Catching Up With Andrew
Some of you may have met our wonderful team at our shows during the Summer. The summer season is now finished for another year so we thought it would be a good time to touch base with Andrew, aka 'King of the Road', for some behind-the-scenes insights into the life of Hiho on the show road.
Now, without further ado, let's hear it straight from Andrew.
Andrew with one show left to go in December, how has it been on the road for you this year?
What a good question. First of all I have to say the weather this summer has made most of our shows a joy to do, the sunshine and lack of rain always help. Very obviously I cannot do the shows alone and the team is also a vital part of the shows. For the past few years, I have relied upon my sons for help; however they have both now taken early retirement from Hiho to go and pursue their own lives. So, for the first time in many years, I’ve been joined full time by my wife Clem. She has been brilliant, has sold lots and has made sure that we all eat as healthily as possible with our own kefir and sourdough bread being baked in the lorry whenever we can. In a nutshell it’s been a long time on the road but a good hardworking summer!
Can you give us some of your absolute highlights from this year’s show season?
Starting with Badminton, a totally new team and the busiest show we have ever had, thankfully Clem helped me not get too stressed and the girls who made up the team survived the onslaught. A big shout out to Missy T top sales, Summer and Lotte on the tills and Liv taking Clem’s Queen of Rings slot to help us out for the last three days.
At Bramham, we were joined by our local friend Issy, who was sometimes a little distracted, but for very good reason. Her horse “Butler” was competing and qualified for Burghley!
Scone Palace was a new venue and had a huge amount to live up to, however I have to say the Ceilidh was even better this year that at Blair!
Chatsworth Country Fair and the famous balloon festival every morning where sadly the weather did not play ball and some crashed into trees, fell in the river, came down on top of the food court. Thankfully everyone was safe and no injuries occurred.
An absolute revelation this year was discovering the wonders of Revolution laundry!!! 2 weeks of washing including bedding for three beds washed and dried in 2 hours whilst we read a book and caught up with the world in the Morrisons carpark!!!
Finally having some real show's team involvement with Burghley Horse Trials. Butler (aka Ballyneety Silver Service) came 14th on his first ever 5* with Holly Richardson as the able pilot and the Saxby family as the incredibly enthusiastic support team!
Starting with Badminton, a totally new team and the busiest show we have ever had, thankfully Clem helped me not get too stressed and the girls who made up the team survived the onslaught. A big shout out to Missy T top sales, Summer and Lotte on the tills and Liv taking Clem’s Queen of Rings slot to help us out for the last three days.
At Bramham, we were joined by our local friend Issy, who was sometimes a little distracted, but for very good reason. Her horse “Butler” was competing and qualified for Burghley!
Scone Palace was a new venue and had a huge amount to live up to, however I have to say the Ceilidh was even better this year that at Blair!
Chatsworth Country Fair and the famous balloon festival every morning where sadly the weather did not play ball and some crashed into trees, fell in the river, came down on top of the food court. Thankfully everyone was safe and no injuries occurred.
An absolute revelation this year was discovering the wonders of Revolution laundry!!! 2 weeks of washing including bedding for three beds washed and dried in 2 hours whilst we read a book and caught up with the world in the Morrisons carpark!!!
Finally having some real show's team involvement with Burghley Horse Trials. Butler (aka Ballyneety Silver Service) came 14th on his first ever 5* with Holly Richardson as the able pilot and the Saxby family as the incredibly enthusiastic support team!
Can you tell everyone what a typical day is like when at a show?
At 5:50, the alarm goes off, tea brews, and dogs embark on their hour-long adventure whilst the water is heating for a shower. Post-walk, it's dog breakfast and a lorry shower unless the shower are better at the show (only at the Highland's facilities). Breakfast features Clem's legendary toast, kefir, and more nuts and seeds than a squirrel's stash! By 7:30 or 8:30, depending on what time the show opens, we are on the stand. Our first job is to put the display out as we remove the jewellery every night, then POLISH to perfection daily to keep it all sparkling. Coffee break at 11 if we can, followed by a yummy lunch of salad or Clem's kitchen delights and a cheeky afternoon cuppa with a biscuit. Closing time varies from 5:30 to 8pm, and then the dogs get their second wander. If weather and time permits, I squeeze in a bike ride for an hour or so.
Where do you stay/live whilst at a show?
We are very lucky to have wonderful friends around the country who put us up as we make our way around the country.
We are very lucky to have wonderful friends around the country who put us up as we make our way around the country.
What have been the top 5 best sellers this year on the show circuit?
That is actually a very difficult question, as what we sell at each show differs quite a lot.
Our range of half Cubic Zirconia sparkly horseshoe earrings are always a firm favourite. This year we had a new range of CZ Stirrups earrings and necklaces which were also a hit with customers.
