Retailers target region's largest trade fairs

The fourth edition of the Middle East Toy Fair and Housewares & Homestyle was inaugurated today by Sheikh Hasher Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum at the World Trade Centre. With more than 500 exhibitors from over 40 countries worldwide, this is the largest gathering of products aimed at the retail and domestic products sector. The show is open from May 28 - 30, 2005 and is spread across halls 5A to 7.

Recording a growth of around 50%, both shows have attracted major producers from around the world as well as local producers, promising to make this a one stop shop for toy retailers, distributors, hotels, supermarkets, schools, interior décor outlets and housewares suppliers.

The Middle East Toy Fair has, for the first time this year, added two new segments to the show to make it a more complete shopping experience for buyers. One new segment is dedicated to Baby & Pre-School products which is not only suitable for retailers, but to schools, nurseries and even hotels. The other segment is dedicated to Stationery and Back to School products. These two new segments have attracted exhibitors from countries who are being represented for the first time like France, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Kuwait. According to Maren Kiesel, Exhibitions Manager at Epoc Messe Frankfurt, the international and local response to the show has been amazing. "We have 6 national pavilions including China, Thailand, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong and France, as well as several Associations from a number of countries including Spain, China, and Germany."

Housewares & Homestyle exhibition has also introduced a new segment to the show dedicated exclusively for home textiles. The Home Textiles Middle East area is featuring over 75 exhibitors, presenting all manner of fabrics, curtains and accessories, foils, furniture fabrics and leather, sun protection systems/shades, carpets and floor coverings, wall coverings, bedding, linens, throws, table cloths, cloth place mats, towels, flannels and textiles for home decoration and art. This new for 2005 addition has attracted top designers and pattern artists such as Bianca home textiles from the UK, the textile house of top British Designer Lulu Guinness, who are eager to present their 2005 collection to property management companies and department store buyers at the show.

According to Melissa O'Gorman, exhibition manager of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Houseware & Homestyle's success, has grown by 50% since the previous show last year and is attributable to a variety of reasons. "Nowadays people are even more interested in expressing their individuality through the way they live and where they live. Evidence of this can be seen around the whole region, reflected in vast growth in retailers, fashionable textiles, designer home furnishings and accessories. All of this mirrors an opportunity which is growing exponentially across the Arabian Gulf.

The show is expected to attract an audience of 18,000 buyers ranging from retail buyers to interior designers, all looking to get a glance at the latest innovations and trends in the houseware and textile market.