jay Petrie who said:  "Not only did local businesses succeed in winning orders, but countless visitors told us they'd not realised just how much Skye and Lochalsh has to offer."

Kim Bramley's FusionGlass landed the first order within an hour of the opening. Kim reported that she'd soon sold everything on her stand and won orders for much more:  "I'm very pleased with the orders we've got and the fact that our work has been accepted by Nancy Smillie's Glasgow gallery, Full Circle is a real bonus. The Fair has been a very good opportunity for us.  We've attracted the right kind of buyers and Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise has been very helpful in the process."

Fortnum and Mason called on Laura West, the Portree bookbinding specialist. This visit progressed business opportunities for Laura:  "I've received a lot of business orders from existing customers who have placed even larger orders than before. The improved packaging has paid real dividends and the quality of the Skye and Lochalsh pavilion stand had also helped attract customers."

This was the first exhibition for Portree-based Vanilla Skye, the hand-made chocolates maker. Partner Lesley Harper said the fair had been a very rewarding experience as all four partners had made many useful contacts for future business and had also got several good ideas for new products.

Commenting on the quality of the buyers, Phil Slater said:  "I met with Jenners of Princes Street and am hopeful that will result in our Scottish Movie Postcards being sold in their store. "

The Island Spring Water Company Ltd put its premium bottled spring water on show. The water is bottled at source in Broadford on the Isle of Skye and visitors certainly sampled gallons of the water during the week. Talisker Distillery added a further dimension offering samples of its fine product - and there was no shortage of takers!
        
Emma Seidle-Collins and David Collins from Heavens Ocean showcased their creative talents with a display of functional art from found objects. Emma said that they'd well exceeded all expectations: "We've taken a huge number of orders and I'm especially pleased that both The Royal Yacht and Historic Scotland want to buy my cards." Partner David Collins commented: "Made in Scotland have agreed to take my paintings for their shop in Beauly and I've opportunities to get my work into several galleries"

Uig Pottery reported huge interest in their distinctive pottery:  "We got far more orders than we expected and almost all of them came from new customers so we're very pleased," said partner Alan Freestone. "The stand has certainly helped and has attracted a lot of positive comment" added Margaret Freestone.

Kim Cable of Balmacara-based Glasshouse Design scooped an order for her distinctive jewellery and decorative designs with Historic Scotland.

The exhibitors found the general level of interest from quality buyers very encouraging. Meg Ground, also from Balmacara, has the Weresheep textile products business. Meg displayed a wide range of products and reported that her scarves and wall hangings had gone well and that there was real interest in her handbags. "I've really enjoyed the fair," she said, "and I've learned a lot from including ideas for new products."

Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise will take the pavilion stand to the NEC in Birmingham for the Outdoors Show on 14th-16th March. Jay Petrie said: "It'll be another great show - 60,000 visitors are expected at the Outdoors Show and there are still places available on the stand."

* Any local business wishing to join Jay at the NEC in Birmingham should contact him at Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, Tel 01478 612841.