What was already an extraordinary trade fair is set for even greater success. The 25th International Trade Fair for Retail Promotions and Imports (IAW) will celebrate its silver anniversary from 7-9 March 2017. The facts speak for themselves. The trade fair will be bigger than ever, occupying a total display area of 29,000 m². The Spring Fair has attracted a record number of approx. 350 exhibitors from across the world, all showcasing promotional and trend-setting products. A large number of companies are exhibiting for the first time at the IAW, not only from Europe, but also from the USA, China, Malaysia and Nepal. Thus Europe’s biggest trade fair for orders has reached a new level. “It is always something special when a trade fair celebrates a significant anniversary. It is only natural to expect and hope for greater interest, but the response has actually been overwhelming. With less than a month to go before the trade fair opens, we have had to increase the size of the display area in response to exhibitor demand. This is a great development that reflects the sustained qualitative and quantitative growth of our trade fair”, says IAW Project Manager Kerstin Manke.
The expansion of the International Trade Fair for Retail Promotions and Imports extends to other areas. For example, the supporting program comprises two platforms – the popular IAW Trendforum and the new E-Commerce Arena in hall 9 staged by restposten.de, where visitors to the 25th IAW can attend a series of talks and presentations free of charge. The E-Commerce Arena will host in-depth talks on Amazon, eBay SEO and own labels, with high-calibre speakers such as the eBay ”guru” Mark Steier, Dr. Kai Hudetz, Adrian Hotz, and many more besides.
At the IAW Trendforum visitors will be able to hear marketing and retail experts such as Ulrich Eggert, Elmar Fedderke (Walgenbach GmbH) and Ingo Schloo (zentrada.network). Traditionally, the first day of the trade fair features the presentation of the IAW TRENDSELLER PRODUCT AWARD, and this time is no exception – the full program is available on the IAW website: www.iaw-messe.de/trendforum_de.aspx
In addition to these free information events there will be other opportunities for learning and know-how transfer on all three days of the trade fair, including half-day practical workshops staged in cooperation with Digital Commerce Day, Hamburg. These will be subject to a participation fee. The workshops will be led by leading experts such as Mark Steier and Arne Stoschek, director of eTribes Connect GmbH, who will offer expert know-how. Participants must register before the event. Further information can be found online at www.restposten.de/e-commerce-arena.php
The trade fair’s organizer, Ulrich Zimmermann, also considers this a commitment to sustained performance: “The message to our partners and visiting professionals is that we remain firmly resolved to grow and improve the IAW. Although the focus is on orders and the business side, we will continue to develop knowledge transfer across all key issues of interest to retailing.”
The cooperation between the IAW and the trade fair Asia-Pacific Sourcing will continue, thus ensuring that these two key events will again take place in tandem; yielding important benefits to exhibitors and greater diversity for trade visitors. In 2017, the seventh Asia-Pacific Sourcing will see more than 640 exhibitors showcasing the latest Asian-made tools and products for the home, garden and leisure sector.
“Just a few weeks before the trade fair opens we are all ready and every sector is anticipating the IAW anniversary event. For our part, we are looking forward to every visitor who joins us in celebrating the IAW”, adds Kerstin Manke, who advises prospective participants to visit the IAW online for further information and to order complimentary admission tickets at www.iaw-messe.de
