Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM MARCH 2014 22 IFA: GFU AND MESSE BERLIN TO CONTINUE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP Extension Of Contract Until 2018 Boosts Berlin As A Trade Show Venue Berlin and IFA will continue to be closely linked with one another. The organizers of IFA, gfu - Gesellschaft für Unterhaltungs- und Kommunikationselektronik mbH, extended their collaboration with Messe Berlin GmbH by a further five years. IFA is the world's most important trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances (white goods – domestic electrical appliances). The symbolic signing of this agreement took place in the presence of Berlin's Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit and the Senator for Economics Cornelia Yzer in the gallery of the Berlin city hall. "Among leading fairs IFA is one of the most important for Berlin. It brings benefits for hotels and catering establishments as well as being of fundamental importance for the city as a location for technology. IFA provides an economic impetus and also strengthens Berlin's position as a trade fair venue, both nationally and internationally," said Wowereit. "Berlin is a hotspot for the products and solutions of tomorrow. That is why IFA and Berlin are so suited to one another, because this leading event for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances provides an impressive picture of the latest technologies and how they can be used. At the same time it has an important role for the placing and taking of orders. We have again succeeded in securing IFA for the capital for a number of years. This is a clear acknowledgment of Berlin as a successful trade show venue, for which we would like to express our thanks to the organizers and the exhibitors," said Yzer Hans-Joachim Kamp, chairman of the supervisory board of gfu stated, "Berlin and IFA form a successful combination. The recent extension of a collaboration that has been successful, constructive and in a spirit of mutual trust for many decades provides both partners with the planning security that they need. This is a solid basis for the success of our IFA, and we shall continue to work closely and intensively to ensure its continuation. I would like to thank the IFA team at Messe Berlin, who have always provided strong and reliable partnership." Dr. Christian Göke, chief executive officer of Messe Berlin, emphasized, "Messe Berlin and gfu have been combining their core skills for more than 40 years: familiarity with the market and expertise in the events field. We look forward to continuing to strengthen this proven partnership in the long term. Working together we shall continue to develop and consolidate the successful model that is IFA." At IFA 2013 some 1,500 exhibitors occupied 145,000 m² of rented space to present their countless products and innovations. Approximately 240,000 visitors attended IFA 2013, including more than 142,000 trade visitors (+1.4%), 46,000 of whom came from abroad (+2.2%). With orders totaling just under four billion euros IFA is the outstanding event for the industry and the trade in the run-up to the end-of-year business, the most important trading period of the year. This applies equally to both sectors, consumer electronics and home appliances. IFA 2014 will be taking place on September 5 -10, 2014 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. STREAMLINE HOODS INTRODUCES RANGE HOODS MANUFACTURED WITH CORIAN ® AT THE ANNUAL KITCHEN AND BATH INDUSTRY SHOW Streamline Hoods has added an additional Designer Collection to its line of ultra modern and contemporary range hoods. The InNOVA Collection crafted with DuPont Corian ® offers 4 models in wall and island hoods. The initial offering is in white. Several models include a built in backsplash to complement the countertop. Blend Streamline Hoods' renowned functionality with the unique composition and properties of Corian, add a shared passion for original design and the result is the InNova Collection. Exclusively created by Serra de la Rocha, crafted by continued on page 26 I N D U S T R Y [ N E W S ]

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