Since our last blog update we have been meeting, and greeting many people at the tannery here in Waternish, and at various UK shows. It all begun in May when we started to see increased numbers of tourists pass through our doors. The show team were getting organised for the journey to London to exhibit at Grand Designs Live. No mean feat clocking up 635 miles each way, two days traveling including a stop off in Preston.  Grand Designs is the longest of the shows that Skyeskyns take part in; 9 consecutive days. Throughout the duration of the show we meet returning, and new customers, and also professionals in the interior design field. There is no better way of making people aware of our product and brand than by chatting to them, and allowing them to feel our ‘super soft’ wool. We have had many customers from the London show who have decided to visit Skye after our conversations on the stand. A few months later they are touring the tannery and looking at our breath taking views from the Skyeskyns showroom. After a week or so at home the packing began again in order to get ready for the Glasgow Ideal Home Show. This show is much like Grand Designs, and is in fact run by the same event organisers – Media 10. Over the years the show team get to know other stand holders, there is always time for a bit of camaraderie!  Glasgow always welcomes a big crowd and we often spot a few of the Skye locals amongst them down to attend the show. For the last few years we have worked with John Amabile getting our products into interior room sets. It really is fantastic to see how designers use our sheepskins.

By mid-June we were once again hitting the road headed for the Royal Highland Show, Ingliston. The Royal Highland offers a different experience, and atmosphere, in comparison to the other shows exhibited by Skyeskyns. Here we meet farmers who understand raw the product and enjoy hearing about our processes. Promotion of our Private Tanning services is done on the stand and at the sheep showing pens. The show produces the ‘crème de la crème’ of agriculture and equine activity. Over the weekend the team impart information to attendees and learn from the farming community.

Just in time for the July/August tourist boom on Skye we are all back at base to welcome our visitors through the doors at the Skyeskyns tannery. If you are planning to come and see us at one of our shows be sure to sign-up to our emails to receive offers. Our next show is the Country Living Christmas Fair in Glasgow’s SECC 19-22 November.

See you soon!