It was clear early on at this year’s W10 Working with Wood exhibition at Birmingham NEC that industry sentiment had improved and people had money to spend.
Show organisers sometimes talk up the quality of visitors at exhibitions when visitor footfall is low, but the majority of exhibitors TTJ spoke to at W10 were more than happy at the type of visitors and enquiry levels.
And organiser Huddlestone was glad to report visitor numbers had increased from the 2008 event, with more than 10,000 reportedly in attendance.
W10 exhibition director John Smith-Bodden said the show recorded a 50% increase in the number of companies attending compared to W8, “clearly evidenced by the amount of business being done by exhibitors”. The joinery sector in particular was in upbeat mood, judging by the number of senior company representatives looking at making investments in technology.
SCM was among many companies singing W10’s praises. “It was pleasing to receive a considerable number of serious enquiries as it seems that the difficult market out there is about to change, and customers are preparing for a gradual upturn in business,” said SCM UK managing director Gabriele De Col.
Ranheat declared the Tuesday to be the best day at any show it had exhibited at in 24 years, while edgeband supplier Ostermann UK said 90% of enquiries were from companies new to it.
“It’s been better than it was two years ago,” added TM Machinery Sales director Matt Pearce, “with quite a lot of interest.”
Advanced Machinery Services managed to sell an £11,000 machine within just 37 minutes of the show opening.
JJ Smith managing director Martin Smith said visitors were “serious”. “If companies are not serious about investing, they’re just not coming,” he said.
“The high levels of orders placed at the exhibition will now be augmented by follow-ups to the very strong enquiry volumes, translating into business this year and into 2011,” said Mr Smith-Bodden.
