Exhibiting at Maison&Objet Paris: Taking My British Design Business International

From launching Lorna Syson in 2009 to exhibiting my designs at one of the world’s leading interior design trade shows in Paris, it’s been quite a journey!

When I first started my business, I never imagined that a few years later I’d be packing up collections of my wallpaper, fabrics and home accessories and heading across the Channel to exhibit alongside some of the biggest names in international design.

But that’s exactly what happened when I began exhibiting at Maison&Objet in Paris.

Over the years, I returned to the show on several occasions, with confirmed exhibitions between 2012 and 2015.

Looking back, these shows were an important part of growing Lorna Syson, building international relationships and learning how to take a small British design business into a much bigger marketplace.

What Is Maison&Objet Paris?

Maison&Objet is one of the leading international trade shows for interior design, home furnishings, decorative accessories and lifestyle products.

Held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, it brings together designers, manufacturers, independent brands, retailers, interior designers and buyers from around the world.

For a young designer trying to establish a business, exhibiting there was an incredible opportunity.

Unlike smaller UK trade shows, Maison&Objet offered the chance to introduce my designs to an international audience, including buyers who might never otherwise have discovered my work.

It was also an amazing place to explore new materials, discover emerging trends and see how other designers were presenting their collections.

My First Maison&Objet Exhibitions in 2012

By 2012, I’d been running Lorna Syson for three years.

I’d already been developing my nature-inspired designs into products for the home, working with manufacturers and building relationships with independent retailers.

Taking my collections to Paris felt like a big step.

I exhibited as part of the British European Design Group, which brought together a collection of independent British designers and creative businesses.

Being surrounded by other British makers was a wonderful experience. We were all working in different areas of design, but shared the challenge of building independent businesses and introducing our work to international buyers.

For me, exhibiting internationally was about more than simply selling products.

It was about understanding the wider interiors market, learning what overseas retailers were looking for and seeing how my designs fitted into a global industry.

Returning to Paris in 2013 – The Bradbury Fabric Chair

One of the highlights of my Maison&Objet journey was seeing my Bradbury fabric showcased on an upholstered chair in 2013.

I’ve always loved seeing my patterns move beyond a flat piece of fabric and become part of a finished interior.

An upholstered chair is a wonderful way to show how a pattern works on a larger scale, allowing buyers and interior designers to imagine how the fabric might look in their own projects.

It’s one thing to show someone a fabric sample, but quite another to let them see it transformed into a piece of furniture.

This is still something I love about textile design today.

Whether it’s a patterned sofa, a beautifully upholstered footstool or a lampshade, seeing a design used in a real setting brings it to life.

Exhibiting in 2014 and 2015 – Growing My International Audience

I continued exhibiting at Maison&Objet in 2014 and 2015, returning to Paris with my collections and meeting buyers from different countries.

In January 2015, I exhibited in Hall 8, within the British European Design Group’s area.

By this point, I’d gained several years of experience exhibiting at trade shows, both in the UK and internationally.

I had attended events including Top Drawer, 100% Design, Tent London and Home & Gift Harrogate, but Maison&Objet offered something quite different.

The scale of the event, the international audience and the variety of products on display made it a fascinating place to exhibit.

It was also an opportunity to see how British design was perceived overseas.

I’ve always been proud of my British design roots and my love of the natural world, and these were important parts of the story behind my collections.

The Reality of Exhibiting at an International Trade Show

Of course, as glamorous as exhibiting in Paris might sound, anyone who has done an international trade show will know there’s an enormous amount of work involved!

Long before the doors open, there’s the planning.

You need to decide which products to take, prepare samples, design your stand, organise transport, produce marketing materials and make sure everything arrives safely.

Then there’s the expense.

Stand fees, travel, accommodation, transporting stock and time away from the studio all add up.

And once you’re there, it’s long days on your feet, talking to buyers, explaining your products and trying to make the most of every opportunity.

For a small independent business, it’s a significant investment, particularly when there’s no guarantee that the orders generated will cover the costs.

But trade shows also taught me some incredibly valuable lessons about presenting products, communicating with customers and understanding the wholesale market.