That is actually a very difficult question, as what we sell at each show differs quite a lot.
Our range of half Cubic Zirconia sparkly horseshoe earrings are always a firm favourite. This year we had a new range of CZ Stirrups earrings and necklaces which were also a hit with customers.
The Cherry roller range is always very popular as are all our rings which customers love trying on.
The leather snaffle bracelets were a sell out! But our favourite necklace of the summer was the Dinky double chained snaffle necklace, simple solid silver at its very best.
The leather snaffle bracelets were a sell out! But our favourite necklace of the summer was the Dinky double chained snaffle necklace, simple solid silver at its very best.
If you were forced to pick one show as your favourite location, which would it be and why?
Choosing a favourite show location is tough. Blair was my top pick in the past, and Scone is promising if it keeps improving after a great first year. Now, it's a toss-up between Badminton and Bramham. Both are welcoming and have a unique vibe. But if I had to choose, it would be Bramham. It's the first time where we can get to let our hair down and really enjoy a show. Badminton is amazing but just a bit too stressful.
Choosing a favourite show location is tough. Blair was my top pick in the past, and Scone is promising if it keeps improving after a great first year. Now, it's a toss-up between Badminton and Bramham. Both are welcoming and have a unique vibe. But if I had to choose, it would be Bramham. It's the first time where we can get to let our hair down and really enjoy a show. Badminton is amazing but just a bit too stressful.
Now you’re not on the road, what is your role at Hiho, what will you be up to over the winter months with Hiho whilst you’re not out and about?
Firstly, I work closely with Michelle in the office to try and ensure we get our orders as correct as possible for the dreaded C word on the website. You guessed it folks, Christmas is not far away! Then we all work on the new designs, and I help in whatever ways I can by writing copy for the website, liaising with suppliers etc. I also try to ensure from a practical aspect we have all the gold-plated jewellery prepared for plating and ready for sale.
Firstly, I work closely with Michelle in the office to try and ensure we get our orders as correct as possible for the dreaded C word on the website. You guessed it folks, Christmas is not far away! Then we all work on the new designs, and I help in whatever ways I can by writing copy for the website, liaising with suppliers etc. I also try to ensure from a practical aspect we have all the gold-plated jewellery prepared for plating and ready for sale.
When will you start planning for next year’s show season and what does that involve and how do you get ready for another busy year?
Planning for next year’s shows is ongoing throughout the year, keeping an ear to the ground about potential new shows, different sites available on current shows or just changes that are afoot.
Then from January onwards, we start the shows applications with all the health and safety forms and put together our show team, starting with Badminton, a challenging time as it clashes with uni exams and dissertations. With any luck, if Clem and I weren’t too horrid to live with in the summer of ’25, we might get our team back for ’26!
Planning for next year’s shows is ongoing throughout the year, keeping an ear to the ground about potential new shows, different sites available on current shows or just changes that are afoot.
Then from January onwards, we start the shows applications with all the health and safety forms and put together our show team, starting with Badminton, a challenging time as it clashes with uni exams and dissertations. With any luck, if Clem and I weren’t too horrid to live with in the summer of ’25, we might get our team back for ’26!
Is there anything else you would like to add? What are the hardest parts of doing so many shows over a summer?
I did allude to this earlier but keeping on top of the washing is quite tricky, especially in a wet year when we may well have to wash the tablecloths as well as all the clothes and bedding!
However, probably the hardest part of the show year is making sure we keep the right stock coming to wherever we are and all our customers are as happy as possible! Rings, although they are one of our best sellers, are the bane of our lives, with sooooo many sizes and we can suddenly sell 10 of one size in a row and be left with none!
I did allude to this earlier but keeping on top of the washing is quite tricky, especially in a wet year when we may well have to wash the tablecloths as well as all the clothes and bedding!
However, probably the hardest part of the show year is making sure we keep the right stock coming to wherever we are and all our customers are as happy as possible! Rings, although they are one of our best sellers, are the bane of our lives, with sooooo many sizes and we can suddenly sell 10 of one size in a row and be left with none!
The shows team would be nothing without the backup of the Hiho office. Our Countess of Contentment makes sure we have the stock we need and that I am doing my job correctly and getting the mending and making done; The Duchess of Sterling makes sure everything is paid for, the Marquise of Marketing ensures all the POS and printed marketing is done and our Queen Bee is all over social media and makes the odd appearance at shows.
The importance of the unseen show team cannot be overstated… big up The Countess, The Duchess, the Marquise and the Queen Bee!
Andrew - King of the Road
The importance of the unseen show team cannot be overstated… big up The Countess, The Duchess, the Marquise and the Queen Bee!
Andrew - King of the Road