Expo Nacional Ferretera with Mexican temperament

Good exhibitor and visitor figures were recorded by the 24th Expo Nacional Ferretera in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the beginning of September. Some 80 000 visitors attended the event. The exhibitor side included 1 300 companies occupying an exhibition space of 50 000 m². For instance, the Worldwide DIY Council (WDIYC) had organised a group stand for ten exhibitors from North America. “It was the busiest fair that I have ever attended,” is how WDIYC president Jayne Seagrave of Vancouver Tool summed up her impressions of the event. She also highlighted the smooth organisation of the fair, good logistical conditions and a positive cost-benefit ratio. The trade fair is 100 per cent geared to tools and DIY. When comparing this event with the major fairs in the sector, it was striking to see the size of the stands the exhibitors lash out on – and which of the brand names that are failing to participate in Europe were represented there. It was also most conspicuous that many exhibitors did not just limit their entertainment elements to Latin-American carnival acts or impersonators of either Elvis or Marilyn Monroe, but employed masses of more or less lightly clad women. Obviously the basic motto is still “sex sells”. Download: