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| IFA 2008: Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances IFA: The world's largest trade show for general public and business – A global marketplace for strong brands – A unique combination of innovative products, entertain-ment and media politics from 29 August to 3 September "IFA gathers key industry players at international level, inspires its audiences and moves markets", Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer, Messe Berlin, explained to 270 journalists from 42 countries, to representatives of industry and trade during the International IFA press conference at Majorca. The conference was completed by attractive product presentations from both industries and by a panel discussion, organized by Showstoppers, IFA's new partner from USA. Showstoppers will establish a new format for business contacts and product presentations during IFA 2008. At IFA 2008 the top brands of Consumer Electronics and home appliances will present themselves together and in total glance at the Berlin exhibition site. IFA offers a unique combination of the two markets and an ideal platform for international retailers, purchasers, costumers and the industry. "By integrating the electrical home appliances industry, we expect consumer lifestyle products from both industries to become more popular, and international trade visitors and media at IFA to express even keener interest", Dr. Rainer Hecker, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu, pointed out. A survey initiated by Messe Berlin shows that IFA is on the right track: "Among the ten most important electrical devices for every day's use, five belong to consumer electronics and the other five belong to domestic appliances", Dr. Göke said."By closely combining products and services from sectors ranging from consumer electronics to home appliances we are reflecting market structures and creating further potential for trade and industry. IFA addresses all the senses and creates a perfect environment for an emotional presentations of the brands." Four months and a half ahead of IFA´s start 90 per cent of display space for traditional IFA products have been booked. With 80 per cent of its display area occupied, the new Home Appliances section is also on course to do well already, with almost every major brand from the domestic appliances industry represented. Dr. Rainer Hecker pointed out: "The successful concept of IFA provides an ideal starting point for establishing good, long-term business for industry and trade. Here in Berlin we will be presenting all our visitors with a very wide range of quality products – from flat tv sets and home cinema systems to intelligent networking solutions and all kinds of mobile devices." Jens Heithecker, Director, Messe Berlin: "IFA 2008 transcends all conventional limits. Leading international exhibitors, trade visitors and representatives of the media are once again attending the fair. Combining the consumer electronics and electrical home appliances industries guarantees our exhibitors, trade visitors and partners a very attractive business environment. As result of its expansion, the IFA 2008 will offer an even wider platform for doing business than in 2007." Jürgen Boyny, Global Director Consumer Electronics GfK Marketing Services: "The consumer electronics market as well as the market for home appliances are increasing worldwide. Innovations in the segments of TV sets, mobile phones and PCs are driving the growth of the CE market, whereas lifestyle, convenience, health, and energie efficiency are driving the market of home appliances." For the coming years Boyny predicts an ongoing demand for flat TVs at a high level. "The increased awareness of energie efficiency will be reflected by new attractiv CE products in the future", Boyny continues. In total the market expert predicts a worldwide market volume of technical consumer products of 680 billion US Dollars. This means an increase of eight percent. IFA is the world's largest consumer electronics trade fair for the general public and the most important venue for retailers to do business. Traditionally a wealth of new technologies and products go on display at the IFA for the first time. It is also an exciting and entertaining show, combining a unique variety of innovative products in a way that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Media political decisions are made in Berlin, and thousands of domestic and international journalists ensure that reporting reaches wide audiences everywhere. With IFA expanding all the time, in 2008 it has also become a more international venue, more entertaining, and media political decision-making and trading has become more intense than ever. It is as diverse as the market for consumer electronics products itself, and for several years this market has been growing dynamically, with attractive and innovative products as the driving force. Combining the markets of consumer electronics and electrical home appliances represents an ideal expansion of the range of products at IFA. Against the backdrop of this new combination of brand worlds, of the consumer electronics und home appliances industries, starting in 2008 there will be some changes to the hall layout at the IFA. The leading brands of the electrical home appliances industry will be represented in Halls 1.1 to 6.1. Due to the new space occupied by Home Appliances @ IFA the international trade visitor reception area covering 800 square metres will be moved from Hall 1.1. The international halls previously located in the area at the southern end of the grounds are to be replaced by temporary new halls between Halls 1 and 25. Due to increased demand by exhibitors from Taiwan the IFA is opening a special Taiwan Image Hall. The International Sourcing section will also occupy its own display area in one of the temporary halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Expansion of the IFA and integration of the electrical home appliances industry means that in its core areas it has become even more popular and that quality has improved yet again. Looking back at the IFA 2007, gfu and Messe Berlin counted more than 101, 000 trade visitors from Germany and abroad from a total of 93 countries, a 7.5 per cent increase over the previous event. Furthermore, with a five per cent rise in the number of accredited international journalists (6, 664 from 62 countries) the IFA 2007 set new standards in international cooperation with the media. By broadening the range of products on show the organisers expect media interest to increase, too. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page |