Few international visitors

The trial fair for the DIY and garden sector went off successfully last November and the organisers’ strategy of establishing a new private label fair for the European Non-Food sector seemed to offer good prospects.
Accordingly, about 300 exhibitors participated at the NFPL 2000 on 29 and 30 May. Not only from the DIY or garden sector, but complemented by eight additional product categories including motor accessories, pet supplies, sporting and leisure products, etc. Though those offering private-label and dealer’s brand products from the DIY and garden sector represented the biggest exhibitor contingent by a long way. There was no lack of familiar and renowned names from the sector either.
Noone disputes the fact that private labels are continuing to increase in significance in our branch as well. The fair organisers are aiming precisely at this tendency: towards bringing together the sellers and buyers of private labels.
About 1 200 visitors were recorded on the two days of the fair. Not enough in the opinion of certain exhibitors. It is a fact that there was no real crowding in the aisles. Only the odd foreign visitor from the trade found his way to Paris. Anyone expecting thousands of DIY superstore managers and buyers went away disappointed. Private labels still play a relatively minor role in the DIY and garden sector. One pre-condition for changing this state of affairs in future is surely the existence of a trade fair like the NFPL. Perhaps industry and trade will use this opportunity more intensively at the second Non-Food private label fair in May 2001.
An additional service due to start up this autumn is the NFPL.net, an internet database and information service (information at www.chez. com/nfpl) designed to intensify contacts and the exchange of information between companies.