By James Wells
BERLIN: The organisers of the world’s largest consumer electronics show, Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) ,which will be held from 4-9 September at Messe Berlin, are predicting a strong event in 2009 after writing more than 3 billion Euros in retail orders last year.
“In times of crisis, trade shows are of utmost importance,” said Messe Berlin chief operating officer, Dr Christian Göke.
“Fixed meeting points in the year provide the opportunity to verify or falsify rumours, so trade shows are able to stop a panic if it’s coming. And trade shows are able to give a certain kind of reassurance to the markets by demonstrating and presenting success stories and successful approaches of exhibitors.”
“We are very pleased that we are able to tell you today that this is our outlook for 2009, bearing in mind that there’s a long way to go… but the punch line is that we are very stable and are even looking forward to some growth figures,” said Dr Göke.
IFA, which is regarded at the world’s largest consumer attended exhibition of its kind, last year attracted 1,245 exhibitors from 63 countries who wrote orders in excess of 3 billion Euros —10 per cent more than the year prior.
Exhibitors booked more than 133,000 square metres of exhibition space attracting more than 220,000 visitors, including a 24 per cent increase in registered retailers.
Among the exhibitors at last year’s event were: Electrolux, Miele, De’Longhi, Bosch, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Liebherr, Loewe, Nespresso, Olympus, Philips, Saeco, Sharp and Toshiba.
For more information on exhibiting and attending IFA 2009, call 02 8966 9159 or click here.