How does one gauge the success of a show? Is it determined by the number of people who pass through the doors...or is it based on the amount of business done by the exhibitors? Whichever criterion is chosen, there can be no doubt that Aquarama and Pet Asia 2013 (co-held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, May 30 - June 2, 2013) were a resounding success according to event organisers.
While the number of countries represented by the exhibitors and trade visitors both remained virtually the same as in 2011 (21 and 72, respectively), no fewer than 55 percent of the exhibitors and 56 percent of the trade visitors still came from outside Singapore. Even more encouraging was the fact that attendance figures for, both trade and public visitors, showed increases of 8.3 percent and 16 percent, respectively. These are uplifting statistics for the organisers in view of the ongoing economic crisis in Europe and the US.
At a time when even the major pet industry shows are experiencing a drop in visitor numbers, or are having to adapt their frequency in tune with economic circumstances, UBM Asia Trade Fairs Pte. Ltd. has good reason to take heart, not just from the above statistics, but also from the feedback received from visitors and exhibitors alike.
For instance, one first-time exhibitor from Italy ranked the show as "Excellent" and immediately reserved a bigger booth for 2015. Another, this time a well-established and respected German Aquarama exhibitor, claimed – one full day before the end of the show – that the 2011 edition had been his company’s most successful Aquarama ever in terms of business done, and that the 2013 event was heading for the same outcome. A large Singaporean exhibitor who has been ever-present since the earliest days, likewise labelled this year’s edition a great success. And so on…
A recurring theme among exhibitors was that, as the crisis continues to bite in many countries, obviously affecting people’s decisions on whether or not to travel long distances at considerable expense to attend a show, those who do decide to attend have a genuine reason for doing go. Consequently, the percentage of serious buyers (as opposed to casual visitors or lookers) is much higher in times of economic difficulties. And it is this that ticked all the right boxes for the exhibitors this year. It is also this that has resulted in a large number of them already signing up for 2015.
This year, Aquarama and Pet Asia each had their own dedicated space, but co-located within the same halls, something that had a double positive impact. On the one hand, it gave Pet Asia its ‘independence’ and established it as an event in its own right, complete with its seminar programme, competitions and grooming, agility and obedience displays. On the other, Aquarama regained the 100 percent aquatic exclusivity that its exhibitors and traditional visitors love. The result therefore augurs well for the future of both events.
In the words of Jennifer Lee, project manager for the co-located events, "Staging Aquarama and Pet Asia 2013 has proved very challenging for the UBM team. We are therefore delighted with the positive response we’ve received from exhibitors and visitors alike, and take great encouragement from this as we begin planning for the 2015 editions."
And...speaking of 2015, the dates for Aquarama and Pet Asia have already been announced: May 28-31, 2015. The co-located exhibitions will be held, as always, in Singapore, with the venue being announced at a later date.
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