Africa’s only dedicated furniture/décor/design trade expo
Since the launch of the inaugural
expo in July this year at Gallagher
Convention Centre, the positive
response both locally as well as
internationally has been remarkable,
with some large partnerships and
new initiatives being revealed
within the next few months. The
Expo’s biggest strength lies in the
realisation that you cannot be
everything to everyone. It has been
proven internationally that you
cannot be both a consumer show
as well as a trade expo, due to an
entirely different mix of exhibitors.
After many months of research, both
locally as well as internationally
feedback showed dominantly, that
Africa and particularly South Africa
was in desperate need of a trade
only expo.
Rina Fortmann, CEO of Inspire
Trade Expo, is regarded by many as
being a leading exponent within the
exhibition industry in South Africa
and emphasises the need for such
an expo on the African continent
to boost locally produced exports.
We have a great design culture in
South Africa and finally found our
own design aesthetic. We are now
able to compete with top designers
around the globe and Inspire Trade
Expo will be the platform for these
‘new’ designers explains Fortmann.
This year’s expo realised the start
of a relationship with Samsung,
which will continue to grow and
develop.
Further to the highly anticipated
trend forecast, this will again be
launched at the expo, and 2015
will host Africa’s very first ‘Design
Thinking’ conference. “It is no
longer good enough to simply
empower designers, we need to be
educating big corporate business
in the relevance of designers and
more specifically the process of
‘Design Thinking’ within corporate
structures. The role of the designer
needs to change just as we see
all other industries adapting and
changing to gain all important
market share,” says Fortmann.
Details of the two day conference as
well as booking details will be made
available at the beginning of 2015.
Inspire Trade Expo Africa’s first
and largest ‘B2B’ trade expo
focused on design will continue
to grow and innovate. “We will
continue to focus on growing local
design and manufacture as well
as stimulating foreign investment
and trade within this sector. We
are constantly questioned about
adding on a consumer element to
the expo and the answer is no,” says
Fortmann. “In order to continue
our growth as the leading design
trade expo, it is essential to remain
focused and concentrate on ‘B2B’
development.” Bookings are now
open for 2015. AD
WHEN: Wednesday, 10 June - Friday 12 June 2015
WHERE: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg, South
Africa
TIMES: 9am-5pm Daily
COST: No charge for pre-registered trade buyers.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a strictly trade exhibition and only trade
buyers are welcome. No members of the public will be allowed into
the exhibition. No under 16s allowed, proof of age must be provided
on request (ID document). No infants (carried or in prams). A crèche
for children and feeding room will be available for the duration of the
Exhibition.
ABOUT inspire trade expo
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africandesignmagazine.com