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Visitor record at KortrijkFor the first time in the 23-year history of the event, more than 5 000 trade visitors made their way to DIY 2004 in Kortrijk. Altogether the organisers registered 5077 visitors over the three days from 1 to 3 February, which was three per cent more than the previous year. A total of 168 exhibitors presented their latest products and fashionable trends in the categories of decoration, wood and building materials, sanitary installations, hardware, tools, electrical and gardening.The atmosphere was characterised by a mood of optimism, which was no doubt connected with the good progress of the market (according to figures from Nielsen, the retail chains can point to growth of 12.4 per cent).Following last year’s successful premiere, the Art & DIY competition for artists was staged again this year as part of the supplementary programme. The art schools that took part in the competition showed great creativity in their entries, for which DIY products were used.A positive mood was evident at DIY 2004 in KortrijkThe next DIY show will be open for business in Kortrijk from 30 January to 1 February 2005.Exploring opportunities in EuropeAround 70 members of the Worldwide DIY Council, an association of Canadian and American exporters, made a trip to Barcelona in early December 2003 to hear at first-hand about the worldwide expansion plans of major retail groups and to participate in a small table-top fair which attracted agents and buyers from France, the Netherlands and Spain. Speakers included Juan José Jaén, president of the Brico Group with 33 DIY stores; Manfred Maus, president of Obi’s supervisory board and of the BHB; and Hans-Jörg Greimel, member of the Baumax board. Other speakers on the industry side included Hakim Yusuf, general manager for the Middle and Far East at Bissell, along with Jack Zjilstra, president of Freightways, a European logistical company.More suppliers from Eastern EuropeThe organisers of the BJA business meeting to be held on 30 and 31 March and covering DIY, gardening and pet products are anticipating a strong attendance from Eastern Europe and especially from Poland. Around 70 buyers from European retail chains and purchasing groups will meet the same number of manufacturers from more than 15 countries. To enable prospective buyers to view what’s on offer and select suppliers of interest to them, Reed Exhibitions France has set up a web site, www.bjalyon.com. Exhibitors and buyers thus have a platform for exchanging information and booking appointments in advance of the meeting.New DIY fair in ShanghaiA new DIY fair is due to be staged in Shanghai from 20 to 22 April 2004. The China Sourcing Fair: DIY & Home Improvement will be held in parallel to the Gifts & Home Products event. The organisers, Global Sources, are expecting around 1 700 stands occupying an area of 34 641 m² at the trade fair double act. The ranges on offer at the two fairs will be structured in ten product pavilions altogether. Covering the DIY segment will be the DIY & Home Center including building materials and related products, hand and power tools, plumbing, furniture and fittings; the other two main sections will be Garden & Outdoor and Lighting & Electrical. Also of interest to the DIY retail sector will be the area of kitchens and household appliances from the Gifts & Home Products fair.The display of merchandise will be complemented by a variety of conferences. Buyers will be given information about the procurement of goods in China, about the possibilities and challenges, as well as the avoidance of costly pitfalls. Suppliers, on the other hand, will be offered support for their export efforts. Registered visitors will have access to detailed information about the range of topics covered by the conferences well in advance of the start of the fair. What is more, entry is free of charge for those who register in advance. Further information at www.chinasourcingfair.com.Welcome figures from HanoverMore exhibitors, more space and a great many more visitors is the final result of Domotex, which opened its doors from 17 to 20 January in Hanover, where it presented the entire spectrum of floorcovering products. Around 46 000 visitors, or 15 per cent more than one year previously, came to the flooring fair to glean the latest information on the subject. Those coming from abroad totalled 26 400 (15 per cent up). The east European and Asian regions accounted for an important part of this increase. Displaying their products over an exhibition space totalling 88000 m² (a plus of seven per cent) were 1152 exhibitors (nine per cent up).CIHS Shanghai balance sheetAt the last China International Hardware Show/Practical World (CIHS), held in September 2003, 108 companies came from the building materials and DIY products segment. This amounted to almost 15 per cent of the 906 exhibitors in total. According to the figures recently published by the organisers, there were 63 companies (or almost nine per cent) belonging to the kitchen and bathroom segment. The lion’s share of exhibitors in Shanghai was made up of 478 tool manufacturers, or 65 per cent overall. