With stand space sold out months before the opening date of October 9 (next Wednesday) and pre-registration booking levels well in advance of 2011, entries for the New Product Awards are up over 10% this year.
Visitors to the two-day event next week can expect to see an impressive display of over 85 products from 36 of the 75 exhibitors on the New Products Showcase (stand J11) at the International Centre, Telford. Each entry will be clearly displayed with a brief description of the product, its price and exhibitor, so visiting buyers can shortlist those of interest before seeking them out around the exhibition for more information.
All the products will be entered into the New Product Awards which is being judged by team of judges drawn from the retail sector on the opening morning of the show. The winners and the judges’ identities will be revealed at lunchtime on Wednesday October 9 when the presentations take place on the Showcase. The winning products will then be featured in a special group as well as highlighted on the winners’ stands. Visitors will be encouraged to attend and congratulate the winners as they are announced.
Winning an award is a real accolade for the companies involved and helps promote both company and product awareness. Joe Courtney-Smith of past-winner Arcadia commented: “Entering a product is 100 per cent worth it and is very important to us. It is always good to have been recognised for the hard work that goes into a product. I feel that winning the award at the time that we did, really did help as part of a concerted effort to make us the UK’s number one reptile keeping brand.”
The categories that make up the Awards are:
- Best new Aquaria product
- Best new Water Gardening product
- Best new Reptile Product
- Best new Shopfitting/EPOS product
- Best new Ancillary product
Show organiser Annie Dyke said: “I am excited by the number of entries we have received. Successful new product development is key factor in a company’s ongoing success.
“The fact that so many new products are being showcased at AQUA 2013 just emphasises how important our exhibitors regard the event as part of their sales and marketing strategy. Equally I am sure visitors will find the Showcase extremely useful in helping make their product purchasing decisions.”
Buyers are urged to pre-register by going online at www.aquatelford.co.uk. Visitors can look forward to free parking, a free shuttle bus from Telford Central station to the exhibition, free refreshments including lunch, free catalogue and array of special offers around the hall. The AQUA 2013 visitor registration hotline is +44 (0)1892 862848.
