New dates, new look, new ideas

The National Funeral Exhibition (NFE) is back this June with an extended floorspace, new branding and a new dateline following a two-year hiatus. The bi-annual show, which was due to return to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park in 2021, delayed its last edition until 2022 due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Organisers have since revealed that some of its regular international exhibitors and visitors were still unable to attend due to lingering pandemic restrictions, but have indicated that the entire industry is preparing for its best event to date in 2024.

In response to industry enthusiasm, the NFE has expanded into a third hall to accommodate unprecedented demand from exhibitors in the sector. The third hall will play host primarily to new exhibitors and those requiring larger display areas such as those brands showcasing hearses and other vehicles. There will also be an additional outside area dedicated to funeral transportation.

In addition to the extended floorspace, the NFE will return to Stoneleigh with a new, refreshed branding to celebrate a new chapter in its development.

“The NFE brand has been reinvigorated with a bright and vibrant new look, echoing the optimism and trust in the NFE brand that we see from the market,” says Jane Lawrence, event operations manager at show organiser National Association of Funeral Directors. “It’s one of three major step changes in the show that exhibitors and visitors will see when they visit the website.”

The other major change implemented to benefit visitors is a new dateline from Thursday to Saturday, contrasting with the show’s traditional days of Friday to Sunday.

“Over the years, Sunday has become progressively quieter as a show day, so is clearly less attractive to visitors – and this naturally does not work well for exhibitors,” explains Jane. “Feedback from last year’s exhibitors and attendees asked for more of the show to be held during the business week, but one weekend day to be preserved to ensure that those unable to leave their businesses Monday to Friday would still be able to attend. So we’ve moved to a Thursday-Saturday format, which has met with a very positive response from the market.”

The last conventional, pre-COVID-19 edition of the NFE was a resounding success, with a record-breaking 4500 attendees from 20 countries packing into two halls to see around 200 exhibitors. Having already sold out of the majority of its extended floorspace, organisers are anticipating another record-breaking edition this time around, as the industry re-embraces its main national event free of any pandemic restrictions.

As a regular stand builder at the National Funeral Exhibition, Smart Display will be out in force at the event with a mix of new and returning clients. Brands in the funeral sector – including those showcasing vehicle fleets, coffins, caskets, professional equipment, stationery, memorial services and advisory services – are advised to get in touch with Smart Display as soon as their space is booked to guarantee an innovative and seamless stand build, with every aspect of the exhibition process taken care of.

“With four months to go until the National Funeral Exhibition, now is the perfect time to get your stand design and installation in place,” says Smart Display’s sales manager Ben Rose. “We can secure the best deals on transportation and installation for our early bookers, and take care of everything from now until the show including logistics, electrics, rigging, health & safety paperwork, installation and breakdown. We can even store your stand for your next exhibition, keeping your elements out of landfill.”

Even brands that have booked for the NFE on a shell-scheme basis are welcome to get in touch with Smart Display to discuss the benefits of a bespoke stand on a rental, modular or purchase basis. Register your interest for the show and download the floorplan here, and discuss your stand requirements with Smart Display – the industry’s trusted stand designer and installer – here.