Trade fair


A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and customers, study activities of rivals, and examine recent market trends and opportunities. In contrast to consumer fairs, only some trade fairs are open to the public, while others can only be attended by company representatives and members of the press, therefore trade shows are classified as either "public" or "trade only". A few fairs are hybrids of the two; one example is the Frankfurt Book Fair, which is trade only for its first three days and open to the general public on its final two days. They are held on a continuing basis in virtually all markets and normally attract companies from around the globe. For example, in the U.S., there are currently over 10,000 trade shows held every year, and several online directories have been established to help organizers, attendees, and marketers identify appropriate events.

History

Modern trade fairs follow in the tradition of trade fairs established in late medieval Europe such as the Champagne fairs, in the era of merchant capitalism. In this era, produce and craft producers visited towns for trading fairs, to sell and showcase products. From the late eighteenth century, industrial exhibitions in Europe and North America became more common reflecting the technological dynamism of the Industrial Revolution.
In the late 19th century, the concept of annual industry-wide trade shows gained traction, spreading from European manufacturing centers to North America. By the 20th century, specialized companies came into existence simply to manage the trade-show industry, and permanent trade show grounds or convention centers were established as venues that featured a rotating calendar of trade shows.
In the 21st century, with the rapid industrialization of Asia, trade shows and exhibitions are now commonplace throughout the Asian continent, with China dominating the exhibitions industry in Asia, accounting for more than 55 per cent of all space sold in the region in 2011.

Use

Trade fairs play important roles in marketing as well as business networking in market sectors that use them. People will seek to meet people and companies at their own level in the supply chain, as well as potential suppliers and potential buyers.
Generally there will be a central trade show floor with booths where people exhibit their goods or services, and throughout the day there will be seminars for continuing education on matters relevant to the industry, like best practices, trends, and regulation. There will also be some shared meals with keynote speakers, and social events in the evenings. Booths range from simple tables to elaborate constructions.
Trade fairs often involve a considerable investment in time and money by participating companies. The planning includes arranging meetings with other attendees beforehand and resources to follow up on opportunities that are created at the fair. Costs include space rental, booth design and construction of trade show displays, telecommunications, travel, accommodations, and promotional literature and items to give to attendees.
In addition, costs are incurred at the show for services such as electrical, booth cleaning, internet services, and drayage. This local spending on logistics leads cities to promote trade shows as a means of local economic development, as well as providing opportunities for local businesses to grow, and attract new businesses to come.

Venues

#GroundCityIndoor floor areaOutdoor floor area
1Hannover MesseHannover
2World Market Center Las VegasLas Vegas
3Messe FrankfurtFrankfurt
4Fira de BarcelonaBarcelona
5Fiera MilanoMilan
6Canton Fair ComplexGuangzhou
7Las Vegas Convention CenterWinchester, Nevada
8KoelnmesseCologne
9Messe DüsseldorfDüsseldorf
10McCormick PlaceChicago
11Parc des Expositions de VillepinteParis
12Paris expo Porte de VersaillesParis
13Feria de Madrid IFEMAMadrid
14National Exhibition CentreSolihull
15Messe MünchenMunich
16Messe NürnbergNuremberg
17Messe BerlinBerlin

