In brief

Repositioning of trade fair The latest staging of the consumer goods fair Tendence in Frankfurt was marked by sharply reduced results. The number of visitors went down by 16 per cent to around 38 000, while exhibitor numbers fell by nearly 30 per cent to 1 307. The gross exhibition space was 25 per cent down as well. The fair organisers' summing-up was nevertheless positive, describing a strategically planned withdrawal of Asian suppliers and a focusing on the middle and up-market segment in Europe. Moreover, the fair was one day shorter and altered so that it ran from Saturday to Tuesday. CIHS with several sub-shows Fasteners will be occupying a larger exhibition space at the China International Hardware Fair (CIHS) in 2013 than was previously the case. Organisers Koelnmesse are expecting some 400 suppliers from the field of fasteners to be represented in 2013, an increase of 15 per cent. Two other sub-shows integrated in CIHS are the China International Building Hardware Show and the China International Locks & Security Show, which hosted 700 and 300 exhibitors respectively in 2012. Also expected once more at this event in Shanghai from 26 to 28 November 2013 are groups of exhibitors from Germany, Italy and India, in addition to a strong contingent from Taiwan. Slight visitor increase at Kortrijk The 31st DIY & Homing trade fair - the first in the new two-yearly schedule - came to an end with a slight increase in attendance figures. More than 3 000 representatives of the industry, or nearly two per cent more than two years ago, travelled to Kortrijk, Belgium, from 29 September - 1 October 2013. The total number of exhibitors went down by 16 per cent to 138. Information from the organisers suggests that the decline was mainly due to the garden sector, which suffered badly from the poor spring season. Taking these results as a framework, organisers Kortrijk Expo have decided to maintain the two-yearly schedule and stage the next DIY & Homing in 2015. However, it is not yet certain whether they will stick with the autumn date or move the event to the spring. Very good attendance figures were recorded for the two seminars on the Monday and Tuesday mornings. Erik Haegemann, the new CEO of Brico, spoke to an audience of 115 about the current market position of parent company Maxeda. Kees Van Opdorp, managing director of Husqvarna Benelux, took as his subject "blurring markets". Heimtextil trade fair now for India as well German organisers Messe…