Why Meeting Buyers Face to Face Was So Important

One of the biggest advantages of exhibiting at Maison&Objet was being able to meet people in person.

Buyers could touch the fabrics, see the colours properly and understand the quality of the products.

They could ask questions about how things were made, the inspiration behind the designs and the possibilities for stocking different collections.

And I could learn from them.

I could discover which products attracted the most interest, understand what retailers were looking for and hear how customers in different countries responded to my designs.

These conversations were invaluable, especially in the earlier years of my business.

They also helped me become much more confident talking about my work.

How the Wholesale Industry Has Changed Since My Paris Exhibitions

Looking back at those years, it’s amazing how much the way we do business has changed.

When I was regularly exhibiting at trade shows, they were one of the main ways independent designers could meet new stockists.

Today, digital wholesale platforms such as Faire have made it possible for retailers to discover and order from brands online.

Social media also gives independent designers the opportunity to showcase collections to international audiences without physically travelling to another country.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches.

Online platforms can be more convenient and accessible, but they also bring increased competition and marketplace fees.

Trade shows offer face-to-face relationships and the opportunity to see products in person, but they can be extremely expensive.

I’ve written previously about why I no longer regularly exhibit at trade shows.

With two young children, a business based in South Oxfordshire and a very different working life from the one I had in my twenties, I’ve had to think carefully about where I invest my time and money.

Today, I focus much more on my own website, digital marketing, direct customer relationships and online wholesale opportunities.

What Maison&Objet Taught Me About Running a Creative Business

Exhibiting internationally taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my career.

Firstly, presentation matters. The way you display and talk about your products can completely change how people respond to them.

Secondly, relationships are incredibly important. A conversation at a trade show can lead to opportunities that you might never have anticipated.

Thirdly, you have to understand your costs. A busy exhibition stand doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable show, and every business needs to work out what makes financial sense for them.

And finally, it’s important to keep evolving.

What works brilliantly for your business at one stage might not be the right approach ten years later.

From Paris Trade Shows to My South Oxfordshire Studio

Today, Lorna Syson looks very different from the business I was running when I first exhibited in Paris.

I’m now working from my own studio in South Oxfordshire, designing collections inspired by British wildlife, flowers and the countryside around me.

My products include wallpaper, fabrics, cushions, lampshades, greeting cards and wrapping paper.

I continue to work with British manufacturers and independent retailers, but the way I manage my business has evolved considerably.

Rather than packing up a trade show stand and heading to Paris, I’m more likely to be photographing a new design, writing a blog post, developing a collection or preparing customer orders from my studio.

And although I don’t miss the enormous amount of work involved in preparing for international trade shows, I do look back on those experiences with a lot of affection.

They were an exciting part of building my business and helped me develop the confidence, skills and relationships that I still draw on today.

Would I Exhibit at Maison&Objet Again?

Never say never!

I still love the excitement of design exhibitions, discovering new products and meeting other creative people.

But these days, I’d approach an international trade show very differently.

I’d want to be clear about what I hoped to achieve, how much it would cost and whether it was the best way to reach my customers.

For now, I’m happy focusing on creating beautiful, nature-inspired designs and sharing them with customers and retailers through my own website.

But I’ll always be proud that my little British design business took me to Paris, exhibiting alongside an incredible international community of designers.

From a small studio in London to the exhibition halls of Maison&Objet, it’s certainly been an adventure.

Lorna x

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Lorna Syson exhibit at Maison&Objet Paris?

Lorna Syson has confirmed exhibition records for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. She exhibited alongside other independent British designers, including through the British European Design Group.

What products did Lorna Syson exhibit at Maison&Objet?

Lorna showcased her British nature-inspired textile and interior collections. One documented highlight was a chair upholstered in her Bradbury fabric at the 2013 show.

Is Lorna Syson a British textile designer?

Yes. Lorna Syson is an independent British surface pattern and textile designer who established her business in 2009. She is now based in South Oxfordshire, creating nature-inspired wallpaper, fabrics, home accessories and stationery.

Does Lorna Syson still attend international trade shows?

Lorna no longer regularly exhibits at international trade shows, choosing to focus on her online business, independent retail relationships and developing collections from her South Oxfordshire studio.