Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2016 10 W ith its considerable success, IFA 2016 laid the foundation for strong end of year business. "IFA was able to once again build on its position as the world's leading trade show for industry and trade, and as a brilliant order platform. The number of innovations and new products presented in Berlin is almost endless. Therefore IFA's contribution to the positive trends in these industries is correspondingly large. IFA is a unique platform for promoting positive business performance, unlike anything elsewhere in the world. The fact the order volume increased to 4.5 billion euros is an impressive proof to its significance," says Hans- Joachim Kamp, chairman of the supervisory board at gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the organizers of IFA. "IFA has once again underlined its role as the world's most important meeting place for the Home Appliances industry to get in contact with retailers and consumers. A multitude of exciting innovations let to their very positive response. We are extremely satisfied with the outcome anticipating a very strong end of year business," says Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, chairman of the home appliances division at ZVEI and president of the European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED). IFA once again showed how trade shows are truly a 'people business'. Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin: "The number of international trade visitors increased to 64,000." OUTSTANDING GLOBAL MEDIA INTEREST Journalists from more than 50 countries have reported extensively on the latest technology trends. Global media interest has soared to new heights with IFA 2016. Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director: "The number of international media representatives has risen to around 2,800." The huge interest in the goings on at IFA is also demonstrated by the high numbers of international broadcasters logging into the IFA Global Broadcast Center, including news agencies AP and Reuters, Deutsche Welle TV, public broadcasters such as Swiss EBU, and major private broadcasters such as ENEX from Luxembourg. The international broadcasters reporting on events at IFA included Al Jazeera from Qatar, Al Arabiya from the United Arab Emirates, CCTV and Tianjin TV from China, 1net TV, LCI, BFM TV, MCM, Sport 365 and OUATCH.tv from France, the BBC from the UK, RAI and Mediaset from Italy, NHK from Japan, Polsat News from Poland, YTN and KBS from South Korea, IBA International from Israel, TRT from Turkey, as well as CNBC/NBC and CNN from the United States. IFA KEYNOTES SMARTER THAN EVER From the smart kitchen to the connected car, virtual realities and the internet of things—the speakers at IFA Keynotes 2016 are the people driving the digital evolution and revolution. BUILDING ON ITS SUCCESS IN 2016

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