Flanders success prompts Euro expo plan
A new European flooring exhibition is developing following the success of the Flanders Flooring Days (FFD) event in Belgium last month which saw visitor numbers increase 60% from 2022 with 1,552 visitors from 68 countries.
FFD was launched last year as a new model of trade show with each company presenting its latest innovations at their own premises or hired venues across a small geographical area of Belgium around Ghent and Kortrijk.
The presentations are of the highest standards and the organisation across the various venues is exceptional. A key feature in the format of this event which is much appreciated is that meetings are typically by appointment – suppliers and customers get one-on-one focussed time together which creates better business.
"This event is like being invited to the house of a friend versus being invited to a restaurant", said Ruben Desmet, CEO of Unilin Flooring.
And there is an increasingly social aspect to the occasion. Each venue offers sophisticated hospitality and lunches and this year the event culminated in an impressive party event with live music.
This year, non-Flemish manufacturers such as Condor and Betap from The Netherlands were invited to join and after such a success, the organisers are planning to open up the event still further. The intention is to invite a larger number of manufacturers to set up showroom hubs within the Kortrijk Xpo trade show venue (pictured left) next May.
“The organising partners want to respond to the high demand from abroad to be part of it. This is why the 2024 edition of FFD will also feature foreign manufacturers,” says the organisng committee.
“FFD combines insight into the carpet and flooring industry with the warm atmosphere and welcoming hospitality that characterises Flanders. This new initiative will make the event even more relevant for visiting wholesalers, retailers and 'purchasing consultants' such as interior designers,” it says.
The attractiveness of this area with Bruges and Ghent close by creates an opportunity for visitors to add a weekend of leisure to their visit.
Although the FFD members have gone out of their way to suggest the event does in no way compete with Domotex, many of these manufacturers have pulled out of recent events in Hannover and Domotex has been forced to contract to some extent after difficulties exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
A full report on Flanders Flooring Days 2023 will be published in our July issue, out on June 19.
