Geared up for business: Every stand is booked and exhibitors are putting the final touches to their displays. In just a few days the gates in Cologne will open on the IAW, Europe’s biggest trade fair for orders of promotional products, seasonal merchandise, trend-led items and bulk selling goods.
From 3-5 March 2015, Halls 6 and 9 of the Cologne Exhibition Centre will be bustling as the International Trade Fair for Retail Promotions and Imports attracts dealers and buyers with a broad-ranging spectrum of products for next season’s trade, including gardening, garden and BBQ products, outdoor and camping equipment, decorative products, textiles and travel goods, as well as a huge selection of popular merchandise, such as cosmetics and body care items, toys, consumer electronics and household goods.
Records have been broken even before the opening of the IAW. Participation is at an all-time high with some 320 exhibitors, including almost 70 taking part for the first time. The line-up of exhibitors reveals an interesting trend, namely the increasing numbers from Eastern Europe, with an especially big contingent of first-time exhibitors from Estonia, Lithuania and Moldovia.
Another new record has been set in terms of display space. Not only are Halls 6 and 9 fully booked. As numerous companies delayed registering for the 21st IAW until the last possible date, additional stand areas had to be created at short notice on the Messeboulevard.
This keen demand for display space partly reflects the fact that the IAW will take place parallel to Asia-Pacific Sourcing. Manufacturers and distributors from Hong Kong, China, India, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea will fill Hall 5 with an array of products for the home and garden. The product categories covered by these two trade fairs complement each other perfectly, so that the total of almost 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their products in Cologne can expect many orders for their products from the professional audience of buyers and retailers.
In view of this line-up, the increased number of stands and the bigger area covered, it is likely that most trade visitors will find one day insufficient to visit the event. For this reason a new offer of a complimentary full event admission ticket is being made available to trade visitors on the IAW website. This complimentary ticket provides free admission on all three days of the IAW. It is easy to obtain: simply register – order – print or save on your smart phone. www.iaw-messe.de/ticketorder_en.aspx
Trade visitors to the International Trade Fair for Retail Promotions and Imports can also obtain a free ticket from the website for Asia-Pacific Sourcing. Pre-registration is free of charge and will help prevent having to wait at the entrances.
