News

13th ZOW Bad Salzuflen: Successful show days in a professional atmosphere

Thoroughly positive and constructive – that was the mood among exhibitors and visitors at the 13th ZOW – Zuliefermesse Ost-Westfalen [East Westphalia Supplier Show] at the Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center. This year’s industry get-together delivered both superior presentations and first-rate quality show contacts. The new special events were extremely well-received as was the range of initiatives promoted by organizers, Survey and their partners. In total, around 700 exhibitors from 36 nations presented their ideas for the furniture and interior design industries from February 26 to March 1.

Following the 13th ZOW in Bad Salzuflen, Bielefeld-based organizers Survey Marketing + Consulting GmbH & Co. KG can point to a positive outcome. Awaiting trade visitors to ZOW 2007 were attractive exhibitor presentations across all product groups and an outstanding array of special events. 683 international exhibitors (previous year: 710) offered their latest product and service solutions to the industry over a total of 41,000 m2 of exhibition space (previous year: 41,000 m2) in the sold-out Halls 19 - 23 at the Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center. Many new suppliers and their portfolios injected even greater variety for trade visitors.

More German exhibitors

The ratio of German exhibitors to their foreign counterparts has shifted this year slightly in favor of German companies. Domestic businesses made up 51 percent (previous year: 48 percent) with 347 exhibitors, while the international contingent of exhibitors comprised 336 participants at 49 percent (previous year: 52 percent). Within this group, the 126 companies from Italy again represented the biggest national contingent, followed by Austria (19) and Spain (18).

Right through to the evening of the fourth show day, the previous year’s excellent numbers were achieved once again with almost 16,000 trade visitors. There were slight falls in visitor numbers from overseas but happily these were more than compensated for by the German visitor numbers, especially among the architects and interior designers target group. With the increasing importance of the German home visitor group, there was a slight drop in average time spent at the show. As in the previous year, the strongest show days proved to be Tuesday and Wednesday.

Special events meet with acclaim

Alongside the wide-ranging presentations by ZOW exhibitors, the special events promoted by the organizers, Survey, and its partners were particularly well-received. The range included the specialized sector of logistics with a dedicated program of presentations, lightweight construction features from lightweight.network, special presentations on surface technology and direct print, as well as the exclusive E3S event for solid surfaces and engineered stone.

Awarded for the first time during ZOW was the new international product accolade, “M Technology Award”, organized by iF (Hanover-based International Forum Design). Ten outstanding supplier products and concepts from international ZOW exhibitors and non-exhibitors received the award. Specifically aimed at the interior design element, the ZOW Architects’ Days based around the “Architecture Lounge” offered a daily information program and trade-specific tours for architects and interior designers. The events were held across all show days with pleasingly high visitor participation.

New transport strategy eases access

The significant improvements in access and registration brought about by the generously-sized central entrance in Hall 21 added to the positive mood among all show participants. The registration counter was mainly concentrated in the new central entrance in Hall 21, and the organizers had also enhanced the circuit through the exhibition halls with additional access points. With the new traffic flow system around the exhibition center, tailbacks on arrival and departure were largely eliminated.

Furthermore, the organizer’s extended free shuttle service provided a fast and efficient transport service for exhibitors and visitors. Following the extension of the P2 parking lot south of the Ostwestfalenstraße approach, ZOW traffic was able to exit directly off the B239. An additional 1,500 parking spaces were available here within walking distance of the South Show Entrance in Hall 23.2.

For further information, please go to the following websites: ZOW at www.zow.de, E3S at www.e3s.info and M Technology Award at www.m-in-black.com

The next ZOW Zuliefermesse Ost-Westfalen takes place February 25 – 28, 2008, at the Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Center.