In Fair Comment, Furniture News quizzes the people behind the scenes to discover what makes their exhibition unique, what changes are taking place, and why buyers from the UK and ROI should take note. In this article, Józef Szyszka, project manager of Meble Polska, outlines his event’s offer …
Identity: Meble Polska is the largest international furniture contracting event in Central and Eastern Europe, attracting around 20,000 furniture wholesale dealers and retailers from almost 50 countries every year.
Attendance: In 2014 the show attracted 17,500 visitors, and 20,065 in 2015 – the target is 21,000 for this year’s edition. In terms of exhibitor numbers, there were 207 in 2014, 241 in 2015, and there will be 255 this year.
What’s new? This year’s exhibition will occupy a surface area of over 40,000 sqm. Almost all of Poland’s leading furniture manufacturers have confirmed their participation. Compared to the previous year, the number of upholstered furniture will be significantly enlarged – as will the number of mattress manufacturers, due to the inclusion of a few major companies new to the fair this year.
Like last year, the fair will be accompanied by the Home Decor Interior Design Fair – with a similar contract profile – and the arena Design event, dedicated to industrial design, during which, each year, lectures by global design stars will be held.
“The most spectacular increase in the number of exhibitors in recent years has been noted in the mattresses sector”
This time, the special guest of arena Design will be Inga Sempé, a famous Parisian designer, co-operating with such manufacturers as Ligne Roset, Alessi, LucePlan, Mutina, Moustache and Svenskt Tenn. During the fair, Inga will deliver a lecture entitled Making Some Objects, which will match the theme of arena Design 2016 – Project, Process, Product.
Direction? Poland is the third largest furniture exporter in Europe and the fourth in the world. As much as 90% of the furniture manufactured in Poland is sold outside the country. In addition, the export of Polish furniture is constantly growing – according to estimates by market research institutes, in 2015 it amounted to €8.6b.
That is why we want Meble Polska to be of an even more international character. We are focused on inviting the key furniture buyers from the most important markets, including, of course, the UK.
It is a kind of feedback loop – the greater the export of furniture manufactured in Poland, the higher the exhibitor and visitor interest in participation in the fair. And the growth of our fair contributes to the growth of Polish exports.
In your opinion, what makes the show better than any other similar furniture event?
Contrary to many similar events organised in Central and Eastern Europe, Meble Polska has a strictly business transactional character. It is visited only by professionals, significantly increasing its suitability for exhibitors and visitors.
FIRA’s latest statistics show that Poland is now the UK’s third biggest importer, after China and Italy. What plans are in place to increase this trade even further?
The furniture industry professionals from the UK represent the largest group of visitors at the furniture fair in Poznan, after the guests from Germany and the Czech Republic – British furniture buyers represent as much as 10% of the visitors from abroad.
It is the result of our intensive promotional campaigns in this market carried out for several years now. Fair organiser MTP in Poznan includes in its structure a Department of Communication with Visitors, composed of several dozen employees, whose main task is to ensure a great number of professional visitors during the fair and offer comprehensive services for VIP guests.
“Anyone who is interested in trading in furniture with Poland simply needs to be there”
Before the fair, telemarketers contact about 13,000 furniture industry professionals in Europe and beyond by phone, and invite them to participate. Such direct actions are also carried out in the UK. However, if we have failed to send an invitation to any readers, I encourage you to register through our online service for visitors, www.mtp24.pl.
What product areas have developed most significantly over the last three years of Meble Polska?
The most spectacular increase in the number of exhibitors in recent years has been noted in the mattresses sector. But it should not come as a surprise, as Poland is one of the undisputed leaders in the manufacture of mattresses in the world, and second only to China as an exporter of those products.
In 2014, we sold mattresses worth 2.14b PLN (Polish zlotys) abroad. The data for the first half of 2015 – 1075m PLN – confirms that in 2015 maintaining this result should not be a problem.
Why did the timeline for the event change for this year?
The organisation of Meble Polska in March is not much of a change. The last two editions were held in February, but the previous two before that took place in March. The main reason for the changes were due to suggestions from exhibitors who, thanks to the postponing of the date, have more time to prepare new collections.
Why should UK buyers in particular take note of the event?
The Meble Polska Furniture Fair is the largest presentation of Polish furniture in the world. Anyone who is interested in trading in furniture with Poland simply needs to be there. Many of our exhibitors already have considerable experience in the export of furniture to the UK, and their products have the required certificates and meet the relevant British Standards.
Anything else potential UK visitors should know?
I would like to warn furniture buyers from the UK that due to the size of the exhibition it is worth spending two days in Poznan. Reaching all the potential suppliers in a single day can be difficult.
The registered furniture buyers will receive a VIP card entitling them to free admission and vehicle access to the fair, catering and participation in the evening gala event. The key customers can also anticipate unlimited access to the VIP zone, offering comfortable working conditions and absolute discretion when conducting business negotiations •
Meble Polska takes place from 8-11th March at Poznan International Fair.
