SICAM

SICAM 2021: a strong stimulus for the components and accessories market rose from Pordenone

ATTENDANCE RATES OUTSTRIPPED EXPECTATIONS AT THE FIRST POST-PANDEMIC IN-PERSON TRADE FAIR

The 2021 edition of SICAM was marked by confirmations: confirmation of the worth of the event’s format, confirmation of the vitality of the components and accessories sector, and confirmation of the effectiveness of in-person trade shows.

The desire to be there “in person” rose above the issues generated by the pandemic. This enabled SICAM to offer a complete edition which included new names and also saw the return of important brands from the world of surfaces along with a greater presence of companies from the ceramics, taps, and stone segments. A total of 542 companies came to Pordenone this year from Italy and 28 other countries (approximately 30% of exhibitors came from abroad), filling all 36,500 square metres of the ten halls of the trade fair area. The highest numbers among the foreign contingents came from Germany (historically the foreign country with the highest attendance at SICAM), followed by Spain and Turkey. Next came the exhibitors from Austria, Greece and Poland.

Over 7,200 companies visited the trade show, with 34% of them from 91 different countries. With these figures, the twelfth edition of SICAM certainly exceeded the expectations of those companies who placed their trust in the event and came to Pordenone with their new products and, above all, with their desire to open up direct and personal relations with the global furniture industry once again. The high level of quality of the visiting professionals was also confirmed this year. The profiles of the registrations once more showed the prevailing presence of decision-making roles, with company owners along with sales, purchases and technical managers leading the way. There was also a rise in the number of technical and sales personnel and growing numbers of designers and interior designers. With regard to business types, representatives from the contract segment also rose, while the production categories saw the general furniture, kitchen and components sectors recording the highest numbers.

Covid-related restrictions had a limited effect overall and the companies present at Pordenone worked with satisfaction and enthusiasm. Compared to the last edition held in 2019, SICAM 2021 only saw reduced attendances from professionals from the Far Eastern countries that have been especially hit by the pandemic, above all China and India. Markets that have traditionally come to the event, such as Germany, the Ukraine, France and Russia, returned in great numbers. As was to be expected, European countries provided the most attendees, amount to 78% of registrations. There was a significant presence of buyers from Asian countries, totalling 14% of attendances, which was perhaps unexpected considering travel restrictions and the reduced availability of international flights. The average length of visits registered remained essentially unchanged at 1.28 days. Foreign visitors were slightly up on 2019 from 32% to 34%, spending an average of 1.57 days at the trade show.

The sober, elegant atmosphere of the halls is SICAM’s signature style and remains unaltered in its effectiveness and elegance. It is a distinguishing feature of the trade fair which, once again this year, helped make visiting the stands a pleasure and facilitated professionals coming together. In line with the provisions of the Covid Protocol drawn up by AEFI – the Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association – , Exposicam’s organisation team attended to the smallest details to ensure the safest conditions at the trade fair without altering the exhibition layout and while maintaining top efficiency in all services, including catering and the shuttle services to and from Venice and Treviso airports.

So, after the postponement in 2020, the strength and effectiveness of the SICAM format were confirmed. Once again this year, the event allowed components and accessories companies create and develop top level international commercial relations of great value. “The chance to build quality relationships has always been SICAM’s strength,” states the event’s founder and organiser Carlo Gobbi, “and we saw that again this year. The companies were extremely eager to get back to in-person trade fairs and received the satisfaction they were looking for. There were so many contacts and direct business and, above all, so much enthusiasm for new business.” Numerous confirmations of attendance have already been received by the Exposicam team for 2022. A good sign of an event’s worth lies in feedback from the market and rebooking is a key indicator in this respect. “We have received requests for next year from various exhibitors of this edition as well as new companies,” Carlo Gobbi adds. “This indicates a sector that truly wishes to drive development and confirms its belief that the trade fair is a cornerstone of its marketing strategy.”

Many exhibitors have confirmed that SICAM 2021 was a very successful trade show. The organisers have received many statements of gratitude in this regard, a sign that the companies present, both exhibitors and visitors, appreciated the event’s understanding of the industry and its hunger to meet up again. The atmosphere in the halls was similar to that seen in pre-pandemic times and, in particular, there was a clear eagerness to reconnect and get back to working as normal, with even higher intensity than in the past. Carlo Gobbi explains, “I think we can say that this edition of SICAM has been the clearest demonstration of what we have always believed: that trade fairs are a fundamental element in a company’s marketing and promotion and should always be held in person so that people can meet up face to face. All of the IT tools that we have available all year round represent a useful and important accessory for communication, but remain as such and can never replace the true added value of a trade fair: human connection.”

