Events

Working together
The second Euro-Mat Forum, which took place on 29 October in Luxembourg, was much influenced by the idea of strengthening and developing the partnership between trade and industry. Approximately 240 participants came to the event at the exhibition site.
Euro-Mat, the cooperation of the European builders’ merchant and DIY retail cooperatives, presented its newly developed concept for the selection of suppliers and consequent cooperation with them during the morning session. Among other things, the concept is intended to ensure that suppliers gain a higher market share in the individual countries of Europe and traders earn higher margins. Also introduced was a new specialist store concept that has been developed by Euro-Mat. Afterwards traders and suppliers were divided into groups to discuss their particular visions and goals for such a cooperation. Following these workshops, representatives on the trade side had an opportunity to find out more about the suppliers, their companies and their products when they visited their display stands.
The Euro-Mat Forum in Luxembourg.
Expectation for growth
The China International Building & Decoration Fair (CBD) that took place in Guangzhou, Canton, at the beginning of September attracted 60 000 trade visitors, which is about one third more than attended last year’s event. Next year the fair is due to be held at an earlier date, from 6 to 9 July, and on the new exhibition site for the first time. According to the organisers, the number of exhibitors will increase from 1 500 to 2 000, and the exhibition space will be up from 61 000 m² to 90 000 m². The European participation, which is expected to fill several group stands, is being organised by Merebo of Hamburg. This is the biggest trade show for the building sector in the whole of Asia, in the words of the organisers. Further information: www.cbd2004.de
New product sourcing routes
The French company Agora, which is based in Avignon, is currently targeting retail operations throughout Europe with a new line of action in the field of procurement. At its “Sourcing Days” the company brings together 50 buyers with 50 manufacturers that it has sought out all over the world in accordance with the buyers’ terms of reference. The next event of this kind, to be held in Provence in the south of France from 5 to 9 November 2003, is to be devoted to the categories of seasonal articles, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, carnival, gift articles and decoration. There are…