With diminishing unemployment figures, and increased economic activity, the signs are that Christmas 2014 could be very good for business in general and manufacturers in particular.

September sees the start of the show season at the NEC, with exhibitions designed to attract retailers who will be looking to order their Christmas stock. It will not surprise me if by the end of this month good news will be the order of the day. Manufacturers will, I think, be reporting increased order books.

Although the Government is over-emphasising the degree of increased economic activity for political reasons, there is certainly a move upwards. This will be reflected in more spending on non-essential items.

This may well be very beneficial for the small producers of what could be loosely described as craft items. Customers are looking for presents that are a little unusual and individualistic, as opposed to mass produced Far-Eastern bazaar type goods. Government figures clearly show that the number of start-up businesses is increasing month by month, and Christmas for them could be a welcome bonus.

Flair in design is always a winner and small enterprises have the ability to quickly translate an idea into goods. The problem then is how to market the offering, and this is where trade exhibitions really come into their own, for if a stand can attract buyers with well-presented goods on display, orders can come thick and fast.

Trade buyers at gift shows are very often motivated by impulse. They see something which they like and, hey presto, a deal is done. The cost of exhibition space can be a bit off-putting, but then, if a manufacturer has confidence in the product, the number of orders secured will soon take are of this.

As a regular reviewer of trade shows at the NEC, I am constantly amazed at the number of companies that travel from all over the country to display their wares, by way of illustration, ice-cream makers from Salcombe and Oban!

Birmingham and the West Midlands has such a wide range of small companies producing thousands of items, and all the signs are that they are getting slowly busier.

So this Christmas could see a real boost to sales figures and round off the year nicely.

* Russell Luckock is chairman of pressings firm AE Harris