A successful co-locating of trade shows is difficult to achieve, but when it works, it’s a great outcome for all concerned. Already it has become apparent that the link-up between W14 and Timber Expo is set for success. Everyone wins from this co-operation with the visitors reaping huge rewards.
It was always likely that a recovering economy and especially the political focus on new house building would ensure a busy event at W14, which could be expected to grow both its construction and furniture aspects.
W14 knows that, in addition to all of the major joinery and furniture manufacturers, its visiting manufacturers are small, or medium-sized businesses, who typically, are hard pressed for time. In these smaller operations, the decision-maker needs to find valuable spare time away from the company. So the more that a key person can see in a single visit, the more productive and happier they will be.
Timber Expo’s move from the Ricoh arena to the NEC brought about the opportunity to co-locate the events and W14 is pleased to welcome its new neighbours to the NEC.
With W14’s strong manufacturing audience and Timber Expo’s focus on architects and material specifiers, the shows remain distinct, but W14 exhibition director Angela McGowan sees considerable potential for quite a number of visitors wanting to see both shows.
“There is a proportion of the Timber Expo audience which is specifying materials of all types,” she says. “This is ideal for further exposure for our exhibitors showing different surfaces and design-led materials. We also see a natural interest from those involved in the specification of a material towards its processing.
“Even within the W14 show floor, we see closer co-operation between materials and technology so there is a clear logic to a timber material show sitting next door to the latest machinery used to work it.”
The move also brings the well regarded TRADA seminars in easy reach of the W14 audience and again we are sure that this will be a popular move with visitors.
W14 currently fills three halls at the NEC and the biennial event looks especially likely to reach capacity this year as furniture and joinery manufacturing sees a strong revival and the show’s underlying expansion continues.
It is particularly rewarding to see big brands exhibiting on the components side this year. Salice, Blum, BA Components, Emuca and Kingslide are recent major names to appear in style on the floor plan.
The Timber Expo show will have its two-day opening period within the usual W14 four days, so are reminded that W14 is from Sunday 5th October to Wednesday 8th October whereas Timber Expo is open only on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th October.
With the interest over the massively expanded materials and components side of W14, not to mention the Timber Expo co-location, Angela McGowan is keen that the growth in machinery exhibitors is not overlooked. “Whole new areas are joining us this year,” Angela comments. “Packaging machinery has not really been seen before at the show and yet two major suppliers are already on large stands for 2014. The recent tax boost for machinery investors is perfectly timed for the show and a number of new names have already ensured that little space remains in the machinery hall.
“Further good news is the excellent level of co-operation between the organisers of both shows. There is a determination to work with the NEC venue to be sure that visitors flow easily between the two shows and enjoy what must be the best ticket ever for our industry in the UK.”
