Trade show has two sides to it

“When we closed the doors for the last time on Monday evening, we could look back on a successful event where our exhibitors had booked good results,” said the organiser in a press release. The exhibitor and visitor attendance paints a different picture, however. The number of exhibitors fell from 116 (2010) to 110, the lowest level since 2004. Visitor numbers also declined from 5 238 (2010) to 4 610. Only the Anido fairs in 1996 (4 439) and 2008 (4 575) attracted fewer people to Kortrijk. “Our visitors are from specialist pet shops, grooming parlours, grain and seed traders, aquarium shops, garden centres, dog breeders, DIY shops, vets and large distributors,” the organiser said. The exhibitors were nevertheless broadly satisfied with the turnout. At the New@Anido stand, 608 votes were cast to select the best new products at Anido 2012. The following products were the most popular: “Size Health Nutrition X-Small” from Royal Canin (1st place in the Food category) and “Furdry” from Surplus Distribution (1st place in the Accessories and Care Products category).