Exhibitors upbeat as Consumer Fair kicks off
Category News
Exhibitors at the just-launched Consumer Fair 2013 say they are confident about reaching more customers this year while also increasing their exposure in the market.
This year's fair features 387 exhibitors who include 30 local manufacturers and 15 foreign exhibitors. The fair, which started on Monday and runs till Sunday, has attracted nine countries, which include Namibia, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Various exhibitors told Mmegi Business in separate interviews yesterday that they were hopeful of meaningful sales during the fair, which is billed as a "fun-filled shopping extravaganza".Apex Properties' sales and marketing officer Boipuso Supang said the company expects to receive "a lot" of customers this year.
"Since we started yesterday (Monday), we have been visited by a lot of adults unlike last year where we got a lot of young people and children," he said."This year we are experiencing a different turn-out". Students and pupils traditionally make up a high percentage of visitors to the Consumer Fair, whose dates have since been changed to coincide with study vacations.
Gree Sales' sales and marketing representative Joe Dimpe said although the company did not participate last year, their debut is proving profitable with a number of quotations already signed.The company specialises in the supply, maintenance and repair of air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
"We are expecting a lot of customers in this fair and it is quite promising because even yesterday on the first day, we managed to make more than five quotations," he said."Our business is being exposed to customers and they are interested in our products and services".
Speaking ahead of the event, Fairgrounds chief executive officer Mike Montshiwa said over the past years the fair has registered an annual growth rate of between three and eight percent in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors. The fair attracts over 60,000 visitors within a seven day period, he said, adding that this year they have introduced ticket sales in selected shops and over the internet to reduce long queues at entrance gates.
"We believe availing advance tickets to visitors will ease the congestion at the entrance gates and this will attract more visitors to the fair," he said. The Consumer Fair has been held since 2006 as an interactive forum for retail exhibitors and their clients.
Author: www.mmegi.bw