SICAM, THE FIRST IN-PERSON TRADE FAIR FOR THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY TO GO AHEAD

The first global trade fair after the acute phase of the pandemic will be held at Pordenone, as is tradition, from 12th to 15th October 2021, a long-awaited return to normality…

Over 500 exhibitors (as always, the list is updated in real time online at https://www.exposicam.it/en/p-826/exhibitors-list-2021/ ) have signed up for the upcoming edition of SICAM, the International Exhibition of Components, Accessories, and Semi-Finished Products for the Furniture Industry, scheduled for 12th to 15th October 2021 in Pordenone. After the enforced break last year, this twelfth edition will set in motion once again the virtuous cycle of this event which has successfully designed a new trade fair experience and attracted the attention of operators from all over the world these past years.

This eagerly-anticipated return, upon which the SICAM team have worked tirelessly, finds a market in dire need of meeting up in the flesh after such an extremely difficult season, though positive in economic terms.

“It is undoubtedly a delicate time for the economy which is forcing everyone to make precise, strong, brave choices”, says Carlo Giobbi, the founder and patron of SICAM. “We have designed a ‘Covid-free’ event, taking measures to comply with current regulations issued by national and regional authorities and ready to adapt to any new situations that might crop up, backed by the certainty of having the skills and tools necessary to ensure a safe trade fair for exhibitors and visitors.
“Over these past 18 months we have remained in constant direct contact with our exhibitors to build together the ‘comeback trade fair’. We all share the desire to return to normality, to personally bear witness to this need to give the word ‘trade fair’ the only meaning it can and should have, that is a meeting between people.
“This choice shows our firm need to bring work, production and the economy back to the way they were, while taking all the necessary precautions and care. We all managed to adjust to the restrictions imposed by lockdown, favouring digital events and refined work methods. However, at the end of the day, these were not the solution, but certainly an interesting way to handle the emergency. New ways of doing, working and communicating which will continue to augment certain experiences going forward, but will never replace a trade fair event, physically meeting up with people, either planned or by chance, and having the opportunity to better understand things, touch them with your hand, grasp and share signs and emotions.”

The industry’s first in-person international trade fair will have over 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries, mainly from Germany, Spain, Turkey, Austria, Greece and Poland. As it stands, 90% of the exhibition space has already been occupied. Hall 10 will be set up again this year. The organisers have decided to keep this temporary hall to help ensure specific safety measures and allocate more space to restaurant and service areas.

The number, and above all the list, of exhibitors signed up for Pordenone is the best calling card for a lively, efficient trade fair rich in content. Worth noting is the return of many important names from the world of surfaces who have decided to come back to Pordenone, along with the growing presence of companies from the ceramics, taps and fittings and stone segments, completing the portfolio of an event where you can find everything you need to make any item of furniture for any domestic or contract space, regardless of some absences from the hardware segment.

SICAM will reappear to its public with a partially revamped layout, with more space reserved for services and common areas while certain areas have been rearranged. “Our exhibitors are very familiar with our principles,” Giobbi tells us. “Those who choose to come to Pordenone – and even more so those who have confirmed their determination and entrepreneurial capacity even in such confusing times – have earned our full attention and respect. We will do our utmost to repay their trust in us.”

Over the coming weeks the most intense efforts will revolve around visitors, though the number and quality of the exhibitors instils great optimism about the arrivals at Pordenone next October. Do not forget that visitors need to register online beforehand to gain access to the event ( https://www.exposicam.it/en/p-707/online-registration/ ). There will be checks on the way in.
Many registrations have already come in from all over Europe, though there is no shortage of requests from other continents either. The global travel situation will naturally be the decisive factor in the possibilities of SICAM, but everything seems to indicate that the trade fair may enjoy a significant share of visitors from across the globe despite the strong European figures.

SICAM WILL BE BACK IN OCTOBER 2021

The Covid-19 emergency at global level has outlined an economic and social situation that has led to obvious restrictions and uncertainties: in this context SICAM has chosen to postpone the event until October 2021. The one-year shift was decided to keep the annual trade fair calendar unchanged and to provide the best possible service to the sector.

Unfortunately, during these months there has been a complete absence at all legislative levels in the exhibition field in drawing up clear rules and protocols, which in an already very complex moment makes it impossible to organize a profitable event for exhibitors and visitors.

The 12th edition of the International Exhibition of Components, Accessories and Semi-finished Products for the Furniture Industry is therefore postponed to October 2021, from Tuesday 12th to Friday 15th, in the usual venue of the Pordenone Fair.

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