Biënnale Interieur 2012 [ 6 ] - Decostyle

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ContRact
“Working with a focus brings added value”
Textirama vzw and Meubelbeurs Brussel vzw look back on a successful second edition of
ContRact, which was held on 13 and 14 June at Tour&Taxis in Brussels. Once more it was proven
that the concept is right, the result being a stylish and very open fair.
“I look back with a feeling of happiness,
and this for three reasons”, says
Patrick Geysels, general manager
of Textirama. “First of all, I notice a
general feeling of satisfaction among
the visitors. Secondly, they clearly appreciate
the concept and the atmosphere
of the event. And finally the offer
is extended and above all enlarged,
which means we can serve even more
aspects of the project market.”
Long term
“Visitor numbers went up as well and
the quality of the visitors was very
high. People came to do business in a
much focused way. Everybody wanted
to negotiate and this ensured a cosy,
but busy atmosphere.”
Is this enthusiasm also translated
into a positive buying behaviour?
“This is less relevant at a fair like ContRact.
Our visitors and exhibitors are
mostly active in the higher segment;
they may deal with many hotel rooms
at the same time. Here, the long-term
view is more important and as such
this is an ideal networking event,
with very open stands, making the
threshold a lot lower than on other
fairs. The success of this edition gives
us the possibility to ‘fine-tune’ ContRact
even more in 2013. But that the
concept works, is for certain.”
Viewpoint exhibitors
How did the exhibitors experience
ContRact? Herewith a selection of
almost nothing but positive reactions.
“A good visitor score, the right exhibitors.
Our relatively new product was
received well. Also a good atmosphere”,
we hear at mFlor. Almost the
same story with Slabbinck: “We feel
good progress. Many and good contacts,
in an excellent environment.”
Intede confirms the testimony about
the location and the good contacts:
“A hip design, pleasant. Why not consider
moving Intirio to this location?”
At Accanthus the same enthusiasm:
“The result will be better than last
year. Nice new contacts and new
projects lurk in the distance. This cosy
fair attracts the customers that are
difficult to reach for us, by which we
mean architects and project managers.”
Next is Libeco: “Good concept,
review
1 2 3
excellent location, even though we
feel no improvement compared to last
year.” Kobe: “Wonderful fair, although
it might have been better to show
our Koroseal wall coverings, instead
of our fabrics. The number of visitors
still needs to improve, but this initiative
deserves a follow-up.”
The furniture sector reacted with
enthusiasm as well. Moroso: “Bigger,
more traffic and most importantly:
aimed at the professional. I’ll be back,
especially as I notice the quality of
both the visitors and the contacts.”
Jori: “A poor first day, a much better
second day. An exceptionally cosy
event, good atmosphere, but not
enough visitors yet.” Rolf Benz: “Fantastic
concept, excellent location, but
sometimes a bit too quiet. We did receive
a selective audience, architects
and interior designers, and noted
down a lot of good contacts.”�
1 “We will see more and more events of this kind” (All images: ContRact)
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3 ContRact is, even more than other fairs, an excellent networking event
2 “There is a lot more eye-contact than on traditional fairs, the threshold is lower”