Team Esaja caught up with Claire Fortmann a Sales & Sponsorship Manager at Reed Exhibitions ahead of the 2017 International Sourcing Fair slated for 13 – 15 September in South Africa to gain insights on what the event is going to offer to both exhibitors and visitors.  

Please tell Africa what the International Sourcing Fair is all about?

The International Sourcing Fair (ISF) is the first of its kind in Africa, providing an exclusive platform where international suppliers and manufacturers can connect directly with retailers and commercial suppliers from South Africa and the rest of the continent.

ISF is a trade-only event and it brings to Africa the latest global innovations in materials, technology and design, along with product ranges in the home, gift, office and hospitality sectors. The event is taking place from the 13th – 15th September 2017 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.

Which markets/sectors have you targeted and why?

International suppliers and manufacturers looking to broaden their customer base. They will come from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and India; Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Germany; the US, Brazil, South Africa and further afield. A total of 200 exhibitors is expected to come from more than 15 countries.

They sell products for the Home, Gift, Hospitality and Office sectors across the following categories: art and framing, bathroom products and accessories, craft and ceramics, Furniture, gift-ware, stationery and wrapping, glassware, home decoration and accessories, kitchenware and tableware, office and desktop, outdoor and garden.

As a trade-only platform, we anticipate 4000 visitors including retail, commercial and hospitality buyers, importers, distributors, agents, architects, specifiers, procurement specialists, developers, decorators, interior designers and online retailers from all nine regions in South Africa and select countries in Africa. Buyers that have shown interest and attended previous shows in South Africa will be targeted from the following African countries: Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania.

What type of visitors are you expecting to visit your event?

We are expecting retail buyers | online retailers, hospitality buyers, commercial buyers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, agents, interior decorators | designers, property developers and spatial planners.

Why should exhibitors attend The International Sourcing Fair and what value will you bring to them?

We anticipate 4000 visitors from all nine regions in South Africa and select countries in Africa. Exhibitor packages are available and there will be trade lounges for private meetings, special functions for networking opportunities as well as customized hosted buyer/business match-making programmes.

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