Over the past weekend, Birmingham NEC has played host to one of the nation’s most unique expo events – the Man Cave Expo!
The first of its kind in the UK, the Man Cave Expo is essentially a celebration of design, entertainment, and the design of entertainment. Exhibitors came from across a wide range of backgrounds, all united in pursuit of one concept: creating the ultimate home entertainment space.
Over the course of the weekend we saw home and garden bars, home cinema setups, some unbelievable gaming spaces, as well as home gyms of every size and shape. The expo held a dedicated B2B day on Friday, before opening its doors to the public over the weekend – at which point it became a very hands-on experience, as visitors were invited to try out the goods! Football-themed dens, virtual reality arenas, motor racing-themed cocktail bars… The expo turned the whole Birmingham NEC into what was essentially the largest man cave ever assembled, and a fantastic time was had by all.
But this event was more than just a shopping showroom. Industry experts shared their advice on how to build the ultimate man cave, and the event also provided an incredible opportunity to network with fellow enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond.
Alvio’s Ian Rabbidge was there too, getting to know many of the brands who took part in the event. Here are his top highlights from the Man Cave Expo – four exciting brands to keep an eye on.
Ian’s Man Cave Expo Highlights
GT Omega
To say that GT Omega makes dedicated gaming chairs would be a massive simplification – these are like no gaming chairs you’ve ever seen. Founded in 2009 in Scotland, this brand produces high-end "simulation racing equipment" – combining their expertise in racing ergonomics with an excellent understanding of gaming furniture, to produce some of the most impressive home entertainment setups around: from hyper-comfortable desk chairs to full cockpit designs including mounted steering wheels. Better still, they are committed to making their products widely accessible, through their highly competitive price points.
Corsair
Corsair manufactures high-performance computing gear, creating dedicated, world-beating setups for all kinds of gamers, producers and content creators. Using only the finest components and stocking some of the best accessories that money can buy, it's no wonder they're already becoming a trusted brand amongst a growing number of streamers and influencers. Corsair is definitely one to watch in future.
Apex PCs
Apex PCs supply bespoke PCs for gaming and other high-performance functions. In addition to featuring a range of premade builds, their website also offers the option of creating bespoke setups for specific challenges – plus a dedicated component shop too – with free delivery and a 1-year parts warranty on all PC builds.
Rugs R Us
The core concept here is so simple and appealing, that you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen it before – take any design you want, and stick it on a high quality rug to go in your man cave. From movie posters to your favourite album covers, to video game characters…. or you can even create your own custom designs! It’s a fantastic idea, a great way to personalise your space, and of course, this concept isn’t only limited to rugs. Rugs R Us will also produce high quality bed sheets, tapestries, posters, cushions, and other accessories, all with your own unique choice of design.
The Man Cave Expo also saw the public launch of a brand that we think you’ll be hearing a lot more about: and so today, we’d also like to properly introduce you to our friends at N1 Fan Cave.
Introducing N1 Fan Cave
N1 Fan Cave is your one-stop shop for everything fandom. From sports, to music, to cinema, to gaming… if you’re looking to celebrate your passions, then N1 Fan Cave will have you covered. And above all, they specialise in unique items with genuine provenance.
So for example, do you want to spice up your music corner with a mounted Guns N Roses CD display signed by Slash himself? Or how about a framed photo from The Karate Kid, signed by star Ralph Macchio? N1 Fan Cave has everything from signed Banksy artworks, to football memorabilia signed by the likes of Gazza, Jack and Bobby Charlton, or Sir Alex Ferguson. Simply put, this is a hardcore fan’s paradise.
The newest member of the N1 Fan Group family, N1 Fan Cave is an exciting prospect for us – it's a store entirely powered through Alvio connections, a window to a range of products offered by Alvio suppliers, which makes it a real proof of concept for the whole Alvio model! Find out more today, and consider partnering with N1 Fan Cave yourself – if you fancy filling your own ecommerce store with some of the best fan memorabilia that money can buy.
The Man Cave Expo – See You Next Year!
The Birmingham Man Cave Expo was a unique event, full of excellent people, and some truly innovative brands. According to organisers, tickets for the event sold out – and we look forward to seeing what they do next year!
Alvio’s Ian Rabbidge had a fantastic time there. As he tells us:
“We had a really good day up there, full of interesting brands and quality conversations. It also looks like we may have some new brands coming onto the Alvio network as a result, too! So watch this space…”