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Obi also had their own stands at the fair. A figure of 35408 is put on the number of visitors attending the event.This year the organisers intend to achieve an attendance figure of 40000. They are expecting 1300 exhibitors, who are being offered an area of 46 000 m² (35 000 m² in 2003). When the International Federation of Hardware & Housewares Associations (IHA) holds its 49th congress in Shanghai in 2006, the exhibition space of the CIHS is to be doubled to between 80000 and 100000 m².Date fixed for fair in IndiaThe second Interbuild India will take place in New Delhi from 23 to 25 September 2004. According to an assessment from the organisers Montgomery International, the Indian government’s announcement that it is going to build ten million new houses will involve an investment volume to the tune of US $ 280 mio (€ 238 mio) for construction work and measures to improve the infrastructure.First ISHA in Hong KongThe first Intersource Hardware Asia (ISHA) is due to be held in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 13 to 16 April 2004. The organisers expect suppliers from Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, mainland China, Hong Kong und Taiwan as well as from Austria etc. The fair is being organised jointly by a subsidiary of Koelnmesse and Adsale Exhibition Services. What is more, on 14 and 15 April there will be a conference concentrating on technical and marketing questions. A subsidiary of the TÜV Rheinland, a German service company in the field of materials testing, is involved in organising the conference.Internationalism is the order of the dayThe BHB is ex Visitor record at Kortrijk. For the first time in the 23-year history of the event, more than 5 000 trade visitors made their way to DIY 2004 in Kortrijk. Altogether the organisers registered 5077 visitors over the three days from 1 to 3 February, which was three per cent more than the previous year. A total of 168 exhibitors presented their latest products and fashionable trends in the categories of decoration, wood and building materials, sanitary installations, hardware, tools, electrical and gardening.The atmosphere was characterised by a mood of optimism, which was no doubt connected with the good progress of the market (according to figures from Nielsen, the retail chains can point to growth of 12.4 per cent).Following last year’s successful premiere, the Art & DIY competition for artists was staged again this year as part of the supplementary programme. The art schools that took part in the competition showed great creativity in their entries, for which DIY products were used.The next DIY show will be open for business in Kortrijk from 30 January to 1 February 2005.Exploring opportunities in EuropeAround 70 members of the Worldwide DIY Council, an association of Canadian and American exporters, made a trip to Barcelona in early December 2003 to hear at first-hand about the worldwide expansion plans of major retail groups and to participate in a small table-top fair which attracted agents and buyers from France, the Netherlands and Spain. Speakers included Juan José Jaén, president of the Brico Group with 33 DIY stores; Manfred Maus, president of Obi’s supervisory board and of the BHB; and Hans-Jörg Greimel, member of the Baumax board. Other speakers on the industry side included Hakim Yusuf, general manager for the Middle and Far East at Bissell, along with Jack Zjilstra, president of Freightways, a European logistical company.More suppliers from Eastern EuropeThe organisers of the BJA business meeting to be held on 30 and 31 March and covering DIY, gardening and pet products are anticipating a strong attendance from Eastern Europe and especially from Poland. Around 70 buyers from European retail chains and purchasing groups will meet the same number of manufacturers from more than 15 countries. To enable prospective buyers to view what’s on offer and select suppliers of interest to them, Reed Exhibitions France has set up a web site, www.bjalyon.com. Exhibitors and buyers thus have a platform for exchanging information and booking appointments in advance of the meeting.CIHS Shanghai balance sheetAt the last China International Hardware Show/Practical World (CIHS), held in September 2003, 108 companies came from the building materials and DIY products segment. This amounted to almost 15 per cent of the 906 exhibitors in total. According to the figures recently published by the organisers, there were 63 companies (or almost nine per cent) belonging to the kitchen and bathroom segment. The lion’s share of exhibitors in Shanghai was made up of 478 tool manufacturers, or 65 per cent overall. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Obi also had their own stands at the fair. A figure of 35408 is put on the number of visitors attending the event.This year the organisers intend to achieve an attendance figure of 40000. They are expecting 1300 exhibitors, who are being offered an area of 46 000 m² (35 000 m² in 2003). When the International Federation of Hardware & Housewares Associations (IHA) holds its 49th congress in Shanghai in 2006, the exhibition space of the CIHS is to be doubled to between 80 000 and 100 000 m².