In brief

Increase in visitors in KortrijkThe organisers of the DIY, Home & Garden in Kortrijk, Belgium report an increase of eight per cent in visitors compared to the previous event two years ago. A total of 3700 visitors came on the three trade fair days from 20 to 22 September and 151 companies exhibited, around ten per cent more than two years ago, although the emphasis was more on the garden product ranges.The supporting programme consisted, among other things, of a lecture by the GfK market research company on the global study "Consumer Life 2015" on the theme of life and living in the future. For the new products competition, Stars in the Box, 18 from 46 submitted products were selected and presented in a special area for the election of the audience award.Ten percent more exhibitors, eight percent more visitors - this is the closing balance of the DIY, Home & Garden in Kortrijk.IPM Dubai attracts exhibitorsThe IPM Dubai has increased its exhibitor numbers substantially. More than 100 companies from all over Europe, South America, Africa and Asia have registered for the show from 5 to 7 October 2015. This equates to an increase of 20 per cent from the previous event. Messe Essen and Planetfair Dubai LLC are joint organisers of the IPM Dubai and regard it as the most important plant fair in the Arab countries. They state that growth of 20 per cent annually is forecast for the market in the run-up to Expo 2020. The accompanying programme of events for the show includes a guided tour of production sites on the preceding day, seminars on garden design and landscaping as well as plant production and the floristry competition "Middle East Floral Designer of the Year 2015".