Madrid International Furniture Exhibition 2008: 400 companies have already confirmed their participation at this edition

FIMM 08: With still two months to go before the staging of the MADRID INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE EXHIBITION, nearly 400 companies have already confirmed their participation at this special event, an event that will mark twenty-five years' service to the furniture and decoration industry. This fair, which is due to take place between 22nd and 27th April in the halls at FERIA DE MADRID, will consolidate its status as one of the most important trade events on the European calendar of fairs for the industry and as a key forum for promoting trends and new features among the media and within the profession itself.

Once again on this occasion, the fair will bring together the leading manufacturers, importers and designers from Spain, alongside an extensive selection of foreign companies. The level of participation on the part of foreign companies to date comes to 10% of total participation, based on the direct attendance of companies from Portugal, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Morocco.

In view of these figures and based on early evaluations of the results achieved by promotional campaigns, the fair's organisers predict that the fair will generally maintain the same levels of participation and trade attendance as at the last edition of the event, which featured some 492 exhibiting companies and welcomed nearly 50,000 visitors. 

Precisely one of the aspects that the organisers have sought to promote at this edition relates to the attendance of professionals from abroad. In this respect, in addition to the work that is carried out throughout the year by IFEMA's Delegations and Trade Offices in Germany, Brazil, the Benelux countries, China, Egypt, Jordan, the Lebanon, the United States, France, Monaco, Italy, San Marino, Mexico, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Madrid  International Furniture Exhibition, in collaboration with the Madrid Chamber of Trade and Industry, has implemented a Foreign Buyers Programme. This initiative will guarantee the presence of a wide-ranging and highly-qualified group of professionals from all five continents at the fair. At previous editions the Foreign Buyers Programme has proven to be an effective tool and an ideal form of support for Spain's export sector, as well as boosting the options of all those companies interested in expanding their business activities or searching for new business areas.

Furthermore, in order to mark the fair's Twenty-Fifth Anniversary, the organisers of the Madrid  International Furniture Exhibition have launched a new promotional campaign that will offer some important benefits to exhibitors who are interested in providing a special level of service to their customers and clients. These benefits include the possibility of companies offering their customers free nights at hotels, free parking vouchers, free access to the Business Centre at Feria de Madrid and even free tickets for fashionable musical shows in the Spanish capital. 

. Six Sections with Their Own Distinct Appeal

As is customary, the exhibition at the Madrid  International Furniture Exhibition will be organised around six well-defined sections, based on an exquisite presentation format and a layout that enables professionals to locate the products and decorative styles they are looking for quickly and conveniently. Alta Selección ("Exclusive Selection") in Hall 3 will present the most exclusive ideas in high-category decoration;  Fusión ("Fusion") in Halls 5 and 7 will present an entire repertoire of new features and ideas for those interested in cutting-edge styles, style mixtures and contemporary design; Interiores ("Interiors") in Hall 9 will feature an exhibition that is strongly influenced by other cultures and the latest trends in international decoration;  Actual ("Modern-Day Trends") in Halls 4 and 6  will bring together the most commercial, mass-consumer lines featuring traditional styles, children's furniture and modern design; Jardín y Terraza ("Garden and Terrace") in Hall 1 will present the latest trends and new features in exterior furniture; and  Detalles ("Details")  in Hall 2 will present the latest in all kinds of decorative accessories for the home.

. Design Awards
 
For the seventh consecutive year, the Madrid  International Furniture Exhibition stages its Design Awards, in collaboration with the Official College of Decorators / Interior Designers of Madrid (COD/DIM). These Awards will recognize the best ideas among all the new product features presented at the fair, with the purpose of promoting creativity and acknowledging quality achievement.
The Official College of Decorators/Interior Designers of the Madrid Region, the official decoration and design representative, will be the body responsible for selecting the best designs during the first two days of the fair.

A New Fair Image in 2009

The Madrid  International Furniture Exhibition is working on a new fair approach that will promote a fresh and up-to-date image in line with the industry it represents. The fair will unveil this new image at its edition in the year 2009, one that seeks to provide a communicational and promotional tool of considerable visual impact and international scope.