Anniversary event in London

The organisers promise a fair to be remembered when the DIY & Garden Show celebrates its ten years in existence between 18 to 20 January. For instance, the lucky visitor can win a sum of £ 10 000. The gala dinner on the Monday evening at the Royal Garden Hotel, a charity benefit event, is a special highlight. A conference entitled “DIY Retailing – the next ten years” is due to be held beforehand, on the afternoon of 19 January, at the Earls Court Conference Centre. The keynote speaker is Manfred Maus, founder and non-executive chairman of the German market leader Obi; he is also president of the BHB, the Federal Association of German DIY, Building and Garden Stores, and a member of the board of EDRA, the Europe-wide umbrella organisation.
left: As speakers at the conference on 19 January the organisers have engaged Manfred Maus of Obi…..right: …..and Ian Cheshire of Kingfisher.Another prominent speaker, alongside Manfred Maus, is Ian Cheshire, chief executive international & development at Kingfisher, the European market leader with over 550 DIY stores in Europe and Asia. What is more, Richard Perks of market research company Mintel, which is sponsoring the event, will also address the conference.In the eyes of fair director Christopher Leonard-Morgan, this event offers a “unique opportunity to gain an insight into the views of two leading European DIY retailers, as well as information from the leading British market research company about the development of DIY stores over the next ten years.”Tying into last year’s success, a tour to the leading DIY stores and garden centres in the greater London area is again being offered at this year’s event. It is being organised for the final day of the fair and aims to provide traders and suppliers with an insight into the changes that are taking place in these outlets.
This year will also see presentations by exhibitors from Canada and Malaysia on group stands.
More than 200 exhibitors are expected to attend the tenth DIY & Garden Show at Earls Court 2 in London this January. It is the second time the event is being held at the inner-city exhibition site following last year’s move there. Big brand names like ICI Dulux, Cuprinol, Draper Tools, Ronseal, Henkel and Spear & Jackson will be represented, as well as international suppliers including Burg-Wächter, Tubesca, Shanghai Lite-Way and Fabel. There will also be group stands from Canada and Malaysia. The exhibitors will be occupying a space…