Glassex: 25 not out: satisfactory 9,000 visitors at the 25th anniversary show

The 25th Glassex closed its doors having attracted 9,000 visitors, a subject-to-audit figure that is almost the same as last year’s show. While many we talked to were full of suggestions about how to improve things, exhibitors acknowledged that visitors were serious buyers and will forget about that quiet last hour.

This year’s show was widely touted as the return of many window systems companies absent for several years, attracted by the promise of public sector visitors. Companies have had to take a more modest approach to exhibiting in recent years, with the result that much of Glassex was shell scheme, and the whole exhibition could be quickly walked round. Rehau’s stand was the only double decker display that comes to mind.

A smaller show then, but there were actually more exhibitors, and a crop of first-timers provided plenty of surprises. Conservatories and timber windows were particularly well represented.

On the floor

‘There was a great atmosphere at Glassex and it was an extremely successful and exciting show for Ultraframe,’ commented Linda Doughty, Marketing Director of Ultraframe, which was making a high profile and welcome return to Glassex.

‘We managed to create a real buzz around our stand, from the prominent ‘Prepare to be Dazzled’ advertising on the NEC approach to the much anticipated launch of our new roof, Sunroom, for which we sold 60 showroom roofs in just one day. Our sponsorship of the Conservatory Design Competition was also such a success that we were delighted to announce our continued support for an even better competition next year.’

Alan Fielder, now Commercial Director of systems company Aluplast (UK) Ltd remarked: ‘This was a very successful show for us, the interest in our products has been marvellous. We have been continually busy throughout the show taking orders and enquiries. I look forward to being here again in 2006.’

Meanwhile, Veka was seeking to impress the housing officers attracted by the one day ‘Glazing in the Public Sector’ conference. ‘We are generally pleased with the quality and quantity of visitors on our stand,’ remarked Colin Davidson, the company’s National Sales Manager. ‘We’ve signed again for 2006.’

Features

The Glassex Challenge installer competition and the Conservatory Design Competition, features introduced in recent years again served well to animate the event, provide advice and a forum for discussion, and indeed a welcome break from prowling the stands. The Glassex Challenge needs tweaking to avoid the situation when installer teams didn’t show up on the first day.

The results of the Conservatory Design Competition, which attracted almost treble the entries compared with last year, were displayed in an attractive gallery-style setting.

Public sector visitors up

Analysis of visitor statistics for this year's event has revealed an increase of almost 40% in visitors from the public sector, including housing officers, and specifiers from health and education authorities. A total of just under 500 public sector visitors attended. The public sector visitors to Glassex are believed to be worth more than £200 million to the industry.

Glassex Marketing Manager Claire Shilling is delighted with the response: ‘We were aware of the shift in the market with public sector specifiers spending enormous sums on doors and windows each year, and which are providing an important boost for the industry. The growth in housing associations has been a particular stimulus for the UK window market, and we knew that we had to draw more of these key people to Glassex.’