Case Study - Gifted
Event Type: Exhibition
Exhibitors: 500
Public Attendance: 30,000 people
Duration: 28 years at the RDS
Space Used: 9,098 sq m
The Event
The Christmas season doesn’t officially start until Gifted takes place at the RDS Venue every December. This event is the ultimate gift shopping destination for anyone interested in craft, design and unique independent Irish brands. Featuring over 500 designers, makers & independent retailers including a wonderful selection of sustainable living brands, Gifted unites these independent brands and designers with the general public, all under the one roof at the RDS Venue.
The Brief
The organiser, National Craft Fair Ltd had a long-term vision for their event. They were looking for a venue, that would allow them the ability to grow over time, with flexibility and experience in the events industry. For the organiser, ease of access was vital for both their customers and for the public attending the event. Therefore, good transport routes and ample carparking were important deciding factors when choosing the right venue.
25 years later, Gifted as it is now known, is an annual staple in the lead up to Christmas. Through vision and a close working relationship with the RDS team and the variety of space available at the RDS Venue, Gifted has experienced steady growth and upscaling throughout the years.
The Set Up
In 1995, National Crafts and Design Fair as it was then known started out by occupying just a small section of Hall 1 (Main Hall). Today, Gifted occupies Hall 1 and Balcony, Hall 2 (Shelbourne Hall), Hall 3 (Serpentine Hall) and Hall 4 (Industries Hall) – a total of 9,098 sq m. It utilises the full offering of the RDS Venue Main Complex by spanning across all four interconnecting and multi-purpose halls.
To ensure exhibitors return each year, there has to be a consistent growth pattern of attendees. The RDS Venue allows for this necessary growth and the ability to increase the physical scale of the event which may not be possible elsewhere.
No event is without trial. A victim of its own success, the RDS Venue’s extremely busy event diary has caused some challenges for the organisers of Gifted in relation to build-up time.
But the RDS team demonstrated excellent venue management by understanding their client’s needs, communicating any changes early in the process and coming up with suitable solutions to benefit all parties involved.
The Results
Previously known as the National Crafts and Design Fair, the event first came to the RDS in 1995 with 110 exhibitors, utilising just one hall 3,503 sq m in the RDS Venue. 28 years later, the event attracts over 500 exhibitors, 30,000 public visitors and utilises numerous halls within the RDS Venue a total space of 9,098 sq m. Gifted has developed and expanded over the years, increasing its floor space in RDS Venue by nearly threefold.
“More so than with other venues, we feel that the RDS takes a real interest in the success of our events. We feel that the RDS team takes a keen interest in ensuring that our experience – and that of our exhibitors and customers – is as successful and pleasant as possible when using their venue. They take the time to consider likely issues or bottlenecks and offer solutions before problems arise. It is this spirit of co-operation and positive outlook that makes our jobs as organisers easier.”
