The FIT Show has come and gone and as all recollect on the recent event the Rehau team have been wondering is it money well spent:
Gareth Jones, Window Solutions marketing and technical director at Rehau, said: “We’re now over a week on from this year’s FIT Show but we have been looking back at the success of the exhibition for our team. This year as I walked the stands everyone was very upbeat and there was a positive feeling that the show was a success with record visitors and busy stands. But now is a time to reflect on the success of the show for our business.
“At the Rehau stand this year we went for the In Hand concept – something slightly different – and focused on the four key areas of sustainability, support, product and colour. From my point of view I was very pleased with the way the stand came together and I am pleased to extend thanks to all involved.
“One of the great additions this year was Big Tuesday, which I think we did really well with the introduction of our gin bar, four cocktails following our core themes, our virtual reality game and the ice sculpting.
“Overall for us the feedback has been very positive and people really understood our themes. But the cost is no longer insignificant as we move to the NEC and all the incidentals that come with this, plus the time invested within the business, which is where the real expense comes in. To me the message is let’s not rest on our laurels and while this was a successful show we must judge each year as it comes.”
Matt Janicki, North West area sales manager at Rehau, said: “As this was my first show I found the event to be a real eye opener, from the size of the show in the NEC to the stands, which were far past my expectations.
“I felt our stand was very friendly and welcoming to customers. Throughout the event and post show I received a lot of positive feedback from visitors who loved the stand, with the virtual reality experience a particular highlight – and of course the gin bar.
“In summary these were three long days which were not good for my feet, but overall I really enjoyed the show and valued the networking possibilities the show presented.”
Steve Tonkiss, Windows Solutions commercial sales manager, said: “I thought the show went very well generally and the Rehau stand had a good positive buzz about it.
“For myself I do feel that there were lower numbers of architects and specifiers than I would have hoped to see. For the future I believe this should be addressed as fenestration solutions are vitally important. There could also be opportunities to run CPD seminars at the show to encourage different visitors.
My opinion is that the show is too insular in its approach to enticing new delegates and visitors to the show and continues to lack on the amount of aluminium suppliers attending the show.”
Irene Smith, Windows Solutions marketing manager, said: “It was great to be back at the NEC and there was a fantastic buzz to this year’s show. It’s important to me to assess the reaction to the show and I was really pleased with the response to our stand from visitors, particularly guests enjoyed our giant profiles and were very interested in the virtual reality and product displays.
“Big Tuesday was a great success offering us the opportunity to mingle with our customers in a relaxed environment as well as the chance to watch the brilliant ice carving demonstration by Danny Thomas. But I do have a word of caution for 2019 the show shouldn’t get too big and become very expensive as it could make it impossible for some exhibitors to participate and take away from the variety on show and thus overall visitor experience.”
