Held at Manchester Central, evo LIVE was all the stronger for evo Group’s decision to move to a single-day format, drawing more than 500 attendees and 106 exhibitors – including 37 new names, many from emerging categories.
The show maintained a steady energy and vibrant atmosphere throughout the day, boosted by host Kirsty Gallacher. The resulting environment felt busy and purposeful, with dealers, suppliers and evo teams all operating with a shared commercial focus.
At the heart of the day was a clear intention: to support better selling. The exhibition floor reflected this, with vertical sector-led areas helping to contextualise products across education, healthcare, manufacturing and hospitality. Rather than static displays, the emphasis was on real-world application – where products fit, how they add value in practice and how they can be positioned more effectively in customer conversations.
Four dedicated training zones – covering cleaning and hygiene, workwear and PPE, new and emerging products, and ergonomics and wellbeing – reinforced this approach by keeping live sales sessions tightly focused and relevant. Smaller group formats encouraged interaction, giving dealer sales teams tangible takeaways.
The seminar programme shifted the emphasis from product to performance. Sessions from Sarah Knight and Jamie Peacock explored the behavioural side of performance, from mindset and resilience to leadership and culture. Both steered clear of abstract theory, instead focusing on consistency, habits and the incremental nature of improvement.
On the sales front, Jack Frimston and Zac Thompson brought a sharper edge. Their take on cold calling challenged outdated perceptions, reframing it as a human, conversation-led discipline built on curiosity and persistence rather than pressure.
Good vibes
Feedback from dealers and exhibitors that Workplace360 spoke to was overwhelmingly positive, with a clear preference for the one-day format. Attendees highlighted the strength and mix of suppliers, while vendors pointed to the consistently busy feel and, crucially, productive conversations.
This year, evo LIVE seems to have found the right balance between energy and effectiveness. Probably because it didn’t try to be all things to all people; instead, it concentrated on what matters – commercial conversations, sharper product positioning and stronger connections across the channel.
