Trade fair for shopfitting, sales promotion and store equipment met once again with keen interest in Moscow

Interest in SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA staged in Moscow from 20 to 23 September 2005 took a further step up. Not only did the third edition of the trade fair for shopfitting, sales promotion and store equipment record increases in exhibitor numbers and floor space but it also succeeded in drawing even more trade visitors than its predecessor. Some 13,300 retail pros - up seven percent from 2004 - took in the attractive offerings presented by 150 exhibitors at Moscow's largest and most cutting-edge inner-city fairgrounds, EXPOCENTR in Krasnaya Presnya. SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA was organised by Messe Düsseldorf and its subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf Moscow in cooperation with their Russian partner EXPO-PARK Exhibition Projects.

Both Norbert Schmidt, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Moscow, and Vassily Bychkov, General Director of EXPO-Park, were extremely satisfied with the fair's run and said: "Trade fairs in Moscow are still on the upswing. SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA bears testimony to the fact that Russia is a highly attractive location for both national and international businesses.” Speaking for the Russian exhibitor, PO VITRINA, Sergey Nenashev shared this viewpoint, adding: "After the first two days of the fair's run, we had already forged more contacts than we made over last year's entire event! Many of those we welcomed to our stand were high-ranking decision makers from the food/non-food sectors. What's more, we also met with valuable new contacts particularly from neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan.”

In all, 84 percent of the exhibitors expressed intense satisfaction with the outcome of their participation. Among them, Birgit Sainitzer from UMDASCH/ASSMANN Shop Design offered praise for the event: "The overall standard of the fair as well as the calibre and standing of the visitors have made quite a leap. Aside from the promising new contacts forged, the fair gave us an opportunity to survey the competition, build up our image and network with key suppliers.”

Hailing from nine countries, 150 exhibiting companies - 40 more than last year - took the stage at SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA. Spread across an exhibition space which had grown by 25 percent from the previous event to some 4,600 square metres, they showcased the latest products and trends in shopfitting, store equipment and supplies, visual merchandising and sales promotions in addition to lighting, communications and security technology plus chilled and frozen foods display cabinets. Germany was represented by an official participation comprising 17 companies backed by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour. "Club Italia” gathered renowned Italian suppliers in a joint presentation. As a first-time exhibitor from Germany, Helmut Piszko from Wuppermann Rohrtechnik was delighted: "On the two middle days of the fair's run, we were making a new client contact every ten minutes! That was really impressive and proved that our participation was exactly the right move!”

Andrey Utokhkin was also more than satisfied with the payoffs from VISPLAY INTERNATIONAL GmbH's debut: "SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA is developing dynamically in reflection of the market. The number of contacts forged and calibre of the visitors exceeded our expectations. As a result, we are expecting brisk post-fair business with firm deals. We were particularly impressed by the large numbers of visitors from countries in the region such as the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”

Of the 13,300 visitors to SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA, a large contingent (about 46 percent) was wholesalers and retailers. Owners and representatives of full service companies, shopfitters, distributors, designers and architects studios as well as advertising and marketing agencies also flocked to the event.

SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA's success reflects the growing interest in the country in shopfitting and store equipment. The Russian economy and the rise of new large retail complexes, in particular, have taken off at a pace. In Moscow alone, retail space is expected to expand by 3.2 million square metres to reach a total area of 4.7 million square metres by 2006. The arrival on the scene of international retail groups a well as the rise of national chains continues unabated with the number of branch stores constantly climbing, especially in the remoter parts of the country.

The exhibitors' offerings at SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA 2005 were rounded out by a comprehensive ancillary programme. Retail and marketing experts were treated to conferences, talks, seminars and panel discussions giving insights into developing business concepts, staff training, advertising strategies, changes in the marketplace and customer expectations.

One of the highlights of the SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA ancillary programme was the BEST POINTS Festival, dedicated to POS/POP advertising. The festival also hosted the prize-giving ceremony for the national OMA Awards and the SUPER STAR RUSSIA competition which saw 15 leading domestic display manufacturers and their 56 nominated products for the most varied long-term and short-term display applications vying for the honours. In the end, 3D Display, Demiurg, Public Totem, INEL, VIRTU, PVG and VITRINA A were among those who came out on top.

The competition was coordinated by the Russian branch of the international manufacturers association POPAI and Hamburg-based German publishers DISPLAY-Verlag in cooperation with the trade fair organisers.

SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA 2006 will open its doors in Moscow from 26 to 29 September. The fair will once again be organised by Messe Düsseldorf, its subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf Moscow and EXPO-PARK Exhibition Projects. SHOP DESIGN RUSSIA will also receive support from EuroShop, the world's No. 1 fair for the industry, Deutscher Ladenbau Verband (German shopfitting association - DLV), the Russian Council of Shopping Centers and Moscow Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The backing for the official German participation in 2006 by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour has already been approved.

For further information please contact Djuein-Pee Kirschning/Marie-Luise Schläfke at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, tel. +49 (0)211-4560-7739/-7741,
e-mail: KirschningD@messe-duesseldorf.de; SchlaefkeM@messe-duesseldorf.de.

October 2005

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