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Glassex
2004 Confounds the Doubters as Exhibitors Report yet Another Successful
Year
Some
would call it a success against all odds, particularly those who read
more this year into the annual churn of exhibitors. But to the vast majority
of customers who did host stands at Glassex 2004, the fact that it was
yet another excellent event – borne out by the many enthusiastic
comments heard throughout the show – was really all that mattered.
Indeed, word of mouth from Glassex 2004 suggests that genuine buyers
of glass and glazing related products came, saw and shopped exactly as
they have done for the past 24 years, with exhibitors commenting on the
positive, energetic atmosphere of the show and the particular keenness
of visitors to seek out new and innovative solutions this year.
The
new organising team that made the debut Glass Processing & Technology
show such a success in November last year has, it appears, now stamped
its personality on Glassex too, with fresh input, ideas and attention
to detail resulting in a very lively, buzzing event. New features such
as the Glassex Challenge and Conservatory Design Competition
gave the show an involving; active feel that made for a positive working
and social atmosphere.
Stephen Redman, Event Manager for
Glassex, is pleased with how the show came across:
‘The Glassex team has worked incredibly hard to add value to the
event and to make it a dynamic experience for all involved, and I think
we’ve gone a long way towards achieving that goal this year. There
is always a fair turnover of exhibitors attending the show because the
industry changes and Glassex reflects the industry it serves - we don’t
expect the roll call to necessarily be the same every year, and we don’t
think our visitors do either. A variety of products, particularly new
innovations, are what has always been most important.’
Perhaps the most telling comment on Glassex 2004’s success comes
from one of the industry’s most experienced professionals and a seasoned
commentator on the show. Mike Crewdson,
formerly Managing Director of Weatherseal and now head of profile bending
specialist Radius Plastics, exhibited at this year’s event
and had this to say about Glassex 2004:
‘The fact that I have publicly criticised Glassex in the past as
a visiting fabricator is well known, but this year – coming back
as an exhibitor – I have to hold my hands up and say that I have
changed my mind.’
Other
experienced Glassex exhibitors who have been absent for a number of years
returned in triumph at Glassex 2004. PVCu profile manufacturer Plastmo
hosted a spacious, contemporary stand to introduce a new corporate image
and several key new products, as well as to celebrate its 21st birthday
(picture right). Robert Thiroff, Sales
Director for the company, was pleased with the response:
‘I felt this year that the buzz was back at Glassex. We’ve had
some excellent leads, and people visiting our stand seemed very up for
looking at new products, very enthusiastic and genuinely interested. An
excellent return for Plastmo.’
Plastmo was joined by Synseal, which also made a welcome return
to the show to promote its Global conservatory roof system from a prime
position by the front entrance. Phil Else,
Marketing Manager for Synseal, agreed that the show delivered:
‘Overall, Glassex 2004 has been an outstanding success. We had a
great product to promote, an excellent position and people who had already
heard the buzz about Global came to Glassex to see if what they’d
heard was true. Glassex is really the best place for us to showcase the
roof system, answer technical queries and show how easy and quick it is
to install. We’re very happy.’
However, it wasn’t just established industry giants that enjoyed
a successful event. The occupants of smaller size stands at the event
– many of them newcomers to Glassex – also reported an excellent
performance. Debut exhibitors like Jason Talbot,
Managing Director of conservatory fan and air conditioner supplier Astra
Distrbution, ‘took over 200 leads before the show was even halfway
through’, whilst Director Don Miller
of Instabuild – presenting an effective replacement for the
building element of conservatory construction - had this to say:
‘Our Glassex debut has been outstanding. We needed wider coverage
for what is a specialist product and we’ve been absolutely astounded
at how massive the response has been. The leads we’ve taken I believe
will result in us doubling our turnover in the near future – we’ve
had interest from several major players in the Irish market and at least
3 major nationals. We’re very confident about our future now and
we’ve re-booked our stand for 2005 already.’
Similarly,
the supplier of what is perhaps one of this year’s most notable new
product launches – Panel Master, an attractive wall panelling
system said to be ideal for the conservatory market – was also extremely
complimentary about the show. Says Carol Chadwick,
Co-Director of Panel Master:
‘We were very open-minded about what to expect at Glassex as a new
exhibitor with a fresh approach, but the support and advice we have received
from the show organisers has been invaluable. We had 5000 leaflets produced
before the show and 3000 have already gone. We’ve had some red-hot
leads and I think that coming here could be the best move we’ve made.’
However, possibly the most major premier appearance came from Irish fabricator
Camden Group. Although the company is the largest Rehau fabricator
in the British Isles – and its second largest in Europe – its
main footholds are in Ireland and Scotland, and Camden looked to Glassex
in its bid to conquer the rest of the UK. Says Sales Director Tommy
Fenton:
‘We knew that Glassex was the best place for us to do this –
where else do you go to launch a new product for the UK market? People
like the show, they appreciate its opportunities. What we have achieved
here has surpassed our expectations, both in terms of quality sales leads
and raising our UK profile. I think we can safely say now that Camden
Group has arrived, and it all began here.’
Some Glassex exhibitors found themselves literally over-run with visitors,
including Alan Bark of software supplier
First Degree Systems:
‘We had 6 demo stations positioned around the stand, and they weren’t
enough. We were so busy that we had to turn people away who wanted demos
and ask them to come back later – some came back two or three times
before we could show them! Our stand at Glassex has never been busier
– we’re delighted.’
Steve Barrow of Granada Secondary
Glazing, a long-time Glassex exhibitor, agrees:
'This is our 7th consecutive Glassex and, for us, it’s been the best.
I can honestly say that Tuesday was the busiest day we’ve ever experienced
at the show and within 4 hours we did what we came to do over 4 days.
A very pleasant surprise indeed.'
Glass Technical Services
(GTS) decided to exhibit at Glassex just three weeks before the event
to show the company's new glass washer, in addition to a number of other
products. Just as well they did, as the machine was bought off the stand
by Barnsley based Portland Glass, who paid the deposit for the machine,
in cash, before the show was over. The company also exhibits at Glass
Processing & Technology, and finds that both shows are equally important
to them, with an increase in the number of window fabricators investing
once again in their own IGU lines. Now the UK distributor for Siglam Resins,
GTS also scored a number of other useful sales leads from Glassex. Other
machinery manufacturers like Promac and Elumatec report
that machines were also sold directly off their stands.
The Glassex seminar programme also proved to be a popular feature of the
event, with GGF sessions on the Approved Document L 2005 revisions regularly
packed with delegates and plenty of interest in the CMA sessions conducted
by Chairman Mike Leonard. EMAP’s Jackie Mullane, who organised the
programme, was pleased with the response:
‘Particularly with the GGF sessions, people were keen to ask lots
of questions and to stay behind and get the answers they needed. Many
people commented to me on how useful and informative the sessions were,
which is great news.’
Stephen Redman is encouraged with the positive feedback received from
exhibitors and looks forward to the future of the event:
‘With Glassex about to enter its Silver Anniversary year, we can
see how much it has come of age. The exhibitor list may change, but the
unmatched benefits of Glassex as the industry’s main ‘market
square’ for seeing new products, new and familiar faces and industry
trends remain the same. There still isn’t any other event that compares
with Glassex, and that’s why we are still going strong.’
The dates for Glassex 2005 are 13
– 16 March inclusive, to take place in Halls 18, 19 and 20 of the
NEC, Birmingham.