List of major trade fairs

TitleDescriptionDatesLocationVisitors
AgQuipAgricultureAugust 22–24, 2017Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia100,000 approximately in 2005
AGROAgricultureJune 7–10, 2017Kiev, Ukraine121,220 in 2012
ANUGAFood and beverageOctober 7–11, 2017Cologne Trade Fair, Germany165,000 approximately in 2017
Arab HealthHealthcareJanuary 30, 2017 - February 3, 2017Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates102 666 in 2017
AutomechanikaAutomotive aftermarketSeptember 13–17, 2016Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany136,000
BAUMAConstructionApril 8–17, 2019Munich, Germany620,000 in 2019
Beef AustraliaBeefMay Rockhampton, Australia90,000 in 2015
Berlin Music WeekMusicSeptember 3–7, 2014Berlin70,000 in 2012
Bologna Motor ShowAuto showDecember 3–11, 2016Bologna, Italy450,000 in 2013
boot DüsseldorfBoatsJanuary 21–29, 2017Messe Düsseldorf, Germany267,379 in 2008
Buenos Aires International Book FairBooksApril 27-May 15, 2017Buenos Aires, Argentina1,240,000 in 2008
Cairo International Book FairBooksJanuary 27, 2017 - February 10, 2017Cairo, Egypt2,000,000 in 2007
Kolkata International Book FairBooksLate January - Early FebruaryKolkata, India2,000,000 in 2012 - largest book fair in the world
Canton FairConsumer and Industry ProductsSpring session: April 15–19 ; April 23–27 ; May 1–5.
Autumn session: October 15–19 ; October 23–27 ; October 31- November 4.		Guangzhou, China192,013 in Spring Session 2008
CeBITInformation and communication technologyMarch 20–24, 2017Hanover, Germany480,000 in 2007
Comic MarketComicsAugust 11–13, 2017Tokyo, Japan550,000 in Summer Session 2008
COMPUTEX TaipeiComputer showMay 30, 2017 – June 3, 2017Taipei, Taiwan106,517 in 2008
CONEXPO-CON/AGGConstructionMarch 7–11, 2017Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, United States145,000 approximately in 2008
DrupaPrinting EquipmentMay 31-June 10, 2016Messe Düsseldorf, Germany393,654 in 2004 from 127 countries
E3, Electronic Entertainment ExpoVideo gamesJune 13–15, 2017Los Angeles, California, United States68,400
EICMAMotorcyclesNovember 10–13, 2016Fiera Milano, Italy504,999 in 2008
EurofloraFlower showApril/May once time every 5 yearsGenoa, Italy730,000 in 1986
EuroShopRetailingMarch 5–09, 2017Messe Düsseldorf, Germany104,766 in 2008
Farnborough Air ShowAerospace16–22 July 2018Farnborough Airport, Hampshire, UK209,000
FieracavalliHorse showNovember 10–13, 2016Verona, Italy125,975 in 2008
Fiera internazionale del libroBooksMay 18–22, 2017Turin, Italy300,000 in 2007
Frankfurt Book FairBooksOctober 11–15, 2017Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany280,194 in 2011
Games ConventionVideo gamesended 2008Leipzig, Germany203,000 in 2008
GamescomVideo gamesAugust 21–25, 2018Cologne Trade Fair, Germany350,000 in 2017
Genoa International Boat ShowBoatsSeptember 21–26, 2017Genoa, Italy236,322 in 2008
GITEXConsumer electronicsMarch 29, 2007 – April 1, 2017Dubai, United Arab Emirates146,000 in 2016
Hannover MesseIndustry, TechnologyApril 24–28, 2017Hanover, Germany193,222 in 2008
High Point MarketFurnitureApril and OctoberHigh Point, North Carolina United States70,000-80,000
IFA, Consumer Electronics UnlimitedConsumer electronics and home appliancesSeptember 1–6, 2017Berlin, Germany240,000 in 2016
imm CologneFurnitureJanuary 15–21, 2018Cologne Trade Fair, Germany106,677 in 2008
InnoTransRail Transport TechnologySeptember 22–25, 2020Messe Berlin, Germany106,612 in 2010
IntermotMotorcyclesOctober 3–7, 2018Cologne Trade Fair, Germany203,000 in 2012
International CESConsumer electronicsJanuary 9–12, 2018Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, United States177,000+ in 2016
Internationale Automobil-AusstellungCarsSeptember 14–29, 2017Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany931,700 in 2015
IGW BerlinSustainable agricultureJanuary 20–29, 2017Messe Berlin, Germany424,502 in 2008
ITB BerlintourismMarch 10–12, 2017Messe Berlin, Germany149,776 in 2008
International Technical Fairmachine engineering, automobiles, transport, information technologies, software, electronics, electrical engineering, construction, chemistry, power engineering, ecologySeptember 25–30, 2017Plovdiv, Bulgaria141,000 in 2006
Jakarta FairRetail May 22–30, 2019Jakarta, Indonesia
KPlasticsOct 19–26, 2016Messe Düsseldorf, Germany222,486 in 2010
Light + BuildingArchitectural lighting designMarch 18–23, 2018Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany167,084 in 2008
Mass-Trans Innovation JapanRail Transport TechnologyNovember 27–29, 2019Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan
MEDICAMedical technologyNovember 13–16, 2017Messe Düsseldorf, Germany136,871 in 2008
Mobile World Congressmobile telephony, CommunicationsFebruary 25, 2019 – February 28, 2019Barcelona, Spain107,000 in 2018
SIAL ParisFood industryOctober 18, 2020 - October 22, 2020Paris, France150,258 in 2010
Mondial de l'AutomobileAuto showSeptember 29, 2016 – October 16, 2016Paris, France1,400,000 in 2006
NAB ShowBroadcastingApril 22–27, 2017Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, United States93,000+ in 2013
NAMMMusicJanuary 25–28, 2017Anaheim, California, United States85,000
NAIASCarsJanuary 14–21, 2018Detroit, Michigan, United States800,000 in 2018
National Agricultural FieldaysAgriculture4 days in mid JuneHamilton, New Zealand125,878 in 2007
Novi Sad FairAgricultureMiddle of MayNovi Sad, Serbia600,000
Nuremberg International Toy FairToys, GamesFebruary 1–6, 2017Nuremberg, Germany80,000 in 2011
Paris International Agricultural ShowAgricultural showFebruary 25, 2017 - March 5, 2017Paris, France619,000 in 2017
Paris Air Show - SIAEAerospaceJune 19–25, 2017Paris, France322,000 in 2017
photokinaPhotographyMay 27–30, 2020Cologne Trade Fair, Germany180,000 in 2018
Salone del Mobile FurnitureMarch 2007FieraMilano, Italy270,000 in 2007
SEMA ShowAutomobile aftermarketFirst week of NovemberLas Vegas, Nevada United States125,000 in 2014
SHOT ShowFirearmsJanuary 22–25, 2019Sands Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States60,000+ in 2018
SIMAReal estateMay 25–28, 2017Madrid, Spain122,760 in 2008
SIMO TCIConsumer electronicsOctober 18–20, 2017Madrid, Spain300,000 approximately
Sydney Royal Easter ShowAgriculture14 days over EasterSydney, Australia900,000 in 2007
Tehran International Book FairBooksMay 3–13, 2017Tehran, Iran2,000,000 approximately in 2010
The Big 5ConstructionNovember 26–29, 2017 Dubai, UAE78,579 participants in 2016
Thessaloniki International FairGeneralAnnuallyThessaloniki, Greece250,000 in 2011
Tokyo Motor ShowAuto showsOctober 27, 2017 - November 5, 2017Tokyo, Japan1,512,100 in 2005
Tokyo Game ShowVideo gamesSeptember 21–24, 2017Tokyo, Japan271,224 in 2016
Trade Expo IndonesiaExportOctober 24–28, 2018BSD City, Indonesia28,000
World Ag ExpoAgricultureAnnuallyTulare, CaliforniaApprox. 100,000 annually
World Dairy ExpoDairy IndustryOctober 3-03, 2017Alliant Energy Center, 2015 at Madison, Wisconsin, United States75,000

, with the exhibition booth of the Croatian Chamber of Economy