The Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair, taking place at the RDS in Dublin from 6-8th October, has been updated this year with new show features, dates, a brighter venue and lots of new furniture. Ireland’s only furniture and interiors trade event, now in its 30th year, is holding strong …
After much dialogue with the industry, the show’s spring dates have been eschewed in favour of a new autumn instalment allowing suppliers a preview window in advance of Christmas and the UK’s 2014 interiors events, and giving local buyers time to recover from first-quarter spending.
Heeding calls for a brighter venue, the show has relocated to the main hall of the RDS – with its historic feel, whitewashed stone walls, Victorian metalwork and balconies, the venue is set to better enhance the furniture and interiors products on display.
The floorplan retains a central boulevard and retro lounge cafe. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a mid-20th century style display of Madmen classics, hosting Lunch & Learn sessions by the vintage experts from Sibyl Vane Antiques and Mid20c. The popular New Design Ireland feature nearby also continues to highlight fresh Irish design talent with subsidised display pods.
With an aim of re-stocking ideas and not just warehouses, the show also offers valuable design-led learning at its new trends seminar, curated by John McDonald of the Griffith College of Design, and supported by the Irish Design Institute. This free-to-attend seminar will run over the three days for retailers and design professionals on the invitation list. It promises panel discussions, talks on sustainability, trends, film screenings, and e-commerce and digital marketing tips. There will also be a crowd-sourced display of eclectic upcycled seminar seating present.
The Irish Furniture & Interiors Fair continues to be Ireland’s only island-wide event at which wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers can re-connect with local trade buyers. An invite-only VIP preview evening for key buyers will also take place on Saturday 5th October between 4-8pm, with drinks and canapes.
Exhibitors are promised a visitor marketing campaign that is second to none – from targeted ticket drops, direct marketing, field marketing and advertising to digital marketing, email campaigns and telephone marketing. The event retains hard-to-beat stand rates and vets all visitor registration for trade buyers